Lobato hits ‘wall’ for 6th time
09 July 2014

Tour of Austria (st. 4)

Spanish sprinter from Movistar Team again 2nd against Gatto (CAN) at Matrei's finish; nails a victory he's proven to deserve since February -six second places-

Foto (c): Klaus Titzer – Österreich-Rundfahrt

He promised he would not surrender. Juanjo Lobato has taken good results ever since he joined the Movistar Team, back in February during the Dubai Tour. There, he was 2nd behind Kittel (GIA) on stage two; he repeated that result back home in the Clásica de Almería; came close the win in the Circuit de la Sarthe; was only beaten by Mark Cavendish (OPQ) in the Tour de Suisse; and was second twice, counting Wednesday’s result, in this year’s Österreich-Rundfahrt.

Following Dayer Quintana’s success atop the Kitzbüheler Horn on Tuesday, the telephone squad worked again for its top sprinter in Matrei’s finish,a fter 172km with three climbs that made the sprint harder, yet couldn’t avoid Lobato being beaten by Monday’s winner Oscar Gatto (CAN). There will still be one more chance on Sunday, next to the Burgtheater in Vienna, but before that, GC riders will have to give it all. Thursday will bring the Hochtor/Grossglockner (HC), in a 146km trek sure to be thrilling as Tuesday’s.