No podium, but Bálint Feldhoffer finished in the top ten at the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt.
The queen stage of Oberösterreich Rundfahrt was left for the last (fourth) day. The 132-kilometer stage finished on an almost 10-kilometer-long climb with an 8% gradient.
The day’s breakaway consisted of the German Leon Arenz and the Italian Lorenzo Ginestra. Their largest advantage was around 2 minutes, and there was no question that the general classification contenders would fight for the victory on the mountain finish.
The bunch arrived at the last climb at a killer pace; Team United Shipping could not really get ahead. Bálint Feldhoffer was among the leading group for a while, but with 5.5 kilometers to go he lost the wheels of the main protagonists. The German Jannis Peter won the last stage, but the GC went to Edgar David Cadena from Petrolike. Bálint Feldhoffer finished the stage in 11th place and 9th overall. The white jersey for best young rider eventually went to Aaron Dockx, but Bálint finished the four-day Oberösterreich Rundfahrt with a 2nd and a 3rd place on previous stages.
Bálint Feldhoffer’s thoughts after the final day:
“Obviously, the goal was to stay in the front group until the end, maybe even attack in the last 1-2 kilometers. However, this day turned out to be too difficult, I was exhausted. This was the fourth day of the race, and it was also a difficult season so far, with a lot of training. The day after tomorrow the English final exam is coming, and then the other exams. I will have to study from now, which is not the best feeling, but such is life. In the past few days I have only focused on the race, so now I will be able to study on the way home or at home.”
📷Photos: Schöff Gergely