Victory for Lukas Kubis from Slovakia 62nd UCI Raiffeisen Cherry Blossom Race 2024

The cherry blossom race in Wels was held for the first time this year in its 62nd edition as an international UCI race: The starting field at this premiere was correspondingly top-class: In addition to all the top domestic teams, top-class teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Hungary were in Wels at the UCI 1.2 competition Begin. Overall, in the men's elite race today, a record field of 153 professional cyclists fought for the day's victory and the Austrian athletes also fought for the lead in the road cycling league Austria. In bright sunshine and spring-like temperatures, the numerous spectators were treated to thrilling cycling in the men's elite race.

Fotonachweis Reinhard Eisenbauer

Emanuel Zangerle wins the 2nd competition of the road cycling league Austria

From the start, the classic bike race was a full-on attack over 169.6 kilometers. In the first third of the race, Tobias Nolde from the P&S Metalltechnik Benotti team tried his luck in a solo escape, but was soon caught by the peloton again. A leading group of 45 men then formed and was able to gain a lead of up to a minute. At the beginning of the last lap there were still nine riders at the front, rushing towards the finish. In the last four kilometers there was attack after attack before the big showdown. The Slovakian Lukas Kubis from the Elkov Kasper team started the sprint 400 meters before the finish and won after 3:53:21 hours (average 43.6 km/h), ahead of Felt Felbermayr professional cyclist Emanuel Zangerle and the former German Giro d'Italia Stage winner Roger Kluge from the Rad-Net Oßwald team. The Tyrolean Emanuel Zangerle also won the second competition of the road cycling league Austria. In the overall standings of the ÖRV Radliga he improved to third place, Jaka Primozic (Team Hrinkow Advarics) is still in the lead. The next Bundesliga race will take place in Vorarlberg next Wednesday.

450 starters at the start in Wels

The premiere of the UCI race in Wels was a complete success. A total of 450 participants took part in the elite races for men and women (the victory here went to the Hungarian Petra Zsanko) as well as in the amateur and junior races. “Today’s race was a complete success. We are very pleased that the countless hours of work and the tireless efforts of many volunteers were worth it,” emphasizes organizer Daniel Repitz.

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