Outsiders succeed at the Red Bull Velodux
Stairs, castle walls, mud and some of the best cyclists in the world compete in the cyclo-cross team race at the Red Bull Velodux in Estavayer le Lac. At the start are Julien Absalon and Ralph Näf, 2012 Road World Champion Philippe Gilbert and Danilo Wyss and the Flückiger brothers. However, none of the favorites can be found at the front. The two cross specialists Lars Forster and Michael Wildhaber clearly beat Andri Frischknecht and Marcel Wildhaber. Third place goes to Julien Absalon and Ralph Näf.
The start of the race is chaotic. After the Le Mans start, some of the cross bikes get caught up in each other. Former 4x world champion Rinderknecht mixes up his bike with that of Danilo Wyss. The two can only start the race properly after swapping bikes. But otherwise everything goes smoothly. Especially for the winning duo Forster/Wildhaber. "I never thought I'd be standing on a podium next to Julien Absalon," says a delighted Lars Forster about his victory at the first Red Bull Velodux.
A favorite victory in the women's race. Jolanda Neff, who has just returned from vacation, was persuaded by Katrin Leumann to take part in the Red Bull Velodux. "A very special form of cyclo-cross, with your partner in turns and an extremely cool backdrop. I'm glad I let Katrin persuade me to take part," enthuses Neff about her Velodux experience. The two top female bikers know how to play to their strengths on the technical course and win the premiere. However, Neff and Leumann have to keep up, as Swiss cyclo-cross champion Sina Frei and Lara Krähemann are only slightly behind. Nicole Hanselmann and Jasmin Egger-Achermann came third.
A total of 75 teams of two will be competing in the first Red Bull Velodux in Estavayer le Lac. The different form of this traditional cycling discipline seems to be catching on. This also applies to two-time Olympic champion Julian Absalon: "The mix of traditional cyclo-cross sections and unusual passages was fun, but my legs will probably ache a little more tomorrow than they do after a normal cyclo-cross race."
| Results Red Bull Velodux, Estavayer le Lac | |||
| Men Elite | |||
| 1. | Michael Wildhaber (SUI) | Lars Forster (SUI) | TOWERSPORTS VC ESCHENBACH |
| 2. | Marcel Wildhaber (SUI) | Andri Frischknecht (SUI) | Scott Odlo MTB Racing Team |
| 3. | Ralph Näf (SUI) | Julien Absalon (FRA) | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team |
| 4. | Sepp Freiburghaus (SUI) | Marc Stutzmann (SUI) | CC Bern |
| 5. | Lukas Winterberg (SUI) | Severin Sägesser (SUI) | Dirty Sox |
| Women | |||
| 1. | Jolanda Neff (SUI) | Katrtin Leumann (SUI) | TEAM SIGNER-FELT |
| 2. | Sina Frei (SUI) | Lara Krähemann (SUI) | Team JB-FELT |
| 3. | Nicole Hanselmann (SUI) | Jasmin Egger Achermann (SUI) | BIGLA CYCLING TEAM |
| 4. | Jane Nüssli (SUI) | Milena Landtwing (SUI) | Fischer-BMC |
| 5. | Franziska Ebinger (SUI) | Jessica Schneeberger (SUI) | RADSPORT LAFRANCHI/RV ERSIGEN |
| Juniors | |||
| 1. | Eliot Olivier (SUI) | Romain Bard (SUI) | PELO WORLD TEAM |
| 2. | Arnaud Hertling (SUI) | Antoine Aebi (SUI) | TEAM VTT BMC FRIBOURG |
| 3. | Martin Schäppi (SUI) | Gino Mäder (SUI) | VC ECHALLENS |
| 4. | Leo L'Homme (SUI) | Simon Szyboz (SUI) | PÉDALE BULLOISE |
| 5. | Zachary Ducret (SUI) | Ludovic Porras (SUI) | VÉLO CLUB PAYERNE PRO-CYCLES |
| Open | |||
| 1. | Raphael Krähemann (SUI) | Gian Friesecke (SUI) | TEAM GADOLA WETZIKON |
| 2. | Sönke Wegner (GER) | Daniel Eiermann (GER) | World of Mountaibike |
| 3. | Quentin Guex (SUI) | Sven Dumusc (SUI) | VC MONTREUX-RENNAZ CYCLISME |
| 4. | Pierrick Paget (FRA) | Loic Doubey (FRA) | |
| 5. | Kurt "Knut" Gross (SUI) | Benoit Grelier (SUI) | TEAM BIGFRIENDS - SCOTT |
Full results at: www.mso-chrono.ch/results/413-redbull-velodux/3235/categorie
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