The Hervis Tour (Tour of Austria) has shortened its last stage time trial from 39 to 31 kilometres, citing potential traffic problems. Tour Director Ursula Riha said, "If we had kept the planned course, then it would most probably have come to massive traffic backups along part of the course. Since a time trial entails entirely closing the road for other traffic, our originally planned route seemed too risky for a Tour-deciding stage." The decision to shorten the course was made jointly by the the Tour organizers, the town of Podersdorf am See and the Burgenland Tourisumus, the local tourism agency.
The decision was met with approval from the Austrian rider and two-time Austrian Tour winner Gerrit Glomser, who rides for the Austrian GS-II Volksbank team. "No rider will be angry about this," he said. "And especially the Austrian favourites for the overall victory - Kohl, Trampusch and me, none of whom are time trial specialists - are not unhappy with the shortened course."
