Lukas Buchli more than lives up to his intention of really stepping on the gas until the end of the season and his career. The Grisons native takes victory for the first time in what is probably the most prestigious one-day marathon race. In addition to the 125-kilometre route with 5,000 meters of elevation gain, the race is also tackled every year by some of the world's best marathon riders. Prior to the race, Urs Huber, four-time Grand Raid winner, and Karl Platt, winner of the 2010 Grand Raid, were the biggest contenders for victory alongside Buchli.

The race starts and a group of four breaks away on the first descent - without Buchli. Urs Huber dictates the pace, as he often does when he is on form. However, Buchli is able to catch up with the leading group again and remains relatively calm in it until the ascent to Mandelon, which is in the way of the participants shortly after the halfway point of the race. The BiXS rider increases the pace several times on the 1,000-meter climb and is able to reduce the lead group to Huber and him. The final decision comes in the long run up the notorious Pas de Lona, which is almost 2,800 meters high. In the subsequent descent to the finish in Grimentz, Buchli was able to keep Huber at bay. With his victory, Buchli not only achieved a personal first, but also set a new course record of 6:03.19.

Victory despite stomach problems
After her second place in 2013, Milena Landtwing, who like Lukas Buchli also lives in the Upper Engadine, made it to the top step of the podium for the first time. On the very first ascent after the start, she pulled away from Hielke Elferink from the Netherlands and Claudia Galicia Cotrina from Spain. Their unsteady pace was too annoying, reveals Landtwing. Her solo ride lasted around six hours without any problems, after which she was forced off her bike twice due to stomach and intestinal problems. The final ascent over the Pas de Lona and the following "bump" Basset de Lona then become a real battle. Landtwing literally crawls over these final obstacles.

Despite the problems, she saves her lead to the finish and wins the legendary Grand Raid for the first time. "It's amazing to win this race - this victory means a lot to me," says a delighted Landtwing, adding with a grin: "In 2004, my first start here on the long-distance course, it took me over ten hours to cover this distance." Behind Landtwing, Florence Darbellay overtakes Elferink to take second place. Galicia loses a lot of time and falls behind the Dutchwoman and into fourth place.

www.grand-raid.ch