News 2008/04

12. December, New ways in the preparation for the season

Tha pain im my leg is gone, I will be training in St.Moritz until Christmas. With nordic skiing, jogging, swimming and weight training I want to try something different this year. I have got top material from the Stöckli Branch in Wil and I am really having a good time up here in the mountains. It will be interesting to see how the hard training at an altitude of 1800 m above sealevel will shape my condition. I would like to say thank you to the fans who have visited my website during the year and wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new Year!

24. November, Setback

I suffered a setback in my preparations for the season 2009. I have a stressfracture in my shinbone which was caused by the tough wintertraining. Now I will have to take it easier for about 4 weeks. Fortunately I can ride the bike without any pain ;-) There are news from my partners on my website. On the homepage you can now find the logo of Eitzinger Sport as well. If you are looking for a cycling holiday, just have a look on his website. There will be something there for you for sure. I am looking forward to go into the new season with an additional new partner.

11. November, End of the Season

On sunday 9. november I had a meeting with my fanclub and we looked back at the season 2008 once more. We had a fabulous afternoon with spectacular pictures and a very nice dessertbuffet at the Restaurant Heidelberg. I have extended my contract for another year. In 2009 we will be competing as Team Vorarlberg-Corratec. After an armycamp in Herisau I will start with the preparations for my 5. season as a professional.

4. October, GP Cimurri

The last race of the season. My legs felt better as the race went on. After the third of four climbs only about 50 riders remained at the front, with Florian and myself representing Team Volksbank. At the bottom of the last climb I had to get off the bike because of a crash which happend in front of me. I chased hard but didn't make it to get back into the peloton. Next week I will wind down my engine and later go for a well earned holiday.

28. September, Worldchampionship Roadrace

What a feeling to take part in such a big event in Varese. I have never been at a bikerace with such a phantastic atmosphere. Photographers and journalists everywhere. A real pleasure to be a competitor. The cheering of the spectators was very loud and at times I was glad to wear an earphone. I had orders to go with early breakaways. Whenever a rider of a big cycling nation attacked, I went with them. The 3 riders who rode up front for most of the race didn't pose any danger to us. With 4 laps to go the Italians took over the race and I decided to put my cards on the table. I was in a leading group for a while, but nobody wanted to make the pace. When we got caught I had nothing left and my Worldchampionship adventure ended with 2 laps left to go.

27. September, Preparation for Worldchampionship

We are staying at the Hotel Serpiano on a mountain overlooking Lake Lugano. The nearby village with the same name is still in Switzerland. We have very experienced staff who is working for CSC and Liquigas during the year. We are well looked after and can concentrate fully on the race tomorrow. I will be right in there with number 95. Just one more nights rest until the start of the big show...

23. September, Selection for Worldchampionship

In the end it still worked out. This coming Sunday I will be representing Team Volksbank at the Worldchampionships in Varese. Fabian Cancellara and Michael Albasini will not be taking part and therefore Swiss Cycling has nominated me to ride in the roadrace. Riding in the Worldchampionship as a Pro for the first time, a big dream has become true for me. The Worldchampionship is by far the most importent race of the year. My job will be to support the team.

21. September, GP Prato

No luck today! 10 riders escaped early and I used a quiet moment to get off the bike to adjust my backwheel which was touching the breakpads. Just at that time Team Liquigas decided to make pace to chase the breakaway group. It took me 15 km to close the gap! I felt much better back in the peloton. I was not present in the deciding attacks. I had problems with my gearchanger. Towards the end Pascal and myself remained in the very small peloton. A leading group of 17 riders made out the race. Then on the last few kilometers the cable of the gearchanger snapped. But the chance of getting a good result was gone anyway. But after the race I got some good news. It looks like I will be riding in the Worldchampionship!

20. September, Memorial Viviana Manservisi

The totaly flat race ended with a mass sprint. Only a strong wind made it interesting a few times. Apart from that it was boring. It will be harder tomorrow which suits me!

17. September, WC Selection

17. September wasn't a good day for me. At about 7.30 the doorbell rang. A doping commissioner stood at the door and wanted to take some blood from me! But the real knockout came at 11 hrs. The coach of the Swiss National Team rang and told me that I will only be a substitude for the WC Roadrace. I was told before that I will get a place in the team for sure. It's not because my performance isn't good enough, it is a political decision of the Swiss Cycling Federation. That really hurts! But I have to accept it and look forward to the future.

