Two of the most frequently named favorites, Mathias Flückiger (Thömus maxon) and Marcel Guerrini (BIXS Performance Race Team), had to cancel their start at short notice for health reasons. However, even without the two Swiss top performers, the spectators were able to watch exciting and dynamic races on the challenging XCO course in not easy but fair conditions through the gravel pits and the bike nature trail. The course was slippery in places due to the weather, but the organizers were still able to prepare the track so that all passages could be ridden.

For a long time, it looked as if the two Thömus-maxon riders Lars Forster (29) and the overall winner of the 2023 CIC Swiss Bike Cup, Vital Albin (25), would not be able to follow Luca Schätti, who rode like he was unleashed. At the finish, however, the two veterans were once again ahead: Lars Forster won ahead of Vital Albin. Just behind him, however, Luca Schätti finished third and left an impressive mark.

Luca Schätti with a temporary lead

The 23-year-old from Bike Team Solothurn in Horgen, who finished 16th in Gränichen last year, rode from an unfavorable starting position to the front like clockwork and led the race as a matter of course. Before a jammed transition, which can happen in the nasty and muddy conditions, cost the trained bike mechanic crucial time.

However, Schätti's comeback after a serious thigh injury last year is promising for his future: the bronze medal winner at the 2022 U23 World Championships has set his sights on the 2028 Olympic Games.

Keller dominant - Neff with insights

The women's race was exciting despite the dominance of last year's winner Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon). The 28-year-old from Nidwalden, currently the strongest Swiss rider, won by 15 seconds ahead of Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing), but she could not be sure of her victory for a long time. Neff, the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020, was initially unable to keep up from the start, but then undertook a spirited, even brilliant chase that almost brought her to the front.

Alessandra Keller can also be sure that she is on course for the upcoming World Cup races and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. And fighter Jolanda Neff is also taking away valuable insights from the race in Gränichen. "With a strong start and finish, I want to win a race again," says Neff, who was supported by Trek Future Racing on site. She will have the opportunity to do so next weekend at the Tamaro Cup, the second race of the CIC Swiss Bike Cup. Alongside Alessandra Keller, other strong world-class riders will be competing in Ticino. "I'm particularly looking forward to the Tamaro Cup," says Jolanda Neff about the importance of the race on Monte Tamaro.

Exclamation mark by Monique Halter

The 19-year-old Monique Halter (Thömus Akros - Youngstars) from eastern Switzerland, who is still competing in the U23 category, set an exclamation mark behind the two strongest Swiss women. Last year, the promising young talent was hardly able to compete in any races due to persistent back problems. In Gränichen, Monique Halter showed her class with a podium finish: she relegated Linda Indergand (Liv Factory Racing), overall winner of the 2023 CIC Swiss Bike Cup and Olympic bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020, to 4th place.

Junior victories for Sommer and Šerkezi

In the juniors, Sven Sommer from KA BOOM Krapf Raceteam started the CIC Swiss Bike Cup season in the same way he finished the previous one: With a victory ahead of Micha Alder (BIXS Performance Race Team) and Lewin Iten from the young team RVW Pasolino Racing. Co-favorite and Swiss champion Nicolas Halter (KA BOOM Krapf Raceteam) had no chance of a front place with two technical defects.

Slovenian Maruša Tereza Šerkezi won the junior women's race with a clear lead of over three minutes ahead of Noémie Gret (Team VTT Papival SCOTT).

The next stop of the CIC Bike Cup is the races next weekend (23/24 March) in Rivera TI on Monte Tamaro. Many world-class riders have registered for this year's races.

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