Grazer Altstadt Kriterium - NE

Austria, July 27, 2004

2003 Results Results Past Winners The inside story of the post-TdF crits

Ullrich on top in Austria

By Neil Munro in Graz

Just two days after the Tour de France, no fewer than seven Tour riders backed up in the Graz Altstadt Criterium on Tuesday. Jan Ullrich, Andreas Klöden (both T-Mobile), Georg Totschnig, Peter Wrolich (both Gerolsteiner), Gerrit Glomser (Saeco), Bernhard Eisel (fdjeux.com) and Fabio Baldato (Alessio-Bianchi) were amongst the 44 starters to take on the 45 cobblestone laps in the Graz old city center.

After receiving a tip from T-Mobile teammate Erik Zabel, Ullrich took to the streets of Graz with a bike specially setup for use on the Paris-Roubaix course. Advice that his body was undoubtedly grateful for. After continuous attacks for the intermediate prizes, the peloton eventually regrouped with 18 laps to go. With 16 laps remaining, Klöden, Ullrich and Totschnig pulled clear, holding onto an advantage over the main field that saw them through to the finish.

The two T-Mobile teammates, especially Klöden, took to Totschnig in a series of attacks in an attempt to shake him off. Each time, Totschnig fought to hold on until, with four laps remaining, Ullrich showed his class and kicked clear. With Ullrich looking the goods for victory, Totschnig and Klöden kept at each others throats until a close, hotly contested sprint finish for second place saw Totschnig pipping Klöden at the line.

Ullrich now joins last year's winner, Lance Armstrong, amongst the now impressive star cast of winners including Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini, Oscar Freire and, local hero, Peter Luttenberger.

Results

1 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile               1.12.18
2 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner          0.02
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile                   
4 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FdJeux.com                 
5 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                
6 Werner Riebenbauer (Aut) Hervis Linz            
7 Franz Stocher (Aut) NÖ-Versicherung Preßbaum    
8 Peter Luttenberger (Aut) CSC                    
9 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Ed'Systems ZVVZ     
10 Andreas Matzbacher (Aut) Saeco

Past winners

2003 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 
2002 Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step 


Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com