Team Vorarlberg with win number two of the season! Tobias Nolde wins the 64th Cherry Blossom Race in Wels and extends his lead in the Cycling League Austria
Team Vorarlberg dominates cherry blossom race – Tobias Nolde celebrates second win of the season and extends league lead – Emanuel Zangerle in fourth place on the day
After an exhausting week at the Tour of the Alps, the Arlberg Express took Team Vorarlberg directly from Bolzano to the Cherry Blossom Race in Wels. The second race of the Austrian Cycling League was on the agenda today, with Tobias Nolde, winner of the opening race in Leonding, carrying the team’s hopes over a challenging 169.8-kilometre stage.
Determined teamwork and tactics lead to success
From the end of the first third of the race, Team Vorarlberg pushed the pace decisively and blew up the field to a group size of just 25 riders. Remarkably, six Vorarlberg pros were at the front: Tobias Nolde, Dominik Röber, Emanuel Zangerle, Colin Stüssi, Kilian Feurstein and Philipp Hofbauer . However, an unfortunate material defect subsequently knocked Kilian Feurstein out of the race for the top places.
Thrilling finale right up to the last meter!
The two decisive final laps saw a nine-man breakaway group emerge with Tobias Nolde , who was bright today. His team colleague Emanuel Zangerle made a great effort to close the gap from the chasing pack to the front. The last 20 kilometers of the stage were characterized by an uninterrupted exchange of blows, but the league leader Tobias Nolde confidently parried every attack, supported by his team colleague Emanuel Zangerle. Shortly before the finish, Tobias Nolde, Paul Buschek (AUT / Team Schwingshandl) and the New Zealander Christian Rush (ARBÖ Kärnten) pulled away decisively.
Tobias Nolde irresistible to win number two of the season – Zangerle in fourth place
In the last 200 meters, 27-year-old Tobias Nolde ignites the turbo and sprints to his second win of the season ahead of Paul Buschek and Christian Rush. Emanuel Zangerle completed the outstanding success for Team Vorarlberg with a strong fourth place. Italian Giacomo Ballabio made a welcome return after a long illness with a twelfth place. Dominik Röber (14th) and Philipp Hofbauer (16th) rounded off an outstanding team performance. After Alexander Konychev’s victory in 2025, Team Vorarlberg managed to repeat this success this year.
With his victory in Wels, Tobias Nolde has further extended his overall lead in the Austrian Cycling League. He is now ahead of Paul Buschek from Team Schwingshandl. But behind him in 3rd to 5th place are the Vorarlberg pros Emanuel Zangerle, Philipp Hofbauer and Dominik Röber. Team Vorarlberg has also extended its lead in the team classification.
“This win shows our current unity in the team. Everyone did their job and we implemented our tactics perfectly. In the final, it was an open exchange of blows. I had good legs and the sprint went really well. That gives us a lot of self-confidence for the upcoming tasks,” said a delighted Nolde after the finish
The team is now confidently looking ahead to the important home race next Friday, May 1st, at the GP Vorarlberg UCI 1.2 in Nenzing.
Result https://www.computerauswertung.at/veranstaltungen/2026/260426/20260426_Kirschbluetenrennen_ME.pdf
Stand Cycling League Austria https://www.computerauswertung.at/veranstaltungen/2026/260426/RBL-Auswertung_ME_nach_Kirschbluetenrennen.pdf
Cover picture Tobias Nolde wins in Wels@Reinhard_Eisenbauer
Picture 1 Team Vorarlberg leads the peloton@Reinhard_Eisenbauer
Image 2 podium Buschek_Nolde_Rush@Reinhard_Eisenbauer
Image 3 Arlberg Express for Team Vorarlberg@Reinhard_Eisenbauer
Press Service Team Vorarlberg www.team-vorarlberg.at office@proevent-cycling.at
*Please note: The images can be used free of charge for editorial reporting on Team Vorarlberg in print and online media. Please name the photographer.
Squad: Dominik Amann, Giacomo Ballabio, Ignazio Cireddu, Kilian Feurstein, Philipp Hofbauer, Mathias Larch, Laurin Nenning, Tobias Nolde, Dominik Röber, Emanuel Zangerle, Colin Stüssi
