Koller and Lillo are Swiss cross-country champions for the first time

Dario Lillo und Nicole Koller, die frischgebackenen Schweizermeister.

At the Swiss Cross-Country Championships in Leysin, Nicole Koller and Dario Lillo won their first titles. Lillo narrowly edged out Fabio Püntener, while Marcel Guerrini took bronze. In the women’s race, luck was on Nicole Koller’s side; Alessandra Keller finished second, and Rebekka Estermann third. As in the short track event, the U23 titles once again went to the Halter siblings.

The men’s elite race at the Swiss Cross-Country Championships in Leysin wasn’t decided until the final turn. Fabio Püntener and Dario Lillo had led the race since the second lap. Püntener was still in the lead going into the final turn, but Lillo found an opening in the final meters, launched his decisive attack, and pulled ahead about 30 meters before the finish line to claim the title. Marcel Guerrini (BIXS Race Team) secured the bronze medal behind Lillo and Püntener. Dario Lillo is definitely one of the breakout stars of the season. In May, he celebrated his first World Cup victory in South Korea. “It
feels surreal to be Swiss champion, especially in my second year in the elite category,” says Lillo. “As we approached the final turn, I just thought: Now I’m going to take this title. I’m all the happier that the final attack worked.”

Koller counters Keller

Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) also engaged in a thrilling duel in the women’s elite race. Koller managed to fend off attacks from the newly crowned Swiss short-track champion twice. On the final lap, she finally launched the decisive attack herself, pulled ahead by a few meters, and held the lead all the way to the finish. For Koller, this is her first Swiss championship title in the elite category. “It feels great to wear this Swiss champion’s jersey
. It was a tough battle with Alessandra. I was able to fend off two attacks from her and
then pull away myself,” said an overjoyed Koller.

Bronze went to Rebekka Estermann, who had already won the bronze medal in the short track on Friday.

The Halter Siblings Win Again in the U23 Category

In the U23 and U19 junior categories, the Swiss champions were the same as those who won on Friday in the short track. Nicolas and Monique Halter (U23) as well as Marwan Karim Barhoumi and Anja Grossmann (U19) each secured their second Swiss championship title this weekend. The other medals went to Khalid Sidahmed and Micha Alder (U23 men), Anina Hutter and Elina Benoit (U23 women), Andri Steinmann and Men Gygax (U19 men), and Shana Huber and Joline Hunziker (U19 women).

Earlier on Saturday, Aubin Favre and Vivien Greuter claimed the Swiss championship titles in the U17 category.

After the summer break, the Škoda Swiss Bike Cup will resume on September 5 and 6 in Huttwil
.

swissbikecup.ch/results