April 2019

Sergio Tu won silver medal in ITT U23 race at Asian Championships. It took him 49’59”80 to ride 40 km route. Gold went to Yevgeniy Fedorov from Kazakhstan.

– My aim was to be on the podium. I have been training in Asia for several weeks. I did races with my national team, but my main goal was to prepare well for Asian Championships. It was a flat course and you constantly need high power to achieve a really good result. The first 20 km were going down very slightly and the last 20 km were slightly going up. There was a headwind during the first part, and a tailwind during the last 20 km. The last 4 km of this time trial were a little bit steeper and I think that it was where I really gained the time. I kept the power really good the whole time and I still had a lot of it left to give it all during the last 4 km – said Sergio Tu. 

– I felt that my shape was good. Also the preparation period went really well. Actually, I expected to win this race, but it was Fedorov who took gold. Still, I am really satisfied with my result and second place on podium. I want to thank the whole CCC Development Team for giving me space, equipment and time to prepare for those Asian Championships. I really appreciate the fact that the management of the team treated me individually – added Sergio Tu. 

– There is a road race ahead of me. It takes place on 26th of April. As I am the only cyclist in my national team who is under-23, I’ll be racing alone. And I’ll do my best. After Asian Championships, I’m looking forward to getting back to the team and taking part in more races to gain more experience – said Sergio Tu. Taiwanese will be taking part in two one day races in Poland in the beginning of May: Memorial Andrzeja Trochanowskiego and Memorial Romana Sieminskiego. 

Attila Valter took the white jersey of the best young rider at Belgrade-Banjaluka. Hungarian also finished 3rd in GC

– Our main goal was to defend Attila Valter’s white jersey of the best young rider. We also wanted to secure his place on the podium in the general classification. The race was really nervous from the beginning. Hungarian national team pushed the tempo, as they wanted to win intermediate sprint. Before we reached the KOM sprint, peloton split into three groups. I took Ati to the front of our bunch, so he was able to join the first group. He was supported there by Szymon Tracz  – said Stasiek Aniołkowski.

– In the first group there were a lot of riders who could take the GC podium from Ati. That’s why we focused on keeping up the pace and safely reaching the finish line. From the KOM sprint group went full gas. We had to stay concentrated all the time especially in the end, in Banjaluka, where we were racing on laps. They were quite  hectic and technical but we managed to stay away from crashes – added Szymon Tracz. It was Marko Kump who took the stage win. 

– I would like to thank Stasiek and Szymon, who have done a huge job for me today. Aniołek helped me reach the first group. When peloton split, he took me to the front of our bunch and then I went solo. It was actually the last possible moment to catch the first group – said Attila Valter. Then Hungarian jumped on the wheel of Szymon Tracz. – There were about 30 riders in that group. My several Hungarian mates, who I could count on, were also riding in this bunch. Final laps in Banjlauka were challenging also because we had to watch out for what we got under our wheels. On the roads like these, the lack of concentration could lead to crash. Taking into account the fact that three out of the four stages of Belgrade-Banjaluka were flat, I am satisfied with the third place in the GC and with the white jersey of the best young rider – said Attila Valter. The overall win went to Paweł Franczak.

Attila Valter will be racing Ötztaler Forest Cross on Sunday.

– I am really looking forward to Sunday, as I have missed all the emotions that MTB racing gives. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still focused on the road, but my passion for cycling started from cross-country – says Attila Valter, who won the title of Hungarian champion in cross-country two times as a junior – in 2015 and in 2016. Moreover, before he switched to road, Attila had been racing for MTB team called Cube Csomor. Current CCC Development Team’s rider is really close to reach the qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokio. That is why the management of the team agreed to his participation in MTB races from time to time. – I know that my team mates have quite a busy weekend, as the are racing in Netherlands and in Poland. I really do appreciate the fact that I was allowed to go to Tirol for Ötztaler Forest Cross – added Attila Valter. 

Ötztaler Forest Cross is the first MTB race for Hungarian in this season. – It is HC race so it’s gonna be super hard. The course is very technical, with lot of roots, jumps, mud and slippery stones. I’m doing U-23 race, so it means that I’ll have to ride 6 laps, 4600 meters long each – explains Attila. He rode this race several years ago as a first year junior and got quite good result for his age. – I really have good memories from that time. And when I come back to Tirol it always amazes me – so peaceful and quiet land, but during racing you get to know its other face. It’s also good to be back here with my friends from national team – says Attila. 

After Coppi e Bartali, which was finished lat Sunday, Attila spent several days in Hungary and had some time for rest and load his batteries. – I feel really good right now. My knee problems are over, mainly thanks to Przemek, our physiotherapist, who did his best during Coppi. I hope, that on Sunday, I’ll show some good time. The start list is full of solid riders, so it will be a bit of a challenge. For sure, I’d like to enjoy this race as much as I can. MTB differs from road in many aspects – added Valter. For him the main one is that in MTB the riders depends much more on their own abilities. – On cross-country races there is no such thing as a peloton, in the meaning we know from road. So, in my opinion, cross-country cycling is not as rush as road. But, what is most important – in both disciplines I can ride a bike. And this what gives me pure happiness – says Attila Valter.