International Hessen Rundfahrt, Cat 2.5

Main Page Stage 3 - Alsfeld - Baunatal, 192.0 kms Sept. 30 Report. 28 year-old Norwegian professional, Svein Gaute Holestol won the third stage of the International Hessen Rundfahrt, held over 192 kms from Alsfeld to Baunatal. The rider, from Danish team Chicky World managed to escape from leading trio containing his teammate, Steffen Kjoergaard and Italian Denis Lunghi (Polti), with 10 km of the stage remaining. The longest stage was marked by three mountain climbs and a 15-strong group, containing no-one to threaten Allan Johanssen's overall lead, attempted to escape after 30 kms. However, their lead never grew to more than 2 minutes and the mountains took their toll on them towards the end. On the last of these - the 720 m "Hohen Meissner" - the field shattered and the leading trio formed. Johanssen was not worried because it contained two of his teammates and he finished in the same group as his nearest rivals, some four minutes down on the winners. After Holestol won the stage solo, Polti rider Denis Lunghi managed to outsprint his breakaway companion, and Holestol's teammate, Steffen Kjoergaard. Polti had further success with Alessandro Cortinovis coming in fourth. The mountains took their toll on other fancied riders, including yesterday's third place getter, Matthias Kessler, who did not want to stress himself overly before the World Championships. Also abandoning was German national champion, Stefan Steinweg. Tomorrow sees the riders tackle the fourth stage - 177 kms from Baunatal to Homberg (Efze). Results: Stage 3, Alsfeld - Baunatal, 192 kms, Avs. 40.15 km/h 1. Sven Holestol (Nor) Chicky World 4.46.57 2. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polt 0.31 3. Steffen Kjaegaard (Nor) Chicky World 4. Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita) Polti 1.20 5. Martin Van Steen (Ned) TVM 1.23 6. Torsten Schmidt (Ger) Chicky World 2.56 7. Edouard Gritsoun (Rus) Gerolsteiner 3.52 8. Bernhard Wächter (Ger) LV Hessen 9. Pieter Vries (Ned) TVM 10. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti 11. Timo Scholz (Ger) Köstritzer 12. Jens Zemke (Ger) Nürnberger 13. Allan Johansen (Den) Chicky World 14. Coen Boermann (Ned) Rabobank 15. Jörn Reuss (Ger) Nürnberger 16. Ole Sigurd Simensen (Nor) Agro Adler 17. Roland Müller (Swi) Nürnberger 18. Heinrich Trumheller (Ger) Continentale 19. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Austria 20. Kurt Schwarzmüller (Aut) General classification after stage 3. 1 Allan Johansen (Den) Chicky World 12.52.28 2 Edouard Gritsoun (Rus) Gerolsteiner .02 3 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Austria .18 4 Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti .19 5 Ole Sigurt Simensen (Ger) Agro-Adler Brandenburg .20 6 Jens Zemke (Ger) Nurnberger .21 7 Heinrich Trumheller (Ger) Die Continentale/Olympia .21 8 Florigan Wiesinger (Aut) Austria .21 9 Jorn Reuss (Ger) Nurnberger .30 10 Raphael Schweda (Ger) Nurnberger 1.01 11 Michael Schlickau (Ger) Deutschland Strasse 4.31 12 Kurt Schwarzelmueller (Aut) Austria 7.47 Sprints. Olaf Pollack (Deutschland) Points. Ole Sigurt Simensen (Agro Adler Brandenburg) Mountains. Heinrich Trumheller (Die Continentale/Dortmund)