The Sunshine Race is taking place for the 18th time - only once in its history has the event experienced a muddy battle. This year's edition is once again all sunshine and UCI points are in abundance thanks to the Hors category status. No wonder the start list looks like an excerpt from the World Cup - for both men and women.

For the latter, it is Sina Frei (Ghost Factory Racing) who makes her ambitions clear with a lightning start. She is followed by multiple Nals winner Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Merida) and Kross rider Maja Wloszczowska, who drops back a little later due to a crash. In the second half of the race, Linda Indergand (Focus XC Team) catches up with Frei and Dahle. On the last lap, it is again Sina Frei who pushes the pace. The U23 world champion pulled away and crossed the finish line in first place, eleven seconds ahead of Indergand and 31 seconds ahead of Dahle. It is also Frei's first victory in an elite hors categorie race.

"I tried to ride the race as consistently as possible and prevent any big changes in pace until the last lap - always keeping an eye on my rivals," said Sina Frei. Fourth place went to Anne Tauber (NED - Sandd American Eagle), the high-flyer of the season, and fifth place went to Alessandra Keller (Thömus RN Racing Team), who beat other well-known riders such as Maja Wloszczowska and Yana Belomoina.
World champion Jolanda Neff finishes the race in a disappointing 15th place.

Flückiger and the exception to the rule

Whoever rides in Nals for the first time usually pays the price, they say. Mathias Flückiger said before the race that he really likes the course and is convinced that he can have a say here. In fact, the Thömus-RN team rider forms the leading group together with the two French riders Maxime Marotte (Cannondale) and Stephane Tempier (Bianchi). Tempier, however, is the "bigger problem" for Flückiger. The Bianchi rider also loves the classic in Nals and doesn't let up on Flückiger's speed increases. It comes to a sprint, and the Bernese rider has the faster legs.

With his victory in Nals, Mathias Flückiger confirms the exception to the rule that Nals novices cannot win the race. "It was an incredible and very tough race. I tried to break away on the last climb, but Stephane never gave up. With the sprint on the horizon, I then tried to save some energy, even though I knew I was the faster sprinter," said Flückiger, describing the final lap.

Maxime Marotte finished third, well ahead of Florian Vogel (Focus XC Team). Lukas Flückiger took a good sixth place, but was involved in an incident on the first lap. He gets caught in the camera strap of a careless fan and falls. From 18th place, the Thömus rider fights his way back to the front positions.

Rankings 18th "Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race" Nals

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