The duel between Fabian Giger and Julien Absalon begins in the third round. The Swiss had already ridden actively beforehand. "I decided to ride offensively and I was able to implement this optimally," Giger explains his strategy. Keeping the pace high in order to decimate the leading group of eight riders at first.

But then it was Julien Absalon who completely blew up the group on his favorite climb, a steep 20-second ramp. Only Giger was able to parry and he was able to do the same on the following laps. "Julien tried again and again, but I was able to keep up every time," says Fabian Giger. In between, however, the duo also worked together to maintain their lead over their pursuers. This was up to 45 seconds at times, but was no cushion to rest on.

In the last of six laps, however, the time has come. Absalon attacks again on the steep section and this time he creates a gap. "I was really at the limit," admits Fabian Giger. The fourth place finisher from Albstadt suddenly also has to fear for silver, as Jan Skarnitzl from the Czech Republic comes up strongly behind him. But Fabian Giger's reserves were enough to secure his biggest international success and his first medal in the elite category. "Julien is in great form, it was a super race. I was flirting with a medal and I'm certainly happy with the silver medal," said a delighted Giger.Ralph Näf got off to a good start, but then made a small mistake in a forest section that cost him seven or eight positions. "It took me a lap to find my rhythm again," says Näf. He drops back to 17th place, but then gets better and better. In the end, he finished sixth, which he is not unhappy with. "äI didn't feel so good this week and didn't have the confidence I had in Nove Mesto. Sixth place was certainly the maximum for today. What would have been without the skid is anyone's guess," commented Näf.

Martin Fanger did not have a good starting position and then had to work his way up from 28th position after the first lap. "I knew I could make up ground on the climb and that was the case," explains Fanger. In the end, he won the sprint for tenth place against the Spaniard Carlos Coloma. "I'm definitely happy with this result," says Fanger.

Florian Vogel crashed while riding in the chasing group and broke his saddle. Riding without a saddle, he crashed again. "Then the morale was a bit gone. I was actually doing well and I was in the fight for the medals - a shame," says the 2008 European champion. Lukas Flückiger, who was in sixth place, overdoes it in the third lap while trying to close a gap. Flückiger is penalized for this effort and it puts him up.

Ranking list European Championships 2014, St. Wendel/GER, men:
1. Julien Absalon (FRA)	1.44.03	+0.00
2. Fabian Giger (SUI)	1.44.18	+0.15
3rd Jan Skarnitzl (CZE)	1.44.22	+0.19
4. Sergio Manceton (ESP)	1.45.02	+0.59
5th Sven Nys (BEL)	1.45.06	+1.03
6th Ralph Näf (SUI)	1.45.44	+1.41
7th Marco Aurelio Fontana (ITA)	1.45.45	+1.42
8th Manuel Fumic (GER)	1.46.24	+2.21
9th José Hermida (ESP)	1.46.46	+2.43
10th Martin Fanger (SUI)	1.46.53	+2.50
17th Florian Vogel (SUI)	1.48.31	+4.28
26th Lukas Flückiger (SUI)	1.30.55	+-13.08