After the classic race in Nals, the mountain bike circus meets up in Haiming, Austria, for another top battle. Mathias Flückiger starts the race with a lot of confidence after last weekend's victory. "I didn't feel quite as good as last week in Italy, but I was able to keep up with all the various attacks. That built me up during the race," summarizes Flückiger at the finish. And indeed. Flückiger was able to keep up with an initial increase in pace from Olympic champion Nino Schurter without any problems, while the leading group fell apart.

Like a week ago, the big showdown comes on the last lap. While Cink, Fini and the Swiss Lars Forster had to let the leading duo go, Schurter and Flückiger fought a thrilling duel on the last lap. With the better end for the Bernese rider, who seeks and finds the decision around 400 meters before the finish. "Two victories in important races at the start of the season, twice keeping the upper hand in a thrilling final. I don't think I've ever started a season so well," says Flückiger, rightly delighted with his victory at the Ötztal Mountain Bike Festival.
Results

Anne before Anne

Dutch rider Anne Terpstra triumphed in the women's race. Her compatriot Anne Tauber did not have an ideal start, but nevertheless took the lead on the third lap, only to lose it again on the following lap. So the order remains the same, with Tauber finishing second behind Terpstra and the Austrian Laura Stigger in third.

Central Switzerland's Alessandra Keller has reason to smile. She rode a good and consistent race and was able to improve on the previous week. She finished in seventh place ahead of Sina Frei in eighth. "The course was also a real endurance test for my knee. I'm glad that everything went well and that I was able to work my way towards a podium place," said Keller, analyzing her race at the finish line.
Results