It won't be as hot as the European Championships in St. Wendel this weekend in Gränichen. However, this only applies to the temperatures, as they will fall into spectator and rider-friendly regions. On the 4.2-kilometre-long and spectator-friendly course, however, there will once again be a "hot battle", as Fabian Giger has called his duel with mountain bike legend Julien Absalon. The Frenchman had to put everything on the line in St. Wendel, Germany, to distance himself from the Swiss rider in the final lap.

The most successful mountain biker in history is digging deep for the BMC Racing Cup in Gränichen. "I will certainly do my best, but will it be enough for another victory? I don't know. Depending on how the race goes, I might be able to help Lukas defend his title," says Absalon. He managed to do that last year. He was second behind BMC team-mate Lukas Flückiger.

European Championship silver medallist Fabian Giger leads the Frenchman's opposition in Gränichen. "We all have three intensive weeks behind us. I hope I'm still in good enough shape to give Absalon a run for his money," says Giger, looking forward to the new duel. Last year's winner Lukas Flückiger is very cautious after a rather disappointing spring for him. "I hope things go well, but there's not much chance of everything turning 180 degrees. In any case, I'll give it my all and it would be great for me if I could take a positive feeling into a short break," says the Ochlenberger.

His brother Mathias Flückiger skipped the European Championships and trained in Ticino. He is likely to be a little fresher at the start than his rivals and could also take over from the German Moritz Milatz, who is ill, at the top of the overall standings. Florian Vogel fought for bronze in St. Wendel before a crash and broken saddle robbed him of all chances. With his current form, he too can be in the fight for the podium.

Top fight also in the women's race

Jolanda Neff is the favorite in the women's race. The overall World Cup leader in the elite category has put the unfortunate outcome of the U23 race at the European Championships behind her after losing out to France's Pauline Ferrand Prevot in a duel. Neff now wants to reclaim the lead in the BMC Racing Cup.

Just three points ahead of her is Kathrin Stirnemann. She has home advantage in Gränichen and brings a lot of motivation with her from a successful European Championship weekend. Gold in the Eliminator and seventh place in the Cross-Country as the best Swiss rider made Stirnemann speak of a "mega weekend". "Now I'm looking forward to my home race," says Stirnemann, who can finally present herself to "her" audience after her successes in recent weeks.

For Esther Süss from Küttigen, the BMC Racing Cup in Gränichen is also a chance to get an extra shower of applause from her fans. "It's sure to be a mega tough and exciting race and I hope to have a say in it. I'm certainly looking forward to it and hope to hear as many spectators as possible cheering me on at the side of the track," wrote last year's World Championship bronze medallist on her homepage.

However, the Swiss women will not be among themselves. European Championship bronze medallist Maja Wloszczowska will also be chasing points in the HC category race. Jolanda Neff's Polish teammate has been getting in better shape week by week following health problems over the winter. Irina Kalentieva from Russia should also be on the radar, even though she did not finish in the front of the field at the European Championships due to the heat.

Then there is last year's winner Adelheid Morath. However, Kathrin Stirnemann's German teammate is still suffering from an injury from a crash at the World Cup in Albstadt. "My body is at its limit right now, but I have good memories of Gränichen," says Morath, who does not believe that she can land another coup.
A total of eleven medal winners from the European Championships are on the Gränichen entry list. In addition to those mentioned above, these include the runner-up in the eliminator Linda Indergand, the U23 runner-up Michiel van der Heijden from the Netherlands and the three glorious juniors Alessandra Keller, Nicole Koller and Sina Frei.

The races will be streamed live on the internet - www.terreActive.ch/bmcracingcup - and on a large screen in the start/finish area, with commentary by eliminator specialist Sepp Freiburghaus.

www.bmc-racing-cup.ch