14. September, Vattenfall Classic

Almost everything went the way we had planned on this circuit arround the town of Nürnberg. With about 10 km or 2 laps to go I escaped with 6 other riders. When we got caught Andre Korff went with the next group. But they didn't make it as well and in the last lap Rene Weissinger went with Markus Fothen. They stayed away only to the last km sign and we had a mass sprint. Our sprinter Olaf Pollack didn't have a good run in the sprint and didn't get a top result. I am happy with my form, my legs felt good. From the start I was active and riding in the front part of the peloton.

7. September, Vattenfall Classic

Early in the race I tried to get away a few times. But my legs felt horrible, no strength at all. Every time I had to close a gap it took me far too long to do so. When we went over the Waseberg the second time I lost contact with the peloton and called it a day.

6. September, Tour of Germany

The Tour of Germany ended with a disappointment for me in the timetrail. I lost 4 min to the fastest times. That's too much if you are aiming at a top place. I may have lost a few seconds in the wet corners, but 4 minute's, thats an eternety! In the general classification I improved by two places to 18. At least I fullfilled my goal of finishing in the top 20.

5. September, Tour of Germany

Another stage with an average of more then 45 km/h over a distance of 214 km. But we had a slight tailwind, it wasn't too hard. Again a group escaped and made it to the finish. I had an easy day. My sore throat has changed into a light cough. But it's not too bad yet. In tomorrows timetrail I will go all out to defend my 20. place in the general classification. This tour will go down in history as the fastest I have ever ridden in my carrier. Team Volksbank-Corratec has a reason to celebrate already. Daniel Musiol is the winner of the mountains classification.

4. September, Tour of Germany

It was very fast again right from the start. We did the first hour on a hilly road with an average of over 50 km/h. Then 11 riders escaped and none of the teams showed any interest to chase them. I recoverd well and rode right up front over the hills. My throat has been a bit sore, not serious, I hope it will go away soon. The 11 men group made it to the finish. It was hectic at times in a strong crosswind, but the peloton stayed together. I lost a place in the general classification.

3. September, Tour of Germany

What a miserable day. Why did it have to rain on this 218 km long stage, the longest of the tour. The temperature fell to 10 degrees which made it a torture. At times I was shaking all over. I had to be carefull not to loose the plastic protection of my broken finger. But todays hilly course suited me very well. I was able to ride at the front of the race throughout the stage. But towards the end I got a hungerknock which made it impossible to get a better result. I was more then happy to finish the stage in the first group. Our team has got smaller today. 2 riders pulled out of the tour.

2. September, Tour of Germany

Everything pointed to an easy race with a mass sprint today. But it was a war right from the start. Attack after attack until a group of 13 got away. The leader of the tour was with them, so many teams worked hard to reel them back in. The first 1.5 hrs we were speeding along the road with 50 km/h. I was still suffering from yesterdays effort and was glad when we caught the escaped riders and the pace dropped down a lot. Only 2 riders remained at the front with a slight advantage. We had them under controll. So in the end we got the mass sprint. Olaf Pollack from Team Volksbank-Corratec got a fine 6. place.

1. September, Tour of Germany

I never felt good in this 215 km long stage. A tough, hilly course in rainy weather made it a long hard day. We all knew that the mountain we had to climb with about 30 km to go would be the deciding factor. I just wanted to get over that hill with the first part of the peloton. The pace was fast and the group got smaller all the time. Towards to top of the climb about 10 riders got a small gap. I was right at the limit and couldn't close it at the time. Near the finish we caught the leaders, but two remained at the front. We also caught them in the final km. I had a chance to get a top ten result, but didn't take it. I am proud to have finished the stage in the first group, but I feel that I should have done better in the sprint. What an opportunety! Now I hope to recover well and maybe get another chance tomorrow.

31. August, Tour of Germany

This morning we had to get up early. The transfer from the hotel in Fügen to the Olympiapark in Munich took us almost 2 hours. The scenery arround the start was very interesting. The pace was very fast right from the word go. We had a strong tailwind and rode the first 2 hours with an average of about 50 km/h. Then a group of 4 riders broke away, but got caught again later. The final 2 km were uphill. Korff and Glomser took me into a perfect position right at the front. With 1 km to go I was in first position. I tried and attacked, hoping to get away. But with the finish in sight, I was out in the wind too early. My lights went out and rider after rider passed me. All the hard work of my team mates was for nothing!

