The island of Elba evokes feelings of vacation rather than racing. But before most of the professional mountain bikers take a break for the season, the coveted rainbow jerseys will be up for grabs at the Marathon World Championships on the Italian Mediterranean island. From a Swiss perspective, cross-country world champion Nino Schurter and defending champion Ramona Forchini are the most interesting riders. But things turn out differently.

A number of cross-country stars have also joined the women's field, including Rebecca McConnell (AUS), Alessandra Keller and Maya Wloszczowska. For the time being, it is also Wloszczowska from Poland who sets the pace. On the second lap, however, Mona Mitterwallner, the U23 World Cross Country Champion, catches up with the leading group. The 19-year-old Austrian not only rides at the front, but soon takes the lead. Only Wloszczowska was able to keep up, but had to let go towards the end and had to settle for second place at the end of her career.

Mitterwallner is not only the youngest marathon world champion after 80 kilometers and over 3,100 meters of altitude. It is also the first marathon race that the Austrian has competed in. Spain's Natalia Fischer rides to third place. Ariane Lüthi is just unable to match her performance from the previous year, but shows a strong race and finishes fifth. Alessandra Keller finishes a good seventh. Defending champion Ramona Forchini has a bad day and has to give up the race after two thirds.

Top stars without a chance

In the men's race, riders such as Nino Schurter, Lars Forster and Olympic bronze medalist David Valero-Serrano are high up on the list of favorites. Up to the halfway point of the 115-kilometer race, it looked as if Schurter still had reserves in the leading group. But these came to an abrupt end when stomach problems took him out of the race.

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