The underdogs Grasmann and Morkov benefited most from the quiet day on the track at the Six Days of Copenhagen on Sunday, regaining two laps and winning the final Madison race. Rasmussen and Morkov defended their lead, but their advantage has shrinked significantly and as a consequence three pairs will resume a rivalry on Monday at the same lap.
Following a sprints competition, which traditionally opens rivalry at Six Days of Copenhagen, de Buyst and Hester emerged as deserved winners of the 40-minutes long Madison race. As – in line with all expectations – leading combinations were visibly tired following the Saturday night fever and set themselves into defensive mode, the Belgian-Danish pair tried to make up on a lost ground after imploding the day before. At this point, they managed to regain one lap, just as Grassman and Morkov, and move themselves to a second place in the general classification.
Sunday is a family day at the Six Days of Copenhagen, and so many competitions were held only to entartain a very special kind of audience present in the Ballerup Super Arena. Riders definitely enjoyed a relaxed mood and a possibility to take a little breather before two decisive days of rivalry on Monday and Tuesday.
In such circumstances, the elimination race race was decided by teams placed further down in the general classification and eventually won by Sebastian Wotschke and Hans Pirius, Sunday afternoon's only derny grand prix was a show of two Morkov brothers with the older one emerging as the stronger, while Lampater and Kalz traditionally won the time trial.
The final 80-laps long Madison left no doubts how fatigued all riders were following the battles they had fought on Saturday. Overnight leaders Rasmussen and Morkov set themselves into a totally defensive mode, just as the Germans Lampater and Kalz – happy with gaining a bonus lap after crossing the 200-points mark. Pair no. 9 tried to continue they offensive, but Hester imploded halfway through the race totally unable to finish off attacks initiated by his younger partner, mercilessly chased by the Danish favourites.
In the end, in was Grassman and Morkov who once again were given more leeway and continued improving their position in the general classification. Pair no. 14 not only won yet enother final big chase at the Copenhagen Six, but finished the fourth day of rivalry at the same lap as the leaders. Rasmussen and Morkov defended their first place, but their advantage has shrinked very significantly and they will have to reinvent their Saturday's aggressiveness to claim another victory in the home Six Day event.
The Six Days of Copenhagen classification after day four:
1. Alex Rasmussen – Michael Morkov 265
2. Leif Lampater – Marcel Kalz 216
3. Christian Grassman – Jesper Morkov 185
at 1 lap
4. Jasper de Buyst – Marc Hester 278
5. Andreas Muller – Andreas Graf 104
at 18 laps
6. Nick Stopler – Mathias Krigbaum 79
at 21 laps
7. Denis Rugovac – Martic Hacecky 82
8. Martin Blaha – Vojtech Hacecky 49
9. Melvin van Zijl – Didier Caspers 40
at 22 laps
10. Jake Duehring – Daniel Holloway 76
at 28 laps
11. Jiri Hochmann – Achim Burkart 27
at 29 laps
12. Simon Bigum – Elias Helleskov Busk 86
13. Nikola Aistrup – Jonas Aaen 80
at 31 laps
14. Sebastian Wotschke – Hans Pirius 76
at 33 laps
15. Manuel Cazzaro – Filippo Fortin 81
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