The six stage Tour de Kaernten in central Austria began on Saturday 27 May with Team Strassacker claiming all three Stage 1 podium steps in the 100 kilometer race, including 1900 meters of climbing.

After 3:31:31 of racing, Moritz Beinlich (Team Strassacker) crossed the finish line solo with a three plus minute advantage over teammates Christoph Mai (3:16:35) and Moritz Palm (3:17:06), with Palm winning a four-up sprint to take third. 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Stephen Kirchmair finished sixth.

Eva Schein (Radsport Team Gaimershein) won the women’s competition in 3:42:49, with Laura Tibitanzel (3:42:51) and Beate Zanner (3:51:56) next.

Stage 2 is a 16km individual time trial, followed by a 16.5km mass start hill climb on Stage 3. Riders will tackle an 81km circuit in Stage 4, with a Magdalensberg summit finish planned for Stage 5 after racing 110km. The race wraps-up on 1 June when riders will complete 64km and then climb to the finish at Finkenstein castle.

The race is scored on general classification time across all stages, with cash prizes awarded to men’s and women’s overall and age specific winners. 350 amateur racers from Austria, Germany, Italy, Belgium and as far away as Greece are participating in the event.

Photo Credit: Tour de Kaernten

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