It soon became apparent that the top riders were not seeking their luck in a solo effort, but were conserving their energy for the finale of the National Park Bike Marathon, which this time did not go around the Swiss National Park due to the coronavirus, but stayed on an alternative 108 km route between Scuol and Zuoz in the Engadin. The picture was the same on every climb: the favorites set the pace at the front. But not enough for a real selection to take place. On the next flat section, a good dozen riders joined forces again, as those who had been left behind were able to catch up. For example, three-time marathon world champion Alban Lakata, who suffered a flat tire after a third of the distance, but was able to make up the gap.

So they concentrated on the final climb to Ftan and the long descent back to the finish in Scuol. With title holder Urs Huber, Lukas Flückiger, Martin Fanger and Casey South, a quartet was able to easily break away from the rest in the final kilometers. It came down to a sprint, which was ridden hook, line and sinker. Martin Fanger apparently went ahead regardless, which led to Lukas Flückiger dropping out of the lead in the last 300 meters. At the front, Fanger, Huber and South fought doggedly elbow to elbow for the lead. Fanger finally crossed the finish line as the winner, Huber came second and Flückiger third. Because Fanger kept his straight line in the last slight left-hand bend, Huber was trapped. For South, however, there was no more room between Huber and the balustrade. He rode his front wheel into a leg of the barrier, crashed at high speed and had to be hospitalized.

At the finish, Huber and Flückiger criticized Fanger's breakneck riding style. Lukas Flückiger said: "It already started in Ftan. Martin recklessly pushed past the other riders and cut me off in a bend so that I had to brake to prevent a crash. That's why I overtook him. Also because I knew that I felt safe on the last gravel descent. I was expecting to take the few meters lead to the finish." But it didn't come to that. Huber explains: "As soon as it got flat again, Fanger dropped his legs. I also overtook him and entered the final gravel descent behind Flückiger. We were actually able to pull out a few meters lead."

However, Fanger and South came close again. "Fanger overshot again in a bend just before the finish. If I hadn't braked, we would all have crashed," said Flückiger. The maneuver cost Flückiger the connection to the leading trio on the home straight. Huber adds: "The third time that Fanger held his line regardless was in the slight left-hand bend just before the finish. I had no choice but to keep my line as well. Otherwise I would have crashed. I'm sorry for South that he crashed." Confronted with the criticism, Martin Fanger said: "It was a sprint like in a road race. I rode straight ahead as I should have and had to go for a sprint as it was my only chance to win." Huber had hindered him twice beforehand. Regarding the criticism in Ftan, Fanger admitted: "I may have ridden cheekily there. But I let Huber and Flückiger go first in the downhill."

"Unknown" dethrones Lüthi

The women's race was won by Steffi Häberling, who was previously unknown as a marathon biker. In only the second marathon race of her life, the 22-year-old from eastern Switzerland showed a strong tactical performance. At half the distance, the former middle-distance runner increased her pace on the climb to the mountain prize and got away. Häberlin, who was spotted by her neighbor, former marathon world champion Ralph Näf, said: "I've never been on the bike for so long and was sceptical as to whether I could keep it up. It wasn't until ten kilometers before the finish that I started to believe I could win. For me, winning the title comes as a complete surprise."
Second-placed Ariane Lüthi, who crossed the finish line three minutes behind the new title winner, had words of praise for her fellow competitor: "You seem to be an amazing talent." The women's race was very tactical and fast. Third-placed Irina Lützelschwab, who finished fourth in the O-Tour last year, rode together with Lüthi for much of the title race. Lützelschwab explained: "Thanks to Lüthi, I got over the distance well. After the mountain prize, however, I was no longer able to push." The student lives near Basel and was a top swimmer until she was infected with the bike virus by her father four years ago.

Results of the Swiss Championships

Men (108 km): 1st Martin Fanger (Geneva) 4:03:20. 2nd Urs Huber (Mettmenstetten) gl. 3. Lukas Flückiger (Wynigen) 0:03. 4. Simon Vitzthum (Rheineck) 0:09. 5. Daniel Geismayr (Ö) gl. 6. Andri Frischknecht (Feldbach) 0:10. 7. Marc Stutzmann (Belp) gl. 8. Alban Lakata (Ö) 0:21. 9. Frans Claes (Be) 0:22. 10. Andrin Beeli (Sagogn) 3:22.
Women (108 km): 1. Steffi Häberlin (Happerswil) 4:47:53. 2. Ariane Lüthi (Gunten) 3:03. 3. Irina Lützelschwab (Wallbach) 4:36. 4. Ramona Forchini (Wattwil) 8:09. 5. Esther Süss (Küttigen) 8:11. 6. Janina Wüst (Lupfig) 20:55. 7. Jacqueline Schneebeli (Hauptikon) 26:31. 8. Andrea Ming (Edlibach) 36:22. 9. Chrystelle Baumann (Montalchez) 38:17. 10. Carole Perrot (Prêles) 39:19.

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