Kathrin Schweinberger delivered the perfect race to take victory in the Austrian national championships road race.
The 28-year-old was the pre-race favorite and more than lived up to the billing on the 100.6km flat route around Illmitz, sprinting to victory from a group of four.
“It‘s always special and I feel very honoured to present it now for a whole year,” said Schweinberger after. I can‘t wait to see the Human Powered Health jersey in red-white-red.”
This is Schweinberger’s third national road race title, and she had to race hard throughout.
“It was a really fast race,” explains Schweinberger. “There was a really windy section, so my sister [Christina] and Carina Schrempf from Fenix-Deceuninck went to split it in echelons. I immediately jumped to join them.”
A group of eight formed in the wind, and they began to attack Schweinberger, knowing about her sprint. Team Director Giorgia Bronzini and Schweinberger’s coach had already warned her that this was going to be a very possible scenario, so she reacted to every move.
“We were then just with four, and so I rode passively into the finale,” she says. “I then saw 250 to go and knew it was my time.”
Schweinberger knew within herself that she would be the marked rider.
“It wasn’t that there was any pressure from the outside, but from myself, I really wanted to win because I knew I had chances.”
Schweinberger will first wear her new custom Pactimo Flyte jersey at Argenta Classic – Deurne on July 6.
“I’m looking forward to the next races with the team,” she says. “I get confidence with the jersey, but above all, I’m happy with my shape, and I can’t wait to see my jersey.”
Photos: Reinhard Eisenbauer
National Championships Austria WE – Road Race results
1 SCHWEINBERGER Kathrin – Human Powered Health 2:30:56
2 WINTER Elisa – Wheel Divas ”
3 SCHREMPF Carina – Fenix-Deceuninck ”
4 GSCHWENTNER Leila – Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team ”
5 HUYS Tabea – Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team 0:45
6 SCHWEINBERGER Christina – Fenix-Deceuninck ”
7 URDL Katharina 1:19
8 BRIEFFER Anna – Verge VICCRD Women’s Racing Team ”
9 EHRENREICH Franziska – Union Raiffeisen Radteam Tirol 3:05
10 Anna Kiesenhoffer ”
