Hermida segundo en Davos (Suiza)

.....-.-.-.-.-.-.

Hermida ha sido 2º en la BMC Racing Cup de Davos (Suiza).

Hermida ha tenido un buen reencuentro con la competición tras el mal momento vivido el pasado sábado en la Copa del Mundo de Andorra. Se encontraba en forma pero una deshidratación lo llevaba a vivir una de las peores sensaciones sobre una bicicleta de su larga carrera deportiva. “Sólo recuerdo algo así en una Copa del Mundo en Mazatlán, México, y de eso hace 12 años”, comentaba el mismo domingo tras la carrera.

Hermida ha sido 2º tras Florian Vogel, que le ha dejado a falta de media vuelta: ”en la última vuelta me ha atacado en una subida muy dura. Le he apretado antes porque esa rampa se me atragantaba, pero no lo he soltado. Me ha atacado ahí, donde se sentía más cómodo, y se ha ido. Me ha metido 30 segundos. He podido recortarle algo, pero no ha sido suficiente. Me ha faltado punch en la última vuelta, pero estoy muy contento. He sido muy constante toda la carrera y he acabado entero, a diferencia del sábado pasado. Es cierto que faltaban algunos corredores importantes, pero hemos ido a un muy buen ritmo”.

Con la Copa del Mundo en Mt Ste Anne a la vista, además del Mundial en Pietermaritzburg, circuitos en los que ha ganado un Mundial y una Copa del Mundo respectivamente, el de Multivan-Merida no ha desaprovechado la ocasión para demostrar su buen estado de forma y el trabajo realizado en las últimas semanas. “Mañana ya salimos para Canadá. Tengo muchas ganas de volver a competir ahí”, destaca el de Puigcerdà.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Florian Vogel celebrated his first victory of the season at the penultimate round of the BMC Racing Cup in Davos. Vogel, third at the Swiss Championships, won the race ahead of former world champion Jose Hermida from Spain and the surprisingly strong German U23 rider Julian Schelb. In the women’s competititon Swiss rider Kathrin Stirnemann surprised with second place „between“ two Olympic champions: Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa won the race, Sabine Spitz was third.

In the men's race a leading group of three established itself in the second loop of seven five-kilometer laps. However, this group did not include – as had been expected – the two BMC riders Lukas Flückiger and Ralph Naef). Scott-Swisspower’s Florian Vogel and Spaniard José Antonio Hermida were accompanied by 20-year-old German Julian Schelb.

This trio managed to create a six-round lead of half a minute. But then Schelb was no longer able to follow the two world class bikers. Thus the duel for the victory in Davos was opened.

Florian Vogel launched his decisive attack in the final lap at the Cologna Stutz (named as Swiss cross country skier Dario Cologna) which ist the longest and steepest climb of the Davos race course. Finally Vogel celebrated his first victoriy of the season, crossing the line some 20 seconds ahead of José Hermida. Schelb was third, 1:10 minutes back.

„I was feeling fine today and I kept an eye on my watts. Therefore I was able to pace myself correctly. In every lap I did very well in the Cologna Stutz. That’s why I saw my chance there“, explained Vogel. He was very happy about this victory which confirms his outstanding performance at the world cup in Andorra last week.

Runner-up Hermida commented: "Florian was super strong in these steep climbs. He got away a few meters which made it hard for me. Nevertheless I am very happy about this result because last week in Andorra I had a bad day. Florian was seventh there, so I trust that my form is on a good level. Today was quite good as far as morale is concerned.“

Schelb was very pleased with his first podium finish at the BMC Racing Cup and said: „Even after they had shaken me off, I was able to deliver top performance.“

Behind him, BMC’s Armada regrouped itself. Lukas Flückiger reached fourth place when he finally managed to overtake his German teammate Moritz Milatz in the last lap. Milatz crossed the line 13 seconds behind Flückiger. Their teammates Martin Fanger and Ralph Naef were sixth and seventh.

Record World Cup champion and reigning world marathon champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) was victorious in the women’s competition after a thrilling race.

http://www.worldxcmtb.com/news/international-xc/florian-vogel-returns-to-victory-in-bmc-racing-cup.html