Götsch achieves course record at Penser Joch Grand Prix

The weather god must be a cyclist from Sarn, because this year too the “Grand Prix Penser Joch” had great weather with a bright blue sky without a single cloud. Despite the mid-summer temperatures (around 30 degrees Celsius), the cyclists pedaled hard. After the start at 14.30 p.m. at the sports field in Sarnthein, the field rolled leisurely at a reduced pace to Astfeld. But then, when the effective start with timekeeping took place after Astfeld, there was no stopping Götsch and Co.. It was immediately clear to everyone that at this speed the course record would fall.

Six cyclists fell at the Trappmannhüttl. A leading group of 20 cyclists - including the eventual podium with Philip Götsch, Alexander Gufler and Christoph Fuhrbach - formed, which further increased the pace.

Götsch ignites the turbo

After 27 minutes, this leading group came to Pens. But then, when it went up towards Penser Joch, Philip Götsch turned on the turbo and, after a total of 26 kilometers and 1190 meters of altitude, reached the Penser Joch, located at 56.21 meters above sea level, in 2211 minutes. This makes him the first cyclist to win the Grand Prix with a winning time of under an hour. The previous record was 1:00.23 hours, set by Andreas Laner two years ago. Last year, Götsch crossed the finish line after 1:00.24 hours and narrowly missed the course record. This year he was more than four minutes faster.

Christoph Fuhrbach came second. The German, who took second place overall in the Dolomites Tour this year and always wears Birkenstock sandals as a trademark, finished the “Penser Joch Grand Prix” in 58.48 minutes. Stephan Unterthurern followed in third place in 58.56 minutes.

Innsbruck victory among women

In the women's category, the victory went to an Austrian, namely Jacqueline Hahn from Innsbruck. She prevailed in 1:08.11 hours and beat last year's winner Marina Ilmer (1:08.30) from ARSV Vinschgau and Alexandra Hober from Merano (1:10.00).

As has become tradition in previous years, this year the best team was awarded the Moser Bau Trophy. As in the previous year, it went to the Rewel Team Bozen, which prevailed ahead of the Dynamic Bike Team and the hosts from the ASC Sarntal Cycling Section.

Many registrations from Austria and Germany

“Before I take stock, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participants, the sponsors and, last but not least, the many volunteers. They all made the Penser Joch Grand Prix a great event in the Sarntal once again this year. I am very satisfied with how the race went and I congratulate Philip Götsch and also the other participants on their top performances,” said OC boss Harti Stuefer from the ASC Sarntal cycling section. “What was striking this year was that a quarter of the participants were from Austria and Germany arrived."

The race from Sarnthein to the Penser Joch has been a fixture in the competition calendar of all enthusiastic South Tyrolean racing cyclists for many decades. The classic has been organized by the cycling section of the Sarntal sports club for six years; previously, the “Tyrolean cyclists” were responsible for the smooth running of the race on the Penser Joch.

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Götsch achieves course record at Penser Joch Grand Prix

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