After constant rainfall on day one, it was especially Miguel Caballero from Spain who profited from the perfect conditions today and thus extended his lead on his followers from Greece and Italy. In the women’s category, Helen Bonsor from Scottland accomplished an almost perfect race, took the lead and left behind yesterday’s winner and favorite Tina Fischl. Last year’s winner, Dimitris Theodorakos, definitely had a better day than yesterday – and he is already talking about taking the lead.
The second day of the SALOMON 4 TRAILS was definitely challenging but also very exciting. Whereas Miguel Ortega Caballero could defend his first place in the men’s category, Helen Bonsor from Scottland took over from Tina Fischl in the women’s category. In the Master Men’s category we saw the tightest race today. Leader Stefan Holzner and Josef Vogt from Liechtenstein, who was second to finish yesterday, were fighting for the lead the whole day long – in the end, they crossed the finish line together after 34 kilometers and a vertical gain of 1.800 meters. Despite perfect weather conditions, most of the athletes who reached the finish line in Ruhpolding appeared pretty exhausted and tired. The first stage and the rainfalls and thunderstorms on day one have clearly left their marks on the trail runners.
Only the Spaniard Miguel Ortega Caballero who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Wednesday seemed to have even more power reserves. Hardly exhausted and with a smile on his face did he cross the finish line today after 3:03,09.7 hours. With his second stage win he is now the most promising candidate when talking about the overall win on Saturday. “I really enjoy running the SALOMON 4 TRAILS”, says the Catalan and smiles: “The trails suit me very well; I do not have any problems.” He extended his lead on Daniel Jung to 11,12.5 minutes. Jung from South Tyrol was nevertheless able to defend his overall second place against last year’s winner Dimitris Theodorakakos by coming in third today. The Greek had overcome his low from the first stage and managed to achieve second place today, 4,20.4 minutes after Caballero. “Today I felt better than on day one. I was able to keep up with the pace for a long time, but in the end, Miguel was simply too strong. Now I have three more goals: first I want to stay healthy, second if possible, I want to be the one to set the pace tomorrow or on Saturday and third of course I want to reach the finish line in Maria Alm” says Theodorakos who seems to have recovered a bit from his mental and physical low.
How challenging and demanding the SALOMON 4 TRAILS can be is what 19 year-old Lucas Soergel experienced today. For quite some time it was a well-balanced fight about rank 5 between him and Christoph Lauterbach. However, whereas Lauterbach defended his position and still holds 5th place also in the overall ranking and thus is the best German in the men’s category, the highly ambitious youngster lost power and fell behind on the flat part between the two ascents. He achieved only rank 12 at the end of the day.
“There is always a danger that he pushes the pace too hard”, explains Soergel’s dad Klaus who accompanies his son during the SALOMON 4 TRAILS: “maybe he puts a bit too much pressure on himself.”
The women’s race was extremely thrilling today. Helen Bonsor from Scottland overtook yesterday’s winner Tina Fischl and achieved a time difference of 6:22.3 minutes. Her lead on the Russian Zhanna Vokueva was even 10,23.9 minutes. In the overall ranking, the 30 year-old Scot from Edinburgh has gained first place now, 3,24.8 minutes ahead of Fischl.
“I felt good at the first climb and then overtook Tina” was the Scots comment on today’s race. Whereas Bonsor confidently finished her 34 kilometer long stage, the German mountain running champion Tina Fishl had to cope with a severe low today.
“On the first descent I lost position by position and was only 5th at that point in the race. There was not much power left” admitted the 39 year-old Fischl after the race. But nevertheless she recovered again and fought back. In the end the Bavarian lady was second to finish, and she could reduce her time deficit to 3,24.8 minutes. “That was a hard fight which cost a lot of energy today, but towards the end I felt better again”, says Fischl, already having in mind stages three and four. On Friday the trail continues from Ruhpolding to Lofer, and on Saturday the final stage will lead from Lofer to Maria Alm where the SALOMON 4 TRAILS will then come to an end.
Further results:
- Master Men: 1. Stefan Holzner (Bad Reichenhall, 3:22,54.3 h), 2. Josef Vogt (Liechtenstein, same time), 3. Christian Meusburger (Österreich, 10,08.9 minutes behind).
- Senior Master Men: 1. Armin Bernard (Rosenheim, 3:42,12.3 h), 2. Thomas Miksch (Kempten, 3,46.2 minutes behind), 3. Hermann Daucher (Österreich, 6,23.4 minutes behind).
- Master Women: 1. Lauren Jeska (GB – Machynlieth, 3:59,57.2 h), 2. Uta Jurkschat (Schmiedefeld, 36,18.0 minutes behind), 3. Eva Färberböck (Murnau, 38,14.5 minutes behind).
Photo: Haral Wisthaler
INFO: SALOMON 4 TRAILS
