Geismayr and Sosna Storm to Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon Victory in Riva del Garda

Press Release / 30.04.2018

Daniel Geismayr (AUT) and Katazina Sosna (LIT) have claimed victory on the long distance of the 25th FSA BIKE Festival Garda Trentino's marathon event which took place today in perfect weather conditions in Riva del Garda and with some 2,000 registered participants.

Ten years after his career's first MTB marathon which actually took place at Lake Garda, the Austrian Champion was finally able to sign in the list of Ronda Extrema winners of the Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon. The 28-year-old from Dornbirn mastered the 93.93 kilometres and 3,838 metres of climbing in the stunning time of 4:17.07,6 hours .

The 2017 World Championships Bronze medallist therefore relegated Italian athletes Samuele Porro (4:18.56,3) from Tram Trek Selle San Marco and Tony Longo (4:19.32,3) from Wilier Force 7C , who both had been setting the pace being right out in front for quite a long time, to the respective second and third rank.

“It was extremely hard today, the tempo was tremendous. But I knew that I had good legs. I was keeping up the speed with the others and took it easy for a while although I also made sure that no one else could catch up again from behind,” explained Geismayr.

But in the last climb, it was time to break away: “I was going my own pace and noticed that I was the strongest out there.”

However, the defending BIKE Transalp champion had to weather a moment of shock in the final downhill when he slid away due to a slow puncture and skinned his right underarm. “That was the only time when things got critical. I'm happy that I won today,” said the Centurion-Vaude racer who then was able to bring home a safe win.

And was lauded by his competitors in the finish area.

“It was a real summer day today. We normally have pretty cold conditions here in Riva at this time of the year – at least in the mountains. It took a while for me to get into the rhythm but Daniel [Geismayr] was unbelievable. Props to his performance,” stated Samuele Porro who had earned Silver at last week's European Championships outpacing Geismayr in Spilimbergo.

The little town in the province of Pordenon, however, didn't become a place to be greatly remembered by Katazina Sosna. The Lithuanian athlete living in Italy wasn't able to finish the race for the European title and therefore had travelled to Riva del Garda seethed with anger.

And her plan for redemption worked out fine.

Two years after her first win at Lake Garda, the 27-year-old mountain biker stormed to another victory in her second FSA BIKE Festival Garda Trentino appearance.

Clocking in a time of 5:28.11,9 Sosna was only a little bit more than ten seconds slower compared to 2016.

“After the disappointing showing in Spilimbergo, I wanted to prove myself and everyone else that I can do better. I wanted to constantly race on a very high level. And I did so which makes me happy,” said the Torpado-Südtirol MTB Pro Team member.

Rank two went to Katrin Schwing (GER; 5:45.32,2) from Katrin Schwin Trek Team who had been able to secure a third rank finish in the previous two years. Verena Huber (GER; 5:48.14,1), a racer from the jb BRUNEX Felt Factory Team, rounded out the podium in third position

For complete results of the Ronda Extrema and all other category and distances click here. 

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