In the last stage we wanted to make sure that there will be at least one Vorarlberg-Corratec rider in every group. When 2 riders from small teams escaped it was clear that the stage will end with a mass sprint.
With Sebastian we had a strong contender for a top result. But we got lost in the hectic finale and Sebastian never got the support he needed.
Next weekend I will ride the GP Schwarzwald and my favourite race the GP Gippingen. I am hoping for lots of fans and good legs ;-)

In the timetrail I soon felt that my legs were not turning very well. That's why I decided to keep some energy for tomorrow.

After yesterdays bad performance of the whole Vorarlberg-Corratec team we had to get revenge today. I was in an early break which looked promising. But after a few kilometers Columbia closed the gap, even though they had one of their own riders up front as well. Then we had Rene in the next escape, they almost made it right to the end.
In the mass sprint Daniel, Hasi and myself worked for Sebastian. He rewarded our hard work with a fine 3. place.
We have been lucky so far with the weather in this tour. I hope it will be fine in tomorrows timetrail as well.

Todays queens stage didn't go the way we wanted at all. At first everything went according to our plan. Daniel was in the first breakaway group. In the very steep 20% climb up to the first categorie king of the mountains I suffered like hell. Then when we got to the top the attacks started, and that was the end for me. Pascal was able to bridge the gap with a few other riders to the leading group with Daniel.
By now all the teams had at least one rider up front and the pace of the peloton became very slow. Now a top place in the overall classification has gone out of the window for us. We will have to try to win a stage.

After the stormy weather yesterday, it was fine today. Perfect conditions for a bike race. The first stage was quiet. 2 riders were up front for most of the day and they got caught not far from the finish. There was a mass sprint. We rode for Sebastian who got a good top ten result.
My legs didn't feel good for a long time. But they improved as we went on and right at the end they felt very good. This makes me feel confident for tomorrows queens stage.

We lost the lead in the Tschibo-Cup. My legs didn't feel good yet in my first race after training in the mountains. The whole Vorarlberg-Corratec team had to fight off attack after attack right from the start. We all had to work very hard.
Then the deciding group with about 20 riders went off the front. We had Reto, Elias and Sokoll with them. At the end Sokoll got 5. place and I finished in the peloton.

... very much to everybody who wished me well during the past few days. I recovered surprisingly fast from the accident and I am training with maximum intensity. Last thursday I went for a ride with Michi Albasini and we were forced to stop in the snow on the Furkajoch;-)
I will stay on top of Mount Säntis until 22. mai and I am looking forward to the next races!

On sunday I was allowed to leave the hospital in Wil. I went back up to mount Säntis straight away. Besides painful abrasions , my neck still feels a bit stiff as well. But I feel better every day and will soon be training full power again.

I had a horror crash this morning! At the end of the descent from Schwägalp, I was riding into the village of Neu St. Johann. I saw a car driving towards me and he was going to turn left. He stoped for a moment, then drove on right into my path. I pulled my brakes and tried to avoid a collision by going to the left. But I had no chance! I crashed into the side of his car with about 50 km/h and took off.
When I woke up I was lying in the middle of the road. Looking at the dirt on my jersey and helmet I must have landed in a garden and then slid on the road from there. I had a headache. My helmet was broken at the back. This has happend now twice already this year. It really makes me thinking :-o
A doctor who lived nearby had a look at me and after seeing heavy abrasions on my back sent me to the hospital in Wil immediately There they took x-rays of my spine. I was lucky, no damage! But I will have to stay for further observation. So my traingcamp is interrupted.
But I will soon be on a 5 hour ride again ;-)

Instead of making headlines in Frauenfeld, I raced in Austria with Team Vorarlberg-Corratec where we dominated completly.
Ludescher was in a 4 man break for most of the day. Then in the thenth of twelve laps Reto bridged the gap to the leaders and immediately dropped them all on the climb to continue solo. The rest of the escaped riders got caught by the peloton, but Reto increased his advantage. When we went up the mountain on the last lap Eiberger from Team Elk attacked. I went after him and got him on the decent. Reto won the race. A super performance!
I left second place to Eiberger because I got the leaders jersey of the Tschibo-Cup.
From tuesday I will sleep in a room at the Berggasthaus Säntis at 2500 m above sealevel. I will do some intensiv preparation for the next races for about 2 weeks. A trainingcamp at high altitude: living high-training low.

I was made captain and had full support of my team mates from Team Corratec-Vorarlberg. The pace was fast right from the start. I didn't even have a chance to get a "toilet break", which became very painful towards the end.
The peloton soon got smaller on the hilly course. When we got to the last climb there were only about 50 riders left at the front with Reto, Pascal and myself. In the steep part uphill I remained with the leaders. Then 7 riders got away, but I wasn't able to go with them. I am still not in top shape yet.
We chased hard on the final 3 laps, but couldn't close the gap. With about 10 km to go I tried it by myself, but wasn't successful. In the end we dindn't get a good result.

