In the men's race, a three-man lead group emerged in the second of seven five-kilometer laps. However, it was not the two BMC riders Lukas Flückiger or Ralph Näf, as expected, but Scott-Swisspower rider Florian Vogel and Spaniard José Antonio Hermida as well as 20-year-old German Julian Schelb. The trio built up a lead of half a minute by lap six. But then Schelb was no longer able to follow the two world-class riders and the duel for victory in Davos was on. Florian Vogel attacked on the Cologna Stutz, the longest and steepest climb, on the last lap and won his first race of the season with a lead of almost 20 seconds over José Hermida. Schelb finished third, 1:10 minutes behind. "I felt good today and rode to Watt. I was able to pace myself well in the race. The Cologna-Stutz always went very well and I sensed my chance there," explained Vogel, delighted with his victory, which confirms his performance in Andorra.

"Florian was super strong on those steep climbs. He took a few meters from me and it was tough for me. But I'm very happy about the result because I had a bad day last week in Andorra. Florian was seventh there, which means I have a good level. That was good for morale," Hermida commented on the decision. Schelb was also delighted with his first podium finish in the BMC Racing Cup. "Even after they left me behind, I was able to pull through," explained Schelb.

Behind them, the BMC armada formed up with Lukas Flückiger in fourth place. The World Championship silver medallist had overtaken his German teammate Moritz Milatz on the last lap and crossed the finish line 1:32 minutes behind, 13 seconds ahead of the German. Their teammates Martin Fanger and Ralph Näf finished sixth and seventh respectively.The record World Cup winner and reigning marathon world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa took victory in the women's race after a thrilling race.
As usual, U23 world champion Jolanda Neff started fastest, but then a group of seven riders formed, from which Linda Indergand soon had to leave. Six riders stayed together until the end of the penultimate lap. Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa went into the last five kilometers in first place and thus into the longest climb, Kathrin Stirnemann was behind, but had to give up this position to Sabine Spitz and Esther Süss until the highest point.
Dahle-Flesjaa had a small lead, which she never relinquished. "I was on the limit, but in first place I was able to ride my own thing. I took a few seconds lead into the final downhill and brought it down safely. That was good training in a strong field," said the 40-year-old, commenting on her final lap, which she finished 14.4 seconds ahead of the field. Kathrin Stirnemann overtook Spitz and Süss to take second place with a brilliant final descent. "I certainly benefited from the fact that it rained briefly. It made the course more difficult. I came straight from a week of altitude training and didn't think it would go so well," explained the racer from Gränich.The battle for third place between Esther Süss and Sabine Spitz was decided by a brief hiccup in Süss' gears. She was able to catch up with Spitz, who had lost touch with her teammate Stirnemann due to a mistake, but it was no longer enough to pass her. "It actually went really well, but I made one or two mistakes too many," admitted the European marathon champion. The World Cup winner from Andorra, Sabine Spitz, was "very satisfied" with her race. She had a number of appointments last week. "Under these aspects it fits. The course was good for my training," said Spitz.

New Zealander Samuel Gaze, who also won the Junior World Cup in Val di Sole, won the junior category. He relegated Swiss champion Andrin Beeli and Simon Vitzthum to second place. The junior women's competition went to Swiss champion Alessandra Keller. She won ahead of Mallory Barth, who made a strong comeback after breaking her collarbone.

Results BMC Racing Cup 2013, Davos:

Elite
1st VOGEL Florian 1982 Rapperswil-Jona Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 1:36:37.0
2nd HERMIDA José Antonio (ESP) 1978 Spain Multivan Merida Biking Team +0:19,6
3rd SCHELB Julian (GER) * 1992 Münstertal LEXWARE-ROTHAUS TEAM +1:10.1
4th FLÜCKIGER Lukas 1984 Leimiswil BMC Mountainbike Racing Team +1:32.2
5th MILATZ Moritz (GER) 1982 Freiburg BMC Mountainbike Racing Team +1:45.9
6th FANGER Martin 1988 Ennetmoos BMC Mountainbike Racing Team +2:00,7
7th NÄF Ralph 1980 Andwil BMC Mountainbike Racing Team +2:36,7
8. GUJAN Martin 1982 Mastrils TX-Active Bianchi Team +3:35,2
9. GALLATI Patrik 1988 Mollis Focus XC Team +4:06,9
10th ROHRBACH Nicola 1986 Unterägeri goldwurst-power/ Stöckli +4:28.6

