The superior winner of the CIC Swiss Bike Cup in Lugano comes from France: the favorite Thomas Griot (29) clearly left the Swiss Marcel Guerrini (2nd) and Fabio Püntener (3rd) behind. At his second start in the CIC Swiss Bike Cup within two weeks, Griot from Team CANYON CLLCTV XCO was able to prove his good form. On Monte Tamaro (12th), he had struggled with himself due to a crucial mistake.

Griot launched a decisive attack halfway through the race in Lugano, as the extremely active riding style of Timon Rüegg from the BIXS Performance Race Team left him with no other choice. Rüegg (4th) was subsequently unable to keep up, and the courage of Thomas Litscher (Lapierre-Mavic Unity XC Team), who tried to follow Griot, did not pay off either. Litscher ran out of steam and finished eighth.

This cleared the way for Griot. "It was hard to ride alone at the front on this tactical course with its short climbs and descents. I had cramps in between and just tried to finish," said the Frenchman after the race, who can now concentrate on the upcoming World Cups with a track record.

Strong performance from Guerrini and Püntener

Lucerne-based Marcel Guerrini (BIXS Performance Race Team) made a very good impression in second place. For him, it was the first serious assessment of the season and also the last test before his first World Cup start. "I'm very happy with my performance," said Guerrini, who packed his bags immediately after the race with a lot of confidence to fly off to Brazil.

Fabio Püntener (24) from Bike Team Solothurn also impressed in third place and the lead in the overall standings. The rider from Uri has been struggling with injuries recently, but is one of the determined riders who have already competed in the U15 category at the Swiss Bike Cup.

Paula Gorycka: victory on the day and lead in the overall standings

In the women's race, victory went to Polish champion Paula Gorycka from the Strüby Sting team in Wllisau, who had finished in 5th place at the Sunshine Race in Nals (South Tyrol) the day before. The experienced 33-year-old Polish rider, a familiar face on the Swiss racing scene, not only rode to her first success in the CIC Swiss Bike Cup with a start-finish victory, but now also leads the overall standings.

The other podium places were secured by Swiss athletes. The Neuchâtel U23 rider Elina Benoit finished 18 seconds behind the winner, while Seraina Leugger (BIXS Performance Race Team) came third, 39 seconds behind the winner, and moved up to second place in the overall standings.

Alder and Hosner win the junior races

In the junior races, Micha Alder from the BIXS Performance Race Team, who had spontaneously decided to take part, secured victory. The course in Lugano demanded a lot from the young rider: "The standard in the race was high and the tough, tactical course was demanding."

The 18-year-old from Altstätten SG was delighted with a particularly successful weekend, as he had won the Sunshine Race in Nals the day before. Micha Alder, runner-up in the CIC Swiss Bike Cup opener in Gränichen and winner of the Tamaro Trophy two weeks ago, is now also the clear leader in the overall CIC Swiss Bike Cup junior classification. Noel Toth (2nd) from RC & Bikecenter Steffisburg and Lewin Iten (3rd) from the Winterthur team RVW Pasolino Racing completed the junior podium.

In the juniors, Sereina Hosner from Bike Team Solothurn took a commanding victory ahead of Timea Reichmuth (Team Gadola Wetzikon), who leads the current overall standings, and Selina Vonmoos from VC Sursee,

Next stop: Leysin VD

The next CIC Swiss Bike Cup stop is in Leysin on June 8-9. The races will be held on a technical cross-country course with lots of short climbs and descents that provide plenty of action.

Results