After the long break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the balance of power in the opening race with its top international field is similar to before: Nino Schurter remains the measure of all things, Mathias Flückiger is the only athlete who can challenge him. Gerhard Kerschbaumer, the world number three, who also looked very strong, dropped out of the decision in the third lap due to a flat tire. Schurter is already on his own two laps before the end and leaves nothing to chance afterwards. His lead at the finish is more than half a minute.

Behind the world champion, Mathias Flückiger was delighted with second place, clearly beating Frenchman Jordan Sarrou once again. Latvian Martins Blums and Lars Forster followed in fourth and fifth place, with Joel Roth in sixth, the best U23 rider in the elite field.

Frei doesn't let Neff get close

Sina Frei makes her mark on the elite women's race. The long climb is the ideal terrain for the young, lightweight athlete. Two laps before the end, she pulls away by 46 seconds. Meanwhile, Jolanda Neff manages a strong chase in the second half of the race and rides up to second place. Behind Neff, the French U23 rider Leona Lecomte took third place.

Alessandra Keller finished fourth, ahead of the international "heavyweights" Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA) and Yana Belomoina (UKR). Behind them, Nicole Koller showed a strong opening race with seventh place.

In the junior women's race, it was not enough for a Swiss victory: Austria's Mona Mitterwallner prevailed against Switzerland's Lisa Alvarez and France's Lauriane Duraffourg. Luke Wiedmann won the junior category ahead of his Swiss compatriot Janis Baumann. Third place went to Guay Mathis from France.

Swiss rider Kedup Gyagang wins the amateur and masters race

Swiss Championships in Gränichen

The Swiss Championships continue next weekend in Gränichen. Schurter and Frei will be the hunted there, while Flückiger and Neff are the biggest hunters. Who will take the championship title and celebrate their first important triumph in a shortened season?

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