Morkov and Hansen take Copenhagen Six Day
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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Morkov and Hansen take Copenhagen Six Day

by Ed Hood at 4:42 PM EST   comments
Categories: Track
 
Dominant win is fourth home race success for Morkov

Michael MorkovJust minutes after taking a fourth win in his home race, the Copenhagen Six Day at the Ballerup Super Arena late on Tuesday evening, 27 year-old Michael Morkov (Saxo-Tinkoff) gave a good summation of the race's finale; 'to be honest, I don't really think that any of the other teams tried to take the lead of us, tonight.

We had a good lead on points so we just had to stick to team number one, Lampater and Roberts, they were the only ones we had to worry about.'

Morkov's countryman and partner in his previous three victories, Garmin's Alex Rasmussen, still languishes under suspension from a controversial 'whereabouts' infringement suspension, so the polka dot jersey holder for the first week of the 2012 Tour de France was paired with 20 year-old Lasse Norman Hansen.

The young Dane who won the Olympic Omnium Championship in London was visibly wilting towards the end of the longer chases but Morkov's strength and experience more than compensated for this.

The pair, wearing the legendary number 7 'Danish flag' jerseys amassed a hugely superior points total of 382 compared to the 304 of second place finishers, Germany's 31 year-old Leif Lampater and 36 year-old Australian former world and Olympic team pursuit champion, Luke Roberts.

Morkov was fulsome in his praise for his young partner: “it was good to win with Lasse, he's young but tried very hard and is a good listener, eager to learn how to ride the six days well.”

Asked if he missed Rasmussen, Morkov replied; 'it's nice to win with Lasse, but Alex and I have a great history here and I hope to be back next year with him to win.'

There were actually two Morkov's on the podium. Michael's 24 year-old younger brother, Jesper was at one lap in third spot with experienced Swiss star, Franco Marvulli, who is ten years the young Dane's senior.

Meanwhile the youngest Morkov brother, Jacob, was riding the UiV under 23 six day.

Jesper was delighted with his first senior six day podium placing, with third spot by no means certain in the face of some spirited riding by the Austrian duo of 33 year-old Andreas Muller and 27 year-old Andreas Graf.

The 'middle' Morkov explained that “the podium wasn't a certainty - in fact it was only with two laps to go that I realised we could do it.

Of course, it's amazing to make the podium in my home city and to share it with my brother.”

Muller and Graf were fourth, the same position they achieved in the 2012 World Madison Championship and have hopes of a podium in Belorus at the Worlds, next month.

Perhaps the most disappointed man in the stadium was 27 year-old defending champion, Marc Hester.

Last year, riding with Belgian star Iljo Keisse he ended three years of Morkov/Rasmussen domination in a dramatic and emotional finale.

This year, paired with former Olympic and world individual and team pursuit champion, 37 year-old German, Robert Bartko it looked as if Morkov would again not have things all his own way.

But a virus, contracted at the Berlin Six Day resulted in Bartko being neutralised early in the race, effectively ending Hester's chances of a repeat win.

The race was the swansong of 29 year-old German, Robert Bengsch - even though he and partner, 25 year-old Marcel Kalz dominated the flying lap, twice breaking Bartko's track record.

It was the last six day too, for 38 year-old Swiss rider, Alexander Aeschbach.

Coming straight off a ride at the Berlin Six Day, young American, 25 year-old Guy East impressed many with his riding, particularly in Monday night's 75 kilometre handicap chase; he already has invites for next winter.

Partner and fellow American, 29 year-old Zach Kovalcik felt the strain in the madisons but hopes to be back on the six day circuit in the autumn with a summer of road miles in his legs.

Copenhagen was the last six day of the winter season with Fiorenzuola in July the next six days of 'racing to nowhere.'

As for the winner Morkov, he heads for the Tour of the Algarve.

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