Women
1st DAHLE FLESJAA Gunn-Rita (NOR) 1973 Sandnes Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:36:42,4
2nd STIRNEMANN Kathrin 1989 Gränichen Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team +0:14,4
3rd SPITZ Sabine (GER) 1971 Murg Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team +0:20.1
4th SÜSS Esther 1974 Küttigen Wheeler-IXS Team +0:22,3
5. KALENTIEVA Irina (RUS) 1977 Urmitz Topeak Ergon Racing Team +1:24.6
6th NEFF Jolanda * 1993 Thal Giant Pro XC Team +2:43,5
7. INDERGAND Linda * 1993 Silenen Strüby MTB Kader +4:57,8
8. SOLUS MISKOWICZ Katarzyna (POL) 1988 Tatrzanska National Team Poland +4:59,1
9. MORATH Adelheid (GER) 1984 Freiburg Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team +5:03,2
10th ENAUX Sabrina (FRA) 1978 Taintrux Specialized Solodet Vosges +5:49.3

Juniors
1st GAZE Samuel (NZL) 1995 1:14:09,0
2. BEELI Andrin 1995 Sagogn bskGraf-ROLLMAT-KOBA MTB Team +0:17,4
3rd VITZTHUM Simon 1995 Rheineck bischibikes / kopierpapier.ch +0:41.3
4th FISCHER Nicolas 1995 Solothurn Tropical Solothurn +0:57.0
5. SCHWARZBAUER Luca (GER) 1996 Nürtingen Rothaus-Poison/ Hochschwarzwald +1:12.7
6th VADER Milan (NED) 1996 Nieuwegein The Netherlands +1:27,7
7. HUBACHER Lars 1995 Oberdorf bskGraf-ROLLMAT-KOBA MTB Team +1:48.3
8. HORVATH David (GER) 1996 Reutlingen mtb team steinlach wiesaz +2:12,9
9. L'HOMME Léo 1996 Vuadens BikePark.ch Adrisport +2:44,2
10th STRITTMATTER Fabian 1995 Gränichen Specialized Racing +2:44.8

Junior girls
1st KELLER Alessandra 1996 Stans Strüby MTB Kader 1:08:48,7
2nd BARTH Mallory 1995 Eschert JB Felt Team +4:17.2
3. RUDOLF VON ROHR Rebecca 1996 Selzach Tropical Solothurn +4:57,5
4. BEELI Pierina 1996 Sagogn bskGraf-ROLLMAT-KOBA MTB Team +5:41.6
5. EHEIM Chantal 1995 Riedholz Tropical Solothurn +8:39,2
6. SCHÖNTHAL Joana 1996 Forch Velo-Shop Vonäsch Zollikon/VC Meilen +11:59.4
7th WALDIS Milena 1996 Morschach FOCUS X-BIONIC TEAM +15:31.1
8. ETZEL Amelie (GER) 1995 Neuffen TB-Neuffen -1 LAP
9th BAUMANN Chrystelle 1995 Montalchez Prof Raiffeisen CCL -3 LAP

Amateurs & Masters
1st FREY Martin (GER) * 1994 Bad Urach Team Bulls 1:28:33,7
2nd GUERRINI Marcel * 1994 Neuhaus Focus XC Eliteteam +0:12,0
3. VETSCH Enea * 1994 Berneck bskGraf-ROLLMAT-KOBA MTB Team +1:11,0
4th FIESCHI Ulisse * 1994 Moleno JB Felt Team +1:33.6
5th HEDIGER Philipp * 1993 Oberkulm Fischer - BMC +1:55,4
6. HOLLENSTEIN Tobias 1982 Rorschach bischibikes / kopierpapier.ch +2:15,1
7th VON BURG Rico * 1993 Selzach Thömus Racing Team +2:30.1
8. SCHMID Thomas 1990 Diepoldsau bsk-Graf Rollmat MTB Team +2:42.7
9. KLEIBER Andreas (GER) 1990 Freiburg Team Rothaus Poison-Bikes +2:52.1
10th GRAF Joel 1985 Walzenhausen Pink Gili Swiss Racing Team +3:00.7

Source: Press release, www.bmcracingcup.ch