30. August, Tour of Germany

A lot of hard work today. The pace over the first two mountains wasn't too fast. But as we got closer to the final climb there was a big crash at the front of the peloton. For once, I was lucky, I was able to stop in time. But riders flew past me on both sides! It didn't take me long to get back into the peloton. In the first part of the final climb I couldn't get a good rhythm. The road was very steep. Further up I felt better. I rode with Pascal on the final kilometers. We tried not to loose too much time. But 4 minutes is a lot. I guess, to get a good place in the final general classification is not possible anymore. But the highlight for Team Volksbank-Corratec today came from Daniel Musiol. He was up front in a breakaway for most of the stage and is wearing the leaders jersey in the mountain classification.

29. August, Tour of Germany

It is a real pleasure to take part in such a big event. The organization and accomodation is perfect. I rode the prolog without any problems. I lost a few seconds to the fastest riders because I didn't risk everything in some corners. The technical part of the circuit with cobblestones wasn't easy. In the warmup, I lost the plastic protection for my little finger because of the strong vibrations there. After fitting it real thight, it didn't come off anymore during the race. The cheering of some swiss fans along the road made me really happy! Tomorrow we will have the queenstage already. I will find out how good my form is.

23. August, Trofeo Melinda

The last test before the Tour of Germany didn't go well. The first 100 km of the 200 km race I felt OK. The pace was fast up the climbs right from the start and I was able to ride right at the front of the bunch. Then we got heavy rain with hail and the road became slippery like soap. I didn't take any risks going downhill and lost ground quickly. There were several crashes and the peloton broke apart into many small groups. I ended up in one of the last ones, way behind the leaders, and decided to call it a day. My form is not as good yet as when I went to the Tour de Suisse. But I'am confident that I will do well in the Tour of Germany.

21. August, Coppa Bernocchi

In my third race this week, which has always ended with mass sprints in previous years, I didn't go flat out. I was still tired from yesterday and it took a long time for my legs to come good. 3 riders escaped early and made the race, they stayed away until the finish. At about the halfway mark a group of about 15 went after the leaders. Weissinger from Team Volksbank was amongst them. Some teams took over the hard work of making the pace of the peloton. With about 30 km to go, the peloton got onto the circuit on which we had to do a few laps. The leading 3 riders had already done 1 lap and we caught them. What a mess! The organizers decided to take the whole peloton out of the race. All the hard work of the teams who did the chasing was for nothing! This can only happen in Italy. The race on saturday will be a last test for me before the Tour of Germany. I would like to go at 100% and see how fit I am.

20. August, Coppa Agostoni

Riding with my damaged finger didn't worry me at all today. I was able to ride in good positions and jump into gaps in the bunch without any fear. The race took us away from the start for about 30 km. Then we had to do 6 laps on a hard circuit and the finish was where we started. By the time we completed the first lap on the circuit the peloton had splitup into two parts because of the fast pace. More and more riders lost contact with the leading group. I felt better then yesterday and was able to ride with the leaders. On the last lap the group was broken up further and about 15 riders got away. I wasn't fit enough yet to go with them. We chased hard, but couldn't close the gap anymore. I finished in 20. place.

19. August, Tre Valli Varesine

Two and a half weeks after I broke my finger I was at the start of a race again. I didn't feel any pain during the race. But I still had a lot of respect about riding close to other riders in the bunch. I enjoyed the first few kilometers which took us through the canton Tessin very much. During my U23 time, riding for VC Mendrisio, I used to train a lot in this area. I had no problems until we got onto the final 6 laps on the World Championship 2008 circuit in Varese. A tough circuit with two climbs and lots of difficult corners which leaves no time to take a breather. My Volksbank team mate Pascal had a good day, he was up front in a 2 man breakaway for most of the race. Then in the second last lap the pace became very fast and I couldn't hold on with the leaders any more. I finished the race in the second group.

2. August, Criterium Rankweil

Not again! At the criterium in Rankweil, right on the doorstep of my sponsor Volksbank, I was going well and collecting points in the sprints with the help of my team mates. After about 2/3 into the race I knew I had enough points to qualify for the final race, a "miss and out", with 15 riders. Without taking any risks, I just took it easy in the peloton. But then, with only a few laps to go, I was right in the middle of a big crash and fell on my right hand, injuring my little finger. After taking x-rays at the hospital in Feldkirch the result was: a damaged tendon with a piece of bone broken off at the end of my finger. An operation is needed to repair the broken bone and the finger will have to be fixed for 6 weeks. This does not go well with my preparations for the Tour of Germany. But I am still confident to get into top shape.