Drizzle and occasional fog characterized the 15th edition of the O-Tour Bike Marathon. However, this didn't seem to bother the participants too much. On Sunday morning, shortly before the start, there were still a number of late registrations. The wet and slippery conditions made the races a little slower at all distances, but by no means less animated. In the 86 km marathon race, Garmin Bike Marathon Classics leader Adrien Chenaux took the lead on the first climb to Lütholdsmatt and stretched the field. But as soon as the riders turned into the boggy and slippery terrain at Richmettlen for the first time, Chenaux had to capitulate. As a result, a leading group formed with all the other favorites: Swiss champion Konny Looser and his BiXS teammates Hansueli Stauffer and Oliver Zurbrügg, as well as Eiger Bike winner Marc Stutzmann and the Geneva-based "exile from Obwalden" Martin Fanger.

Together they tackled the "flat section" between Pilatus and Ächerlipass and shared the lead. On the picturesque single trail above Flüeli-Ranft, Fanger tried to surprise his opponents by stepping up the pace. But his plan failed. Together they tackled the steep ramps to the Ächerlipass, where Marc Stutzmann took the lead and was finally able to break away together with Stauffer. On the pass road, Stauffer also had to break away.

At the finish, Stutzmann said: "I didn't know the route, so I didn't know how far it would be to the finish after Ächerli. That's why it wasn't until I crossed the finish line that I knew I was going to win." He was very pleased that he was able to achieve another top result so late in the season.

Second-placed Sigriswiler Stauffer also expressed his satisfaction. Due to stomach problems, it was uncertain in the days leading up to the race whether he would be able to start at all. "I took a defensive approach to the race and only started to turn up the pace after the first climb. When I crossed the finish line in Alpnach, I was with the leading group and was able to keep up with the pace," said Sauffer, who was very happy with his second place. This puts him in the leader's jersey of the Garmin Bike Marathon Classics. "If someone had told me that before the race, I would have thought they were crazy," said Stauffer with a laugh.

"The best should win. I wasn't quite that today," commented Martin Fanger on his third place. Despite the nasty conditions, it was fun because he knows every meter of the o-tour from training. Fanger will now ride the marathon in Ornans and then start his winter training after a break. This will include intensive sessions on the race track in Geneva.

A local hero, Norbert Amgarten from Kerns, even won the fun category. And that's not all: as the previous leader David Tschanz was slowed down by two refusals, Amgarten replaced him as the Garmin Bike Marathon Classics leader. Amgarten already won the marathon series in his category last year.

In the women's race, seven-time Swiss champion Esther Süss once again remained unbeaten and added another O-Tour victory to her palmares after 2009, 2011 and 2015, thereby also extending her lead in the Garmin Bike Marathon Classics. Last year's winner Cornelia Hug shook off her companion, SM runner-up Florence Darbellay, in the final meters before the finish and came second this time. Darbellay reached the finish line in third place ahead of SM bronze medal winner Andrea Ming.

Results O-tour 2017

Men (86 km):
1st Marc Stutzmann (Rüfenacht, BE) 3:55:16.
2nd Hansueli Stauffer (Sigriswil) 0:13.
3rd Martin Fanger (Geneva) 3:17.
4th Konny Looser (Hinwil, ZH) 5:22.
5th Oliver Zurbrügg (Wilderswil) 7:49.
6th Emeric Turcat (Lausanne) 9:26.
7th Roger Jenny (Jenaz) 11:24.
8th Andreas Moser (Madiswil) 11:25.
9th Antonin Mercaille (Fr) 12:35.
10. Philipp Gerber (Aeschi b. Spiez) 13:05.

Women (86 km):
1st Esther Süss (Küttigen) 4:49:52.
2nd Cornelia Hug (Amsoldingen) 14:00.
3rd Florence Darbellay (Neuchâtel) 15:15.
4th Andrea Ming (Neerach) 22:10.
5th Jeanette Persson (No) 22:42.

Men (45 km):
1st Jeremias Marti (Gettnau) 2:10:35.
2nd Jonas Stoll (Osterfingen) 3:35.
3rd Fadri Baradun (Samedan) 4:20.
4th Remo Fischer (Oberhallau) 4:54.
5th Silvan Kälin (Unteriberg) 7:05.

Women (45 km):
1st Michèle Wittlin (Liestal) 2:38:14.
2nd Alessia Nay (Zizers) 10:24.
3rd Tanja Blickenstorfer (Horgen) 14:48.