Linda Indergand (Focus XC) delivers a furious performance in the women's race. The proven strong technical rider has Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Merida), who started one minute ahead of her, in front of her on the first climb after the third kilometer.

"I still thought I had gone into the climb too fast, but when I saw Gunn-Rita in front of me and was able to keep the gap, I knew I was doing well," explained Linda Indergand. She overtakes Dahle-Flesjaa in the following downhill section. "I couldn't keep her rear wheel," admits the 45-year-old.

The Swiss and the Norwegian also overtake Annika Langvad (Specialized Racing). The marathon world champion from Denmark is unlucky when she gets a long cut in her tire after the first technical zone and loses a lot of time before she can change.

Indergand also passes Anne Tauber (CST Sandd American Eagle). The Dutchwoman comes back on the second, shorter climb and Indergand is able to latch onto her rear wheel. However, she then passes her again on the downhill. "It's going well downhill," laughs Indergand and adds: "It's always cool to start the season with a win."

Van der Breggen makes few mistakes

Eleven seconds separate the two-time Eliminator World Champion from the big surprise in second place. Anna van der Breggen starts the race early and is therefore cautious in her statement. She hadn't expected second place at all beforehand.

"I was happy that I got down the stairs in Lefkara so quickly, I was a bit scared of that," she says with a laugh. "I'd always like to put my elbows on the handlebars, but that's too dangerous on a mountain bike."

The runner-up in the world time trial on the road clearly knows how to handle her bike. "I didn't make many mistakes, so I'm quite happy," commented Van der Breggen. However, even before she knew that she would finish the prologue on the podium.

The Afxentia title defender Githa Michiels (Versluys) also achieved this. In third place, the Belgian is 50 seconds behind and therefore has good prospects going into the second stage with start and finish in Lefkara. Without knowing that she would end up in third place, Michiels was a little frustrated at the finish. "I made so many mistakes. This kind of thing doesn't suit me at all," she shook her head. "I'm looking forward to the next stages."

World number one Yana Belomoina (CST Sandd American Eagle) will not be competing. The Ukrainian did not feel well in the morning and decided not to race to be on the safe side.

Men: Litscher implements his own target

"The prologue, that was my focus for the four days of Afxentia," says Thomas Litscher with a smile at the finish. Known as a technically gifted rider, he erased the one minute he had started after the Austrian Karl Markt (Möbel Märki) before the halfway point of the course. "Considering the circumstances, I'm satisfied with how it went," says the world championship bronze medallist. The day before, he had picked up an infection. "I caught something. But it was enough for 25 minutes. We'll see how I feel tomorrow," says Litscher.

His compatriot Lars Forster (BMC Racing) finished second, beaten by just four seconds. Forster finds the time trial format with its large downhill section "fun" to "spectacular". Forster overtakes the U23 World Cup winner Martins Blums (CST Sandd American Eagle) from Latvia on his ride. "It was a crazy course in parts. In Lefkara, I never knew whether the next bend would close or not," says Forster.

Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing), who won the prologue last year, is not unhappy with third place. "I'm very happy for this type of race," says Kulhavy. "I was a bit ill recently and wasn't able to train at any intensity. That's why I'm a bit behind with my program. Tomorrow will certainly be tougher, so we'll see what works."

On Friday, the 52-kilometre race with start and finish in Lefkara also includes long climbs. You can also look forward to seeing Anna Van der Breggen, who loves such climbs.

The four stages of the Afxentia

• Thursday, 22 February: EZF Lefkara-Skarinou 14.5 kilometers (minus 600 vertical meters)
• Friday, February 23: Point-to-Point Lefkara-Lefkara 52.2 kilometers (2154 m elevation gain)
• Saturday, February 24: Point-to-Point Lythrodontas- Lythrodontas 66.2 kilometers (1993 m elevation gain)
• Sunday, February 25: XCO Macheras

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