The trend is towards world altitude records. But while most attempts are downhill, one man is doing it the other way around. Former elite biker Friedrich Dähler breaks the world record in mountain running. With a target of 17,000 vertical meters within 24 hours, the man from Basel wanted to break the existing record held by extreme mountaineer Andrea Vogel. Dähler broke the record after just 20 hours. However, he didn't want to give up, went one better and completed the 24 hours. In the last four hours or so, he pushed the new record to an incredible 20,407 vertical meters.

Things are looking up again in the Swiss enduro scene. Canyon rider Ludo May, who has been out of action due to injury, is back on his bike - with success. After the first day of the six-day enduro stage race, the Trans Provence, the Frenchman is in seventh place. Five more tough stages lie ahead of the athletes on their way to Menton on the Mediterranean. Among the field of riders, which is limited to 80 participants, one Swiss rider is still doing well. Andreas Ziegler is in 16th place and is currently fifth best in the amateur class.
The fastest woman is British rider Tracy Moseley in 14th place overall. There are no Swiss women at the start.

Ludo May lets gravel fly during his comeback. Photo ©Sam Needham

Christoph Sauser's unfortunate crash and the resulting rib fractures don't seem to have affected the Sigriswil native as much as initially feared. After a short recovery period, Sauser is putting the finishing touches to the "Protective bike Four Peaks" stage race for the Marathon World Championships in Selva di Val Gardena. With two second places and a stage win as well as a big time loss due to two punctures, Sauser ends up in second place overall. Of course, he would have preferred to be at the top of the podium, but in the end, the soon-to-be retiree is just happy to be able to race without any pain at all.

Sauser on his way to victory on stage three. Photo ©bike Four Peaks

Fabian Giger bridges his time between the big competitions with the cross-country race of his last year's team colleague Maja Wlosczcowska, the "Maja Trophy" in Jelenia Gora (POL). It was not enough for Giger to win. Poland's Marek Konwa was too strong that day. But the Colnago rider goes home with a nice cheque and second place.

Rank two for in Poland. Photo ©Mtoda Photography

UCI points are awarded in Lostorf, Solothurn. This is one of the reasons why the fourth stage of the Argovia Vittoria Fischer Cup attracts some illustrious names. The fastest of these is Nicola Rohrbach, who doesn't give his opponents the slightest chance. He outdistanced Andreas Moser by two minutes. Behind him, Michael Stünzi surprises in third place, relegating the strong Frenchman Emilien Barben to a thankless fourth place.
Irina Kalentjeva from Russia takes the points in the women's race. Eliane Müggler and Michelle Hediger took second and third place respectively.

The elite podium in Lostorf. Photo ©Orbea Factory Team

Most of the world's best downhill riders will be gathering in Schladming, Austria, for the second round of the iXS European Downhill Cup. On the 2.5-kilometer-long and challenging course, Briton Danny Hart chases to a narrow victory. He beats New Zealander George Brannigan into second place by 35 tenths of a second. Frenchman Loic Bruni came third. Noel Niederberger is the best Swiss rider in 19th place. Lutz Weber comes 23rd and Billy Caroli 25th
. In the women's race, Emmeline Ragot from France took victory ahead of Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) and Tracey Hannah from Australia. Emilie Siegenthaler finished seventh, Alba Wunderlin ninth and Géraldine Fink twelfth.

Danny Hart likes to fly crossways. Photo ©Benjamin Prescher