"We've come full circle," says Lukas Buchli in his video message. Because his victory at the Eiger Bike Challenge in Grindelwald in 2006 was a groundbreaking moment for him: Buchli decided to put his faith in the Map of Sport. Exactly nine years later, again in Grindelwald, the Grisons native won here for the second time and then announced his retirement. After Christoph Sauser, the Swiss marathon scene thus suffers another major loss. Buchli is also regarded as the last "rock star" of the marathon scene - a personality that will be missed in the sport.

However, Buchli will not retire immediately, as he says: "I'm really looking forward to the remaining races of the season and want to really step on the gas again." This is also the reason why the start of his professional future will have to wait a little longer. Because until and including Buchli's last race, the Swiss Epic, his full concentration is still on racing.Although he never managed to win a world championship medal, Lukas Buchli was one of the greats on the circuit and was - and still is until the end of this season - always a dangerous man for the big classics. He became Swiss marathon champion in 2008, won the Transalp the following year and the Swiss marathon series twice. Together with Mathias Flückiger, Lukas Buchli celebrated one of his greatest successes in autumn 2014: winning the first Swiss Epic against incredibly high-calibre international competition.

Photo 1: Lukas Buchli and his hat - an image that shaped the marathon podiums. 2+3: Beginning and end - Buchli's first, second and last victory in Grindelwald. 4: Together with Mathias Flückiger, Buchli takes what is probably his most important victory at the Perskindol Swiss Epic. 5: Rock'n'roll - Lukas Buchli wants to step on the gas again by the end of the season.

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