The positions for the medal ranks are decided early on after Christoph Sauser has to abandon the race after the first long descent from the First due to a defect. In ideal conditions at the Eiger Bike Challenge, this year's supplier of the Swiss Marathon Championships, Urs Huber immediately takes the lead, followed by Lukas Buchli. After the duo engage in a fierce battle of attrition on the final ascent to Kleine Scheidegg, Buchli suffers a puncture and has to let Huber go on the final descent. The disappointed Grisons racer is left with the silver medal ahead of the strong iXS-classic leader Jérémy Huguenin. With the bronze medal, the Frenchman can celebrate his most valuable sporting result to date.

Huber puts the question of whether this fifth victory in Grindelwald was logical for him into perspective: "Everyone expected it of me and of course I secretly hoped for it too. However, I only gained more confidence when Sauser was no longer in the race. He made a strong impression on me." After his retirement, the race took on a different character. "I knew that I could get up the Kleine Scheidegg well and that I could even go for a sprint finish against Buchli if necessary," explains Huber. This title means a lot to him. After the first one in 2011 came about after the race was abandoned due to the weather, there are no discussions this time. "I'm going to enjoy riding in the Swiss champion's jersey for a year now," says a delighted Huber.

"It will take me a while to accept this silver medal," says Lukas Buchli, who has special emotions associated with the Eiger Bike Challenge. The first elite victory in Grindelwald in 2006 was the deciding factor for him to switch to the professional riders the following year. "In the run-up to the title race, I spent three days preparing on the course and practicing key sections. I never had to push myself to the limit the whole race, I felt good and was convinced that I could beat Huber. It's a shame that I had this defect," says the man from Graubünden.

Sweet for fifth

In the women's race, Esther Süss left no doubt about her ambitions. The 40-year-old from Aargau kept her two favored competitors Milena Landtwing and Ariane Kleinhans safely in check at all times and achieved a start-finish victory with a lead of more than ten minutes. But Süss also had to suffer: "I only had a good feeling on the last long climb. Up to Kleine Scheidegg I was looking for my rhythm, it just wasn't going the way I had imagined," says Süss. Nevertheless, she is delighted with this fifth marathon title.

"Esther has once again shown us where Bartli gets the most," praises Kleinhans. With her class and experience, it is difficult to beat Süss on a course like the one in Grindelwald. "Nevertheless, I didn't stop fighting. A lot can happen in marathons. "It paid off in the end - not least because I know the course better than Milena," explains Kleinhans.

Milena Landtwing, who looked like a sure silver medal winner for a long time, was a little disappointed. But the hammer comes down on the climb to Kleine Scheidegg - and rival Ariane Kleinhans. "I tried everything, I didn't want the gap to Esther to get too big. Unfortunately, I had to pay for it on the final climb. If you don't try anything, you never know whether it might not have worked out after all," says Landtwing fatalistically.

Urs Huber is not the only one to celebrate his fifth Eiger Bike victory. Sepp Freiburghaus also received the fifth winner's bell for the middle distance, which is traditionally presented to the three fastest over all distances in Grindelwald. Sofia Pezzatti is the fastest in the women's race.

Next year, the Swiss championships will be held on the BerGiBike between Fribourg and Bulle.

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