Alessandra Keller has made a perfect start to the national racing season. The rider from Nidwalden seems to enjoy racing in Ticino, having won the 2017 Swiss Bike Cup final in Lugano and now the opening race of the series at the foot of Monte Tamaro. But it's not as easy as it sounds. Keller gets off to a good start, but then has to let world champion Jolanda Neff pull away a little. The world champion then struggles with technical problems, allowing the chasing group around Keller to catch up again.

Alessandra Keller takes the lead on the second lap and is able to hold on to it against the strong Ramona Forchini. "Everything went very well today. I was able to make up time on the descents and climbs," said a very satisfied Alessandra Keller at the finish. Julie Bresset, the Olympic champion from London, is back on the podium after a long absence with third place.

BMC team race with troublemakers

On the very first lap, Frenchman Titouan Carod (BMC) and Bernese rider Mathias Flückiger (Thömus) seize the opportunity and ride away from the rest of the field. The duo can keep the chasers at bay with a small but constant lead. The Frenchman leads a little, which means that Flückiger invests a lot to prevent the chasing group, consisting of Carod's BMC team colleagues Lars Forster and Reto Indergand, from closing the gap.

From the fifth of seven laps, the Frenchman attacked again and again. Mathias Flückiger skillfully parried each time until the last lap. Then Flückiger is unable to keep up with another attack by the Frenchman. Titouan Carod wins the race ahead of the Thömus rider and Lars Forster. "In the end, I lacked a bit of speed. Nevertheless, I'm happy with second place and my performance. I was able to ride at a high pace throughout," said Flückiger, analyzing his race as the best Swiss rider.

Indergand takes fourth place ahead of Julien Absalon, who is experiencing a significant improvement after difficulties at the start of the season.

Dominant foreigners in the junior categories

At the start of the U23 race, it looks like local hero Filippo Colombo could win. The BMC rider led the race over the first two laps, but lost ground in the third. Enough for the Frenchman Daniel Thibault to pass him. Colombo recovers somewhat, but is unable to match his performance of the first two laps and finishes second behind Thibault. Third and fourth place went to the following Swiss riders Joel Roth and Joris Ryf.

In the junior women's race, Austria's Laura Stigger lived up to her role as favorite. However, the reigning world champion falls back to third place in round two and only catches up with leader Isaure Medde (FRA) in the final round. She managed to snatch a good 20 seconds from the Frenchwoman by the finish line. Third place went to Tereza Sásková from the Czech Republic. Jaqueline Schneebeli was the best Swiss skier in fifth place.

While it may not have worked out in the U23 and juniors, the top step of the podium in the juniors' category remains in Swiss hands. In the fourth of five laps, Alexandre Balmer (Scott) took the lead and never relinquished it until the finish line. Second place also goes to a Swiss rider. Luca Schätti took the lead in the first half of the race and finished the third lap in the same time as Balmer.

Even though Schätti loses some ground to Balmer on the remaining two laps, the Wheeler rider has a comfortable gap to third place, which is occupied by the Italian Simone Avondeto.

The next round - a classic

The second race of the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup takes place on April 21 and 22 in Schaan. The race in Ländle has blossomed into a classic. The route offers a mix of flat sections, easy climbs but also steep ramps and fast but not uninteresting descents. The entrance to the finish area via a drop is always a highlight for riders and spectators alike.

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