Red Bull Velodux: Rohrbach/Forster win the cyclo-cross spectacle in the old town of Estavayers

Red Bull Velodux brings cyclo-cross to the medieval town of Estavayer- le-Lac for the third time. 300 cycling enthusiasts compete in teams of two in the alleyways of the old town and overcome obstacles that cannot be found on any other cross-country course. The fastest of the day are Sina Frei and Nicole Koller as well as Lars Forster and Nicola Rohrbach.

When cyclo-cross bikes are chased through the old town of Estavayer-le-lac, it's Red Bull Velodux. On this day, this traditional discipline is also given a slightly different face: stairs are not only climbed but also descended, steep bends, a moat and a rock garden round off the cross menu. The race is ridden as a team - two athletes take turns lap after lap.

From downhillers to Olympic road champions

The field of participants is a cross-section of cycling: road pros, cross-country mountain bikers, downhillers, enduro riders and, of course, cyclo-cross specialists. Current world-class athletes ride alongside world champions and Olympic champions from previous years. Pascal Richard, Laurent Dufaux and Fabian Cancellara prove that even in cycling retirement, they still put a lot of pressure on the pedals and have hardly lost any of their steering skills.

There will also be plenty of room for recreational racers, who will provide an enormous field of riders and plenty of spectacle, especially in the sold-out Open category. The rookies (U23) and mixed teams also offer thrilling sport. In total, over 300 cycling enthusiasts will throw themselves into the "cross battle".

Fun at the limit

The women's race is dominated by the teams of Sina Frei with Nicole Koller and Alessandra Keller with Kathrin Stirnemann. Sina Frei, winner of the last event, is behind after a collision shortly after the start. But halfway through the race, the duo from Lake Zurich took the lead and never relinquished it. "This event is just mega, it's something different to be able to ride in pairs. I'm already looking forward to the next one," emphasizes Sina Frei at the finish line.

In the men's elite race, the duo of Nicola Rohrbach and Lars Forster are fighting tooth and nail against the brothers Mathias and Lukas Flückiger. Rohrbach and Lukas Flückiger have been riding the entire cyclo-cross season and are in race mode. Mathias Flückiger and Lars Forster, on the other hand, are coming out of their training break. Flückiger seems to be suffering more, while Forster is blossoming from lap to lap.

Nevertheless, Rohrbach is only a few seconds ahead of Lukas Flückiger as he tackles the last lap. The rider from Basel is determined to win the race for the second time and maintains his narrow lead right to the finish. "Obviously, we've divided the race properly. It was a tough fight and we had what it takes to win here. I'm super happy." Lukas Flückiger agrees: "It was a cool and a fair fight, it was fun, even though it was brutally hard and really hurt."

Cycling legends in retirement

The former riders are also happy, even during the race: "I'm 53 now and I can still ride at this level," said Pascal Richard - 1988 cyclo-cross world champion. For Laurent Dufaux (fourth in the Tour de France in 1996 and 99), the joy of riding a race with his son Loïs is paramount. Fabian Cancellara, who was Bernese cantonal cyclo-cross champion as a junior, feels at home on the shaking track at Lake Neuchâtel: "It's cool, it's special. I like showing people a different side to cycling. This event is perfect for that." The Olympic time trial champion clattering down a flight of stairs with mud on his legs - an image that only the Red Bull Velodux can provide.

Ranking list excerpt Red Bull Velodux 2017
Elite men
1.	Nicola Rohrbach & Lars Forster	01:07.38
2.	Lukas Flückiger & Mathias Flückiger	01:07.44	+0:00.06
3.	Andri Frischknecht & Matthias Stirnemann	01:09.02	+0:01.24
4.	Nicolas Lüthi & Patrick Lüthi	01:09.27	+0:01.49
5.	Tim Johnson & Manuel Fumic	01:10.09	+0:02.31
6.	Nicolas Samparisi & Lorenzo Samparisi	01:10.20	+0:02.42
7.	Simon Andreassen & Marcel Guerrini	01:10.54	+0:03.16
8.	Roger Jenny & Simon Vitzthum	01:10.56	+0:03.18
9.	Joris Ryf & Eric Luthi	01:11.03	+0:03.25
10.	Leo L'Homme & Arnaud Hertling	01:11.12	+0:03.34

Women
1.	Sina Frei & Nicole Koller	00:58.22
2.	Alessandra Keller & Kathrin Stirnemann	00:58.56	+0:00.34
3.	Fabienne Niederberger & Charline Fragniere	01:02.29	+0:04.07
4.	Melissa Rouiller & Lisa Baumann	00:55.17	-1 round
5th	Chrystelle Baumann & Eliane Müggler	00:55.24	-1 round
6th	Nathalie Schneitter & Steffi Thalmann	00:55.46	-1 round
7th	Cornelia Hug & Hielke Elferink	00:55.49	-1 round
8th	Anita Gehrig & Carolin Gehrig	00:57.49	-1 round
9th	Sarah Merminod & Emmanuelle Larfi	01:02.02	-1 round
10.	Lucie Cottier & Marie Bonny	00:53.46	-2 laps

Open
1.	Florent Bolomey & Maxime Beney	00:54.14
2.	Daniel Eiermann & Sönke Wegner	00:54.18	+00:00.04
3.	Felix Döring & Mickael Jaquot	00:54.38	+00:00.24
4.	Oliver Behringer & Raphael Krähenmann	00:55.00	+00:00.46
5.	Bruno Vitali & Loic Noel	00:55.14	+00:01.00

Mixed
1.	Damien Bisetti & Joseohine Ritzel	00:55.30
2.	Cindy Lüthi & Julien Chabbey	00:58.35	+00:03.05
3.	Christophe Bonvin & Lea Mutzner	00:59.55	+00:04.25
4.	Frederic Pellissier & Caroline Faiss	01:00.39	+00:05.09
5.	Kenny Singele & Tatiana Pepiot	00:54.27	-1 round

www.redbull.com/velodux

Further content on this article

Velodux 2017

Red Bull Velodux 2017 - the most spectacular cyclo-cross action starts this weekend

On Saturday, November 4, cyclo-cross specialists will compete for the third time at the Red Bull Velodux in Estavayer-le-Lac. Amateurs and professionals from all cycling disciplines will take on the challenging course through the old town in teams of two, with its familiar but also unprecedented obstacles. Spectacle for the spectators and burning calves for the riders are pre-programmed.

02.11.2017

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