There was a hectic atmosphere before the start of the 21st National Park Bike Marathon, the last under the aegis of Claudio Duschletta after six editions. His successor Fraesy Föhn was given a lesson in what can happen to an OC president on a race weekend. Heavy rainfall in Val Mora had led to mudslides, which also affected the course of the National Park circuit. But the numerous helpers did a great job. Duschletta was able to open the 141-km Vallader route starting from Scuol at 8 a.m. on the dot after an almost completely awake night, as well as the Jauer route, which starts in the Münstertal valley, at 9.30 a.m.. The other routes from Livigno, S-Chanf and Zernez were not affected.

Most of the top riders were not thrown off their stride by the delay. After co-favorite Samuele Porro withdrew at short notice due to illness, his Italian compatriot Marco Rebagliati jumped into the breach and onto Huber's rear wheel as he increased the pace on the climb to the main obstacle of the day, the Chaschauna Pass at 75 km. The duo harmonized perfectly all the way to Lavin. As in a pair time trial, the two were able to clearly distance the other competitors on the initially downhill course through the Upper Engadine back to Scuol.

Grison's Andrin Beeli, who almost made up ground on his two rivals in Zernez, was unlucky. But only almost. Alone in the wind, he had used up so much energy that he was unable to close the last 30 meters. Huber/Rebagliati disappeared from Beeli's field of vision shortly afterwards, who fell further and further behind and finished in fifth place. In Lavin, Huber made short work of Rabagliati. With a dry start on the climb to Ardez, he distanced the Italian and rode to victory in Scuol for the sixth time with a lead of 3:21 minutes - more than anyone before him. Finland's Toni Tähti was a surprise third ahead of Germany's Felix Fritzsch and Beeli.

"Apart from the postponement of the start time, everything went according to plan," explained Huber at the finish. When he heard about the postponement of the start, memories of the 2011 event came flooding back. Back then, the competition, which was also the Swiss Bike Marathon Championships, had to be canceled due to the nasty weather. "But the worries soon proved to be unfounded. It did rain in the Münstertal and it was quite fresh in Val Mora. But the rest of the route was very rideable and the temperatures were pleasant," explained Huber.

Rebagliati had nothing but praise for Huber's performance and was satisfied with second place. Likewise Tähti with third place. Beeli, on the other hand, said: "I had a very good feeling for a long time. But the ramp in Zernez, when I tried to catch up with the top riders again, broke my morale. After that, the cramps started and things didn't go smoothly for me at all until the finish."

As expected, the women's winner was last year's winner Alexandra Zürcher. The woman from the Bernese Oberland realized a superior start-finish victory. She beat second-placed Alessia Nay from Zizers by 21:20 minutes and third-placed Melinda Bär by more than three quarters of an hour. Zürcher was correspondingly satisfied.

In the middle distance, Fadri Barandun was a winner against his will, so to speak. The Samedan originally wanted to start over 141 km, but found out too late about the new start time and started on the Jauer course without further ado, which he promptly won ahead of Simon Brändli and Manfred Steinacher from Bad Ragaz.

Laetizia Strimer from the organizing bike marathon team managed a victory on the Jauer course ahead of Martina Höfler and Marina Signorell.

Results

Men (141 km):
1st Urs Huber (Mettmenstetten) 5:53:43.
2nd Marco Rebagliati (It) 3:21.
3rd Toni Tähti (Fin) 8:02.
4th Felix Fritzsch (De) 10:08.
5th Andrin Beeli (Sagogn) 12:41.
6th Fabien Monnier (Ayent) 20:01.
7th Mattia Longa (It) 20:22.
8th Holger Senf (De) 23:58.
9th Jeremias Marti (Willisau, LU) 24:21.
10th Dominik Schwaiger (De) 27:12.

Women (141 km):
1st Alexandra Zürcher (Oey) 7:22:57.
2nd Alessia Nay (Zizers) 21:20.
3rd Melinda Bär (Safenwil) 45:38.

Men (107 km):
1st Fadri Barandun (Samedan) 4:40:37.
2nd Simon Brändli (Winterthur) 6:57.
3rd Manfred Steinbacher (Bad Ragaz) 12:17.
4th Lukas Loretz (Solothurn) 12:28.
5th Flurin Staub (Fex) 19:22.

Women (107 km):
1st Laetizia Strimer (Scuol) 5:40:53.
2nd Daniela Höfler (Fläsch) 23:03.
3rd Marina Signorell (Quarten) 1:05:31.