Season review 2022: Team Vorarlberg delivers outstanding season and shines also in the 24th year!
Copyright photos Team Vorarlberg / according to specification
Season review 2022: Team Vorarlberg delivers outstanding season and shines also in the 24th year!
The team started the year 2022 very confident and with a very strong team on paper. The rider squad has been reduced to eleven riders not least to focus on a clear UCI race program for the cyclists, as well as the national league races in Austria to be able to take. Again and again, the young riders like Dominik Amann and Linus Stari were used and their further development was promoted – and yes – they have developed and made a decent performance leap.
Back to the start of the season. At the South Aegean Tour UCI 2.2 in Greece, top results were already in the books at the first UCI tour: Alexis Guerin finished the tour in third place overall. On the second stage, the likeable Frenchman missed the victory by a hair’s breadth and finished second.
Lukas Meiler from Oberammergau in Bavaria, who has been with the team since 2015, made his sporting breakthrough last year. At the Tour of Rhodes UCI 2.2, the 27-year-old won the prologue and sensationally finished second in the entire tour. Thus Lukas Meiler drove himself into a clear leader position for the entire season. This he underpinned in the following on the example of the Sibiu Tour in Romania UCI 2.1 (3rd place on the last stage and winner of the mountain classification overall).
The entire team has shown an impressive breadth. Alexis Guerin and Roland Thalmann were able to extend their captain roles over the continuation of the season. Guerin started the year successfully, and finished accordingly in the CRO Race UCI 2.1. He won the overall mountain classification, and graced the podium with current Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard (NOR / Jumbo Visma). But it wasn’t just Guerin who showed up at the CRO Race in the daily Eurosport TV live broadcasts. Every day a Team Vorarlberg rider was in the lead.
Alexis Guerin was responsible for numerous other podium finishes at the Tour of Bulgaria, In the footsteps of Romans etc … outstanding also the stage win at the Czech Tour Sazka Tour UCI 2.1, and second place overall at the Int. Oberösterreich Rundfahrt UCI 2.2.
Roland “Roli” Thalmann, the Swiss in his fifth season with Team Vorarlberg, performed again in his usual manner. He secured his first yellow leader’s jersey with victory in the first stage at the Tour Alsace UCI 2.2, as did his third-place finish at Tour of Bulgaria, and most notably his hussar ride to seventh in the lead group from Locarno to Moosalp at the Tour de Suisse (World Tour). Thalmann suffered a fractured upper arm at the Circuit des Ardennes in France and was back in racing action just a few weeks later. Simply strong – simply “Roli”!
Riccardo Zoidl, the father of three kids from Upper Austria, tried his hand in the West and also knew how to convince. Not always easy to distribute the captain role in each race, but Werner Salmen the sports director, knew how to unite the men. “Ricci” finished eighth overall in the Sazka Tour UCI 2.1, and fifth in both his home tour, the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt, and the Tour of Rhodes UCI 2.2.
The working bee in the service of the Vorarlberg Colin Stüssi, was often guarantor for the final results of the leaders. When Colin revved up his engine, it played Granada in the field. The 29-year-old Swiss from Näfels then drew his personal card in the Swiss Road Championship. He sensationally finished third against all the World Tour riders. He narrowly missed the podium at the Tour Alsace UCI 2.2 with fourth place.
The young Vorarlberg fraction presented itself after many years of building up now also with results. Linus Stari is excellent overall fifth at the Tour of Bulgaria “in the footsteps of romans” UCI 2.2. In addition, his good season end at the CRO Race in Croatia. To fight side by side with one of the Tour de France winners “a really good feeling” as Linus commented.The young rider from Hohenems, Dominik Amann, also knew how to break through this year and showed great performances in the stages of the CRO Race. Likewise as a valuable helper at the Int. Oberösterreich Rundfahrt UCI 2.2. Especially shines his first podium in the Austrian cycling league with third place at the Braunauer cycling days in Ranshofen.
Daniel Ganahl, ÖSV (austrian ski federation) athlete in ski mountaineering, started the season later, but showed his class especially when it went into the climbs. Impressive his victory and title at the Austrian National Championships on the mountain in Tyrol.
Nikolas Riegler, did not have the best season this year, but Niko will take this experience with him into next year and will come back all the stronger.
The two Swiss Lukas Rüegg and Matthias Reutimann, delivered a really good job throughout the year. Rüegg had some bad luck from time to time, but he always showed his extra class in race overview and the good “nose” to read a race. He also rode the Tour de Suisse in the Swiss national team. The same as his team colleague Matthias Reutimann. “Reuti” convinced in the Austrian national league in many races and in the overall ranking (fourth place).
Martin Meiler, the fast man from Oberammergau and brother of Luki, has had a bit of a fumble this year. Nevertheless Martin could convince in his sixth season in Vorarlberg as a valuable helper. In some races he let his speed flash.
A chapeau belongs to the entire coaching staff. First and foremost the sports director Werner Salmen, the “brain” of the team, who guided the boys to success. Werner is truly a fox when it comes to strategy, courage and the gift to race with passion.
Plus all the other coaches and support staff who really rounded out the team. Success often takes place in the background, and here we had the best background one could wish for.
Last but not least, especially in the second half of the season, the team really felt the effects of the difficult economic situation worldwide. The enormously increased fuel and toll prices, accommodation costs, but also catering and various acquisition costs were, and still are, the biggest challenge.
Overview Team Vorarlberg Results international UCI
https://www.procyclingstats.com/team/team-vorarlberg-2022
Summary season 2022:
1st place Austrian National Championship Mountain
12 victories incl. the classification jerseys
13 x rank 2
11 x rank 3
474 UCI points
Most successful team of Austria in UCI world ranking
Facts Team Vorarlberg
– 1999 Foundation
– 11 riders
– 14 supporters / helpers
– Status UCI World Federation “UCI Continental Europe Tour “
Finally and in summary again a more than successful season for Team Vorarlberg!
“SPONSORING as a PARTNER with Team Vorarlberg” a successful investment!
Team Vorarlberg is grateful to be able to rely on a large number of great partners! Many of them are already on board for several years. During this time many sportive ups and downs have been overcome. In the foreground for us are above all the important basic values of mutual appreciation and successful “togetherness”. THANKS!!!
A heartfelt “THANK YOU” to the entire TEAM VORARLBERG!
This does not only include the professionals. The most successful team in Austria can rely on a great support crew, including the office. THANK YOU EUCH for the commitment!
Team Vorarlberg 2023 – let’s go into the jubilee year!
The squad composition is completed. We are ready for the jubilee season – a quarter of a century Team Vorarlberg, and we are looking forward to the start. There are big tasks waiting for drivers and support staff. We will accept them!
The team would like to thank the press and media for their coverage during the past season. Equally especially to all partners and sponsors, as well as the supporters around Team Vorarlberg.
“Keep on riding “!
Thomas Kofler – Team Manager
Management und Presseservice Team Vorarlberg