Riders from 17 nations will be at the start of the races in the Hors category on Sunday, 180 juniors will be competing in the UCI Junior Series and the total number of entries will reach a record of over 800. Florian Vogel from the Focus XC team has conjured up a great spring season in the dust and mud of the international race tracks and made a real comeback to the top of the world. This is reflected not only in two fourth places in the first two World Cup races, but also in the third position in the new world rankings. Although he lives in Rapperswil-Jona, Vogel describes the BMC Racing Cup in Gränichen as his home race. The 33-year-old rides for the Racing Club Gränichen. "The first part of the season is practically over, but I'm really looking forward to the race in Gränichen. I did my very first mountain bike race there in 1995 and it's a cool event," says Vogel.

On the 4.2-kilometre course in the gravel works, Vogel is one of the candidates for victory in his current form. Or at least among those who can challenge world champion Julien Absalon from the BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team. The Frenchman took his 30th World Cup victory last Sunday in Albstadt, Germany, somewhat luckily ahead of Nino Schurter, further cementing his status as a legend. As a result, Julien Absalon is not only in the rainbow jersey and top of the world rankings, but is also leading the overall World Cup standings. More number one is not possible.

But even a number one has to be on his guard against a motivated pack, which includes Florian Vogel and Mathias Flückiger from the Stöckli Pro Team. He was only narrowly beaten by Fabian Giger (Colnago-South Tyrol) in Gränichen in 2014 and with his two fifth places in the two World Cup races, the Ochlenberger is also in top form. Giger, sixth in Albstadt, is also getting better, as is Lukas Flückiger (BMC Racing), who beat the German Manuel Fumic in the sprint for seventh place. "That was much better than the week before. I'm looking ahead and preparing for the BMC Racing Cup in Gränichen," explained Lukas Flückiger. With Trek Factory Racing rider Daniel McConnell from Australia, there is another international touch in the parade of favorites. And then there is another local hero, Matthias Stirnemann (Möbel Märki), who showed great racing in Nove Mesto in 14th and Albstadt in 12th. He will certainly have an advantage on home turf.

Another solo show from Jolanda Neff?
"It was really cool", said Jolanda Neff last year after her victory in the Gränich gravel works. The interview with the winner had long been in the box when Maja Wloszczowska, who came second, crossed the line three and a half minutes later. But the 22-year-old can not only put on a solo show in the BMC Racing Cup. She also managed it last Sunday in Albstadt, albeit with less of a lead. It was a feast for the eyes how she flew through the trails and in Gränichen the Thaler can let off even more steam with her technical riding qualities. Will she be able to motivate herself for a HC race after two World Cup victories? "I like riding all the races, even if there are zero points. I haven't ridden in Switzerland for four weeks and Gränichen has a cool course," says Jolanda Neff. And then she refers to a long-distance duel with Nino Schurter. "I think it's funny that we're so close to each other. He has 59 wins in the Cup and I have 58, so I could draw level on Sunday," says Neff, her laugh revealing that she is actually taking this sideshow with a wink.

Who could prevent her ninth consecutive Cup win? First and foremost, Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa. The Norwegian was second in both of Neff's World Cup victories and in Nove Mesto the spectators witnessed a close and fascinating duel between the two rivals, who are 20 years apart in age but both represent the absolute best in the world in terms of performance. Dahle-Flesjaa wanted "revenge" in Albstadt, but because she got stuck in the start phase, she lost too much time. She won't make it easy for Jolanda Neff in Gränichen. And not only her.

The women's field still has a few competitors who are no lightweights. There is runner-up Irina Kalentieva (Möbel Märki) from Russia, there is the new German hope Helen Grobert (Ghost Factory Racing), who was sixth in Albstadt, there is her compatriot, the three-time Olympic medal winner and reigning European marathon champion Sabine Spitz, Australian Rebecca Henderson (Trek Factory Racing), Linda Indergand (Focus XC) from Silenen, who has positively surprised in the World Cup, three-time World Cup winner Eva Lechner (Colnago-Südtirol) from Italy and, last but not least, Esther Süss, who also has RC Gränichen as a club on her license. "Finally nice weather," said Süss in Albstadt after her tenth place. In other words: if the weather conditions are right, then you can count on me. That should also work out in Gränichen. Kathrin Stirnemann (Haibike-Ötztal) showed an upward trend on Sunday. However, it remains to be seen whether she will be competitive at the highest level.

The UCI Junior Series is being held in Gränichen for the first time. This is the successor to the Junior World Cup and therefore juniors from 17 different nations will be competing for points on Sunday. In total, more than 20 different nations will be represented at the BMC Racing Cup.www.bmc-racing-cup.ch