The Stöckli rider was the youngest ever overall World Cup winner last year and is the current number one in the Olympic cross-country discipline. The 22-year-old was three times U23 World Champion and is one of Switzerland's great Olympic hopes.

She has no experience in mountain bike marathons, but she has successfully competed in road races this year and last year, which take a good twice as long as cross-country races. "I spontaneously decided to ride the European Marathon Championships for the first time. I'm not far from Thal in the canton of St. Gallen to Singen and I think it's good training on the course. I'll just ride along and see what comes out," says Neff, explaining her decision.

Before that, she will be competing in a cross-country race in Solothurn on Saturday, which, according to her rival Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa, is unlikely to play a major role. In any case, Jolanda Neff can be counted among the title contenders despite her inexperience.