The bad weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Wels cycling fans, with many spectators cheering on the athletes along the city centre course. 

Austria's biggest cycling event of the year took place in Wels this year on 26 July. International cycling stars met Austria’s cycling elite for the 19th time at the “Wels City Centre Crit”. That Wednesday in Wels, three days after the Tour de France, is a fixed date on the international cycling calendar. The absolute top stars of cycling have been thrilled by the great atmosphere of the exhibition city over the past 18 years. 

The winners of this year’s Tour of Austria of professional cyclists were selected in Wels at the beginning of July, and the protagonists at the traditional city centre crit were also the best in their trade: Lukas Pöstlberger, the first Austrian winner of a stage of the Giro d'Italia, won 19th crit. The Upper Austrian from the Bora-Hansgrohe team went one better on the wet cobblestones after 50 laps, coming ahead of Markus Eibegger (Felbermayr Simplon Wels) and Felix Großschartner (CCC). And completely new: The Wels road bike region was represented at the starting line with four riders from the Felbermayr Simplon Wels team with their own new team jerseys. Daniel Lehner from Thalheim, Florian Kierner from Buchkirchen, Tobias Bayer from Straß im Attergau and Bayer Matthias Mangertseder were at the starting line wearing the new shirts. Amongst the women, who completed 30 laps, Martina Ritter finally emerged the winner - also the best in Austria!

The team jersey is available after the crit at the Wels information point on the town square, in addition to the road bike map with tour guides. 

More information on the cycling crit is available >>>here.