The first win of the season for Team Vorarlberg-Corratec, but a lot of pain for me! The mass sprint of the last stage was pure carnage. There were several crashes in the last 3 km. I gave everything I had left to help Sebastian. When we got to the last km, a rider from Bulgaria got his frontwheel tangeld up with the bike in front of him. He went down hard and I flew over the top of him. Sebastian made it through the mayhem and won the stage.
I was lucky not to have broken any bones. Besides heavy bruises on my right shoulder and hip, I also got deep abrasions on my right knee, right elbow and my left thumb. I was really pissed off, but now I am happy about the vistory for my team.
I order to fully recover from my injuries I will not be riding the Giro del Trentino.

A very fast start, and right into a strong sidewind. The stage was short with only 114 km, but very intense. It took me a long time to get going. When a group of about 25 with riders from just about every team got away, the race was decided. We had Pascal up front, he got 14. place.
We are staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Antalya which suits me fine. I should fully recover until tomorrow.

The pace was very fast during the first 100 km. Attack after attack. We took turns and had a Vorarlberg-Corratec rider in every breakaway group. Then towards the end a duo got away and I was glad that the pace got more comfortable.
As we rode through the mountains the bunch got smaller and the 2 riders up front got caught. Then in the final kilometers a there was a real drama. The leader Loosli crashed and I got involved as well and fell. Normally when the leader of a tour crashes or punctures the peloton waits for him to get back on. But riders from Navigare attacked at that moment. Very unfair! Loosli lost his leaders jersey!
I got back on and concentrated for the final sprint. I had enough space but was a bit too far back when we got to the last 300 m. I got a good fifth place.
The new hotel Di Finica is real classy, but it's not as good as yesterdays ;-)

In spite of suffering from injuries from my crash and a waterleak in the ceiling of our hotelroom, I had a good nights rest. We knew that there would be an escape of a group today which could make it all the way to the end. So we wanted to have at least one Vorarlberg-Corratec rider in every breakaway. I had a go several times without success, then a group went without anybody from our team in it.
Our hotel in Fethiye is a tip for a dream holiday. You can really relax at Lykia World. There is a good chance for another escape group tomorrow. I want to be part of it ;-)

The Tour of Turkey started with a dangerous circuit in the center of Istanbul. In the third of 14 laps a large group got away on the decent with cobblestones. I rode very careful there and missed the break.
We will fly to the start of stage 2. I have never seen a transfer like that.
We will be live on Eurosport from tomorrow. It will be worth having a look!

When I had to get up at 5.15 this morning I didn't feel like racing at all. I am not used to eat pasta so early in the morning.
Then at 8.00 start of the stage. At first still not fully awake, but that soon changed. There was no time to relax during the 130 km stage with two big mountains. My teammates got me in a good position for the climb. I lost contact with the leaders twice, but made it up downhill again. It looks like I still have to loose some weight to be able to climb better.
When we got near Bergamo 4 riders escaped. Pascal, my only teammate left at this time, did a good job to get me in a good position for the final kilometers. I remained right at the front and got 5. place in the end. As the first non-italian I was called to the winners presentation as well.
We are looking forward to travel to the Tour of Turkey this coming friday. I hope the race will be live on DSF again.

I had a lot of respect for todays Queensstage with the steep Colle Maddalena. I knew from previous years that I couldn't keep up with the best there.
The first 70 km were very hectic until a group got away. Attack after attack with an average of 49 km/h.
When we got to the bottom of the Maddalena I went right to the front of the peloton with Elias on my backwheel. Then I rode at my own pace.
Tomorrows stage which ends in Bergamo, it used to be the final of the Tour de Lombardy, suits me. I want to get a good result ;-)

During the first mountain stage the weather was sunny and fine. I was able to ride in the leading group over the last climb. To my surprise Petacchi was with us as well. He got the stage win. I felt good in the sprint and made up some ground towards the end. I hope it was good enough to get into the top ten. My form is OK, I am happy with that.

Rain, narrow roads and lots of corners made it an uncomfortable day. I didn't feel good at all.
With about 30 km to go the course took us to a righthand corner. There was a small shortcut through a parkinglot. I was right in the center of the bunch. The rider in front of me first decided to take the shortcut, but then continued to ride straight on. Suddenly he changed his mind and turned right into the shortcut. He took of my frontwheel and down I went. It wasn't a bad crash, but I had to change the bike. He appologized, but that didn't help me, the bunch was gone. I had no chance to catch them again.
Sebastian got another good result for the team. Tomorrows stage will be hilly which suits me;-)