{"id":20476,"date":"2015-02-19T10:10:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-19T10:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2015\/02\/19\/hynek-back-with-the-albanator-r2077\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T11:16:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T11:16:08","slug":"hynek-back-with-the-albanator-r2077","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/hynek-back-with-the-albanator-r2077\/","title":{"rendered":"Hynek back with The Albanator"},"content":{"rendered":"

Much-decorated Austrian mountain biker Alban Lakata has finished 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 10th in his six Absa Cape Epics. In 2013 he finished, but as an Outcast after his partner Robert Mennen famously broke a collarbone after hitting a duiker (small antelope) on a descent. His 2015 partner Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic has raced once \u2013 in 2014 with Mennen \u2013 and won on debut.<\/p>\n

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Lakata\u2019s best finish, the third place with Kevin Evans in 2010, was achieved in spite of serious mechanical issues and it is evident he has the pedigree to win the race. He is also a former Marathon World Champion.<\/p>\n

And that is just what he intends doing in 2015: \u201cI still want to win the Absa Cape Epic,\u201d he said. Topeak Ergon teammate Hynek, quite obviously, is out to defend his title: \u201cYes, what other objective could we have? But we are aware of all the competition that is taking part this year, and there are many other issues that can cause problems during the race. Defending the title is our goal, but we will not be disappointed with a podium finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hynek identified three teams as their chief rivals for the win: Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialized), Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess (Centurion Vaude) and Karl Platt and Urs Huber (Bulls).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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