Tour-de-Suisse stage winner: „The scenery is gorgious, but it won’t be easy“, the Styrian prepares for a sprint decision.
"There is one thing to say about this course: Hats off!” This assessment of the courses for the 2006 World Road Championship in Salzburg does not come from a nobody, but from Bernhard Eisel. That Eisel who just won the first stage of the Tour de Suisse, the fourth biggest cycling event in the world, and who wore the yellow jersey of the overall lead for one day. That Eisel who is also eager to show form at the Tour de France and sets his sites on a stage win. The Styrian dismounted from his bike for the last two mountain stages in Swiss (“my knee was swollen, I did not want to take any risks before the race“) – and visitted the course in and around Salzburg instead, where the pro of the French Française-de-Jeux team is considered as Austria’s big hope for the following year.
The 24-year-old gets almost enthusiastic when it comes to the starts of the races. “This is world class! I visited both the start for the time trial at Makart-Steg across the river with the old town of Salzburg in the background and the start for the road race infront of Mirabell Palace. They are great, for the cyclists and even more for the spectators. And of course for the pictures which will go all around the world on the television screens. If you would not call this advertising, so what else”, says Eisel in an interview with the local newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten.
The rest of the course, however, commanded respect from Eisel at the test ride. “It is more difficult than I thought, but nontheless I think that there will be a sprint. The mountains are not exactly easy, but still not that difficult as to easily shake off top-form sprinters like Zabel, Bonnen, and Petacchi. And the downhills are quite fast, but they are not dangerous. So it is hardly possible to break away, except in case of strong wind, which could promote an early splitting of the bunch”, explains the four-time season winner.
Only in one respect Eisel has some reservations: „The Austrian team won’t be big enough to operate optimally in the sprint. Although this doesn’t cause me sleepless nights.” He, that is to say, is prepared to work out this deficit. "I will be fully motivated. After all it is a question of honour too at a home World Championships,” he promises.
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In Salzburg cycling is very popular. The bicycle is the most favoured means of transportation in the population, the network of cycle paths is one of the most densely structured throughout Austria. Additionally professional cycling is quite significant too. Thus I am especially pleased that we succeeded in our bid to host the 2006 Road World Championships in Salzburg. The World Championships as one of the biggest sport events, taking place on venues all over world and each year, is an important multiplicator for race cycling and an unforgettable event for the fans of cycling – hence the preparations run at full speed. Already now I am looking forward to the competitions and the finishes in the heart of our city!
