The 680 participants who took part in the O-Tour Bike Marathon, which also counted as the Swiss Championships, on Sunday despite the nasty conditions were not to be envied. There were even temporary snowflakes on Langis, which led to a number of participants having to abandon the race due to hypothermia. The inhospitable weather also held back SM medal contender Martin Fanger. The man from Kern lost contact with the leading group of all the favorites on the first climb to Rickmettlen. Due to the cold on the way to Langis, he was no longer able to push and on the descent to the first finish in Alpnach, his fingers were so clammy and he started to shiver that he even considered giving up. Fanger finally crossed the finish line in 13th place, more than 17 minutes behind the leader, and was pretty disappointed. He could not yet say whether he would take part in the World Championships in Valais in two weeks' time after this setback.

Title holder Urs Huber also struggled with the cold. Nevertheless, together with last year's winner Hansueli Stauffer and the South African Philip Buys, he was able to pull away from the rest on the climb to Rickmettlen. But Buys was also a victim of the cold and gave up after Langis. The two teammates Huber and Stauffer kept up their pace. In the end, Huber secured his fifth Swiss championship title, while Stauffer finished second for the fourth time. The battle for the bronze medal was still exciting. On the final climb to the Ächerlipass, it looked as if newcomer Michael Stünzi could take third place. But then the first 21-year-old Swiss-Australian Casey South turned up the heat and rode to third place.

"The conditions reminded me of my first title win in 2011 at the National Park Bike Marathon, when the race even had to be abandoned due to snow on the Chaschauna Pass," said Huber at the finish. He is delighted to have won the title again. "Of course, I was the favorite. But in these conditions, you have to win the race first." Stauffer could not hide a slight disappointment, but had to admit that Huber had clearly been the stronger one. "We rode together over a long stretch to share the lead. We didn't take any risks on the downhill. After all, it was about the title," Stauffer explained the tactics and added: "After a less than successful season, this silver medal is worth its weight in gold for me." Like Fanger, Casey South also missed the leading group on the first climb. He said: "In the meantime, I was dropped to 15th place. But I didn't let myself get nervous and steadily caught up again. The fact that I was able to move up to third place on the Ächerli Pass came as a surprise to me too and set me up extremely well."

Urs Huber becomes Swiss Marathon Champion for the fifth time. Photo ©Martin Platter

Just like a week ago, Katazina Sosna from Littau won the women's O-Tour. Ariane Lühtli decided the duel and the Swiss title in her favor in the following place; it was already the fourth title win for the Thun native. After a pretty messed up season, she let her tears run free at the finish line. Esther Süss secured the silver medal ahead of Andrea Ming from Edlibach. The Romandes Florence Darbellay gave up the race undercooled. The half marathon was won by cross-country junior world champion Jacqueline Schneebeli from Hauptikon, while the men's race was won by Livio Camenzind from Schwyz, who is also only 18 years old.

Ariane Lüthi defends her marathon championship title. Photo ©Martin Platter

Results (also counts as Swiss bike marathon championship)

Men (86 km): 1. Urs Huber (Mettmenstten) 3:56:25. 2. Hausueli Stauffer (Sigriswil) 0:21. 3. Casey South (Matzingen) 1:28. 4. Michael Stünzi (Grüsch) 3:47. 5. Riccardo Chiarini (It) 8:00. 6. Jeremias Marti (Gettnau) 8:44. 7. Oliver Zurbrügg (Lauterbrunnen) 8:51. 8. Andrin Beeli (Sagogn) 8:56. 9. Matthys Beukes (RSA) 9:18. 10. Marc Stutzmann (Rüfenacht, BE) 10:48.

Women (86 km): 1. Katazina Sosna (Lit) 4:57:14. 2. Ariane Lüthi (Gunten) 3:18. 3. Esther Süss (Küttigen) 14:53. 4. Andrea Ming (Edlibach) 23:50. 5. Irina Lützelschwab (Wallbach) 33:35.

Half marathon

Men (45 km): 1. Livio Camenzind (Schwyz) 2:17:36. 2. Elias Auf der Maur (Unteriberg) 3:11. 3. Ramon Christen (Ennetbürgen) 3:44. 4. Bruno Horath (Unteriberg) 5:39. 5. Christian Kälin (Bennau) 5:40.

Women (45 km): 1. Jacqueline Schneebeli (Hauptikon) 2:36:43. 2. Alexandra Zürcher (Oey) 15:28. 3. Margrit Abächerli (Erstfeld) 16:43.

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