Pro Cycling Team Vorarlberg ANNUAL REVIEW 2024 …. Chain right and on and on!
Team Vorarlberg – Season review 2024
26 years old and not a bit tired? Of course you are, because at 26 you are at the best age for cycling. Team Vorarlberg is no exception. Looking back, one can generally speak of a successful season with numerous exclamation marks. The team around sports director Werner Salmen did not make any major mistakes. At one race or another, not much was missing for a complete success.
Highlight Clip Volta Portugal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXbWbDft_Zs
Highlights Clip Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_Ddl7beb8
Click here for the virtual review with Team Manager Thomas Kofler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVzvG4o0Upw&t=32s
It’s not an excuse, but above all, the leaders of the team were always injured or handicapped by crashes. And yet – you could always see the black, yellow and red jerseys riding actively and aggressively on over 100 race days. Cycling with passion and enthusiasm. The way Team Vorarlberg is known and loved – since 1999!
15-man squad with a full racing program
Team managers Thomas and Johannes Kofler, technical director, sent an impressive squad from five nations into the season in February. Dominik Amann, Laurin Nenning, Daniel Heidegger, Nikolas Riegler, Moran Vermeulen, Kilian Feurstein (all AUT), Colin Stüssi, Felix Stehli, Lukas Rüegg (all SUI), Pirmin Benz, Lukas Meiler, Jannis Peter (all GER), Tomoya Koyama (JAP), Alexander Konychev (ITA).
Until the home race at the GP Vorarlberg on May 1st, the racing calendar was packed. These included the Tour of Antalya (TUR), South Aegean Tour of Rhodes (both GRE), Tour du Loire et Cher (FRA), Giro della Romagna (ITA), as well as the national races in Germany and the entry into the Austrian Cycling League. This also resulted in podium places in Greece for Lukas Rüegg (2nd overall in the South Aegean Tour) and Colin Stüssi’s third place in the Tour of Rhodes.
The GP Vorarlberg UCI 1.2 once again offered great cycling cinema with glorious weather and a large crowd of spectators. After a somewhat unfortunate race, Jannis Peter saved the Vorarlberg team’s honor with seventh place.
Then, at the Fleche du Sud in Luxembourg, the sporting answer and an extremely strong performance. Lukas Rüegg also came second overall in the tour after finishing second in the stages. The team classification clearly went to Team Vorarlberg.
The young guns showed their ambitions more and more. Above all Kilian Feurstein (stage win at the Tour de Allgäu) and Laurin Nenning with strong performances, but even more importantly – with a visible development towards the front. Including at the tough race in Schönberg (victory for Colin Stüssi).
The packed race calendar leading up to the Tour of Austria was peppered with top races such as the Rund um Köln (GER), Ronde d I Oise (FRA), GP des Kanton Aargau (SUI), as well as the Int. Upper Austria round trip.
Second home race with a gala performance by Konychev and state champion Amann!
The revival of the cycling criterium in Rankweil offered world-class cycling at its best. The winner was the German Michael Schwarzmann from the World Tour Team Israel Cycling. In third place was Alexander Konychev, who is getting in better and better shape. Dominik Amann from Vorarlberg caused a sensation with fifth place in the race. He was thus crowned the new national champion.
Death of Andrè Drege overshadows Tour of Austria
It should have been a successful performance. Everything was in place ahead of the final stage from Kufstein up to Kühtai. Colin Stüssi was ready to storm from 13th place into the top five. That was his goal. Up to the Glockner stage, Team Vorarlberg was in the middle of the World Tour teams in the infight. Then came the tragic death of Norwegian Andrè Drege from Team Coop-Repsol in a crash on the descent of the Grossglockner. The entire Tour entourage was paralyzed, the last stage became a condolence ride for Andrè. In the shadow of this tragedy, Colin Stüssi finished the Tour in 13th place.
85th Volta a Portugal – Stage win and second place overall by Colin Stüssi
After winning the Erlauftal Cycling Days shortly before leaving for Portugal, it was clear that Colin Stüssi was in good form. After a good prologue, the Swiss rider won the first stage after a hussar ride up the Miranda da Corvo. The yellow jersey shone on Stüssi’s shoulders until the third stage. He started the final time trial in third place and secured second place in the overall standings behind the Russian Artem Nych. Another milestone in the history of Team Vorarlberg.
Here, too, the team was the cornerstone of the success, even though they had to cope with injuries to Lukas Rüegg and Jannis Peter (out after breaking his elbow).
After a short break from racing and national races, the classic race with 25 gravel passages in the Netherlands (Ronde van Achterhoek) followed. An instructive experience for everyone. Jon Knolle narrowly missed out on the next Bundesliga podium with fourth place in Braunau, while the Giro della Friuli did not go according to plan.
At the Tour of Istanbul, Alexander Konychev shone with ninth place in the overall standings against well-known teams. At the Gravel World Championships in Belgium, Felix Stehli impressed with 30th place. Stehli also secured the last success of the season in the Amashova Race in South Africa.
We say thank you for an eventful, successful year 2024
There is no fixed routine for a cycling year on the professional circuit. The sport is always on the move, it is constantly evolving. We actively participate in this development with our sponsors, partners, the riders and the support team.
We are an integral part of the German-speaking world in particular, but also of European cycling. This also fills us with pride and appreciation. We would like to thank the organizers, fans and, above all, our employees, the numerous volunteers who support us year after year. A significant contribution to cycling in our own region.
Team Vorarlberg 2024
Facts Team Vorarlberg
- 1999 Foundation
- 15 Drivers
- 12 employees / supervisors
- Status UCI World Federation “UCI Continental Europe Tour “
- 7 season wins
- National champion criterion
- 105 race days
Highlight Clip Volta Portugal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXbWbDft_Zs
Highlights Clip Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_Ddl7beb8
“SPONSORING as a PARTNER of Team Vorarlberg” a successful investment!
Team Vorarlberg can rely on a large number of great partners. Many of them have been on board for several years. During this time, many sporting highs and lows have been overcome. For us, the important basic values of mutual appreciation and successful “togetherness” are paramount.
A heartfelt “THANK YOU” to the entire TEAM VORARLBERG!
In addition to the year-round commitment of the professionals in all weathers, we can rely on a great support crew, including the office and marketing department. THANK YOU for your commitment!
Equally and above all to all partners and sponsors, as well as the supporters of Team Vorarlberg.
Team Vorarlberg 2025 – hard at work!
The management will continue to field a strong squad for 2025 despite the current difficult economic conditions and with an eye on the bigger picture. But first of all: almost all key players have been retained. The Team Vorarlberg squad will continue to make headlines in the coming year!
The team would like to thank the staff of the press offices and the media for their reporting during the past season.
“Keep on riding”!
Thomas Kofler – Team Manager
Management and Press Service Team Vorarlberg
