"I am super happy that it went so well in the end. I can't remember when a victory meant so much to me. A year and a half of frustration because of the pandemic was simply gone within seconds," the 37-year-old reported after the race over the lava fields, dirt roads, sand tracks and asphalt roads of Lanzarote. But for this great moment of happiness, the marathon specialist also had to get the absolute maximum out of it.
Although Nissen won the first stage and was allowed to put on the jersey of the overall leader, he lost it one day later to the Spaniard Ismael Ventura (39). In the 3rd stage, a demanding mountain time trial, Nissen again had to give way to a Spaniard. With a 19-second gap to the winner of the mountain time trial, Victor Manuel Fernandez, they finally went into the 4th and final stage.
"I knew it would be hard because Fernandez was supported by a strong team," said Nissen. But the experienced MTB marathoner had a plan. On the final stage, which actually offered few opportunities for attacks, Nissen had chosen the only harder climb. And the plan worked. With the exception of Fernandez and one of his helpers, everyone had to let go. Nissen kept the pace high and also shook off the helper. With temperatures reaching 40 degrees, it was finally a section through deep sand where Nissen was able to decisively pull away from his rival and cross the finish line with a lead of more than a minute.
"I kept pushing like a madman and was able to open up a bigger and bigger gap," cheered the overall winner of the 4 Stage MTB Race Lanzarote. Now Nissen hopes for more races to confirm his great form.