Sauser's dream of defending his title does not come true at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. A bent tooth on the large chainring throws the defending champion a long way back. However, it is Sauser's team colleague Jaroslav Kulhavy who tries to win the gold medal and leaves after about half of the 95 kilometers. At the end of the second long climb, where the Olympic champion began his solo ride, his lead is already one minute. He gradually extended this lead. The chase attempts of former marathon world champion Ilias Periklis (GRE) did not bear fruit.

Kulhavy rides unperturbed, and with a clear lead of over three minutes, to his first world championship title of his successful career. The Austrian Alban Lakata was delighted with second place. After starting the season late due to a torn Achilles tendon and riding the first races at half-mast, the silver medal is a great satisfaction for Lakata.
Sauser is able to repair his defect, but loses a lot of time in the process. The man from Sigriswil resumes the race in 23rd position. In a spirited chase to catch up, he rolls up the field from behind and makes it to sixth position by around 20 kilometers. Heads roll again on this final section and Sauser storms onto the podium.

The second Swiss rider, Urs Huber, finished fourth. Having arrived in medal form, he rode at the front at the start. A rear wheel defect knocked Huber out of contention for the coveted medal. Even the leather medal is no consolation for him.

Langvad superior - Süss beaten
Denmark's Annika Langvad has already set her role as the top favorite in stone over the course of the season. Soon after the start, Langvad pulls away from the field of riders. Only Sabine Spitz accompanies the Dane. On the second climb, the German can no longer keep up with Langvad's high pace and loses over five minutes from there to the finish. Langvad pulls through with a good feeling and confidently takes her third long-distance world championship title. Tereza Hurikova from the Czech Republic, who became European marathon champion two weeks earlier, finished in bronze.Esther Süss has arrived with medal hopes. However, the former marathon world champion will soon have to bury her hopes. On the Thursday before the race, Süss developed a fever and sore throat. Although she improved by race day, her body remained weakened. Süss was able to keep up for a short time during the race, but then had to slow down on the first climb. Her chances of a medal remain good for a long time. However, she later has to let her rival Hurikova go. Despite clearly missing out on a medal, Süss is satisfied with her fourth place given the circumstances and the fact that she was not even sure of a start.

South Africa-based Swiss athlete Ariane Kleinhans finished in fifth place. Milena Landtwing complained of the same health problems as Süss, but was unable to get going at all. Bitterly disappointed, she gives up the race.

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Ranking Marathon World Championships Pietermaritzburg/RSA, Men:
1. Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)	4.15.57	+0.00
2. Alban Lakata (AUT)	4.19.15	+3.18
3rd Christoph Sauser (SUI)	4.20.11	+4.14
4th Urs Huber (SUI)	4.22.56	+6.59
5th Jukka Vastaranta (FIN)	4.23.25	+7.28
6th Bartlomiej Wawak (POL)	4.23.38	+7.41
7th Roel Paulissen (BEL)	4.24.05	+8.08
8th Robert Mennen (GER)	4.25.44	+9.47
9th Ilias Periklis (GRE)	4.26.54	+10.57
10th Moritz Milatz (GER)	4.27.09	+11.12
23rd Xavier Dafflon (SUI)	4.38.02	+22.05
25th Lukas Buchli (SUI)	4.40.57	+25.00
DNF. Ralph Näf (SUI)	abandoned
Ranking Marathon World Championships Pietermaritzburg/RSA, women:
1. Annika Langvad (DEN)	3.50.44	+0.00
2. Sabine Spitz (GER)	3.56.11	+5.27
3rd Tereza Hurikova (CZE)	3.59.41	+8.57
4th Esther Süss (SUI)	4.06.57	+16.13
5th Ariane Kleinhans (SUI)	4.11.22	+20.38
6th Robyn de Groot (RSA)	4.12.21	+21.37
7th Jennie Stenerhag (SWE)	4.13.45	+23.01
8th Jeannie Bomford (RSA)	4.22.01	+31.17
9th Alice Pirard (BEL)	4.28.00	+37.16
10th Regina Genser (GER)	4.28.41	+37.57
DNF. Milena Landtwing (SUI)	abandoned