17 kilometers before the finish of the 47-kilometer "marathon course", the decision is made. Under the pace dictation of Kristian Hynek (CZE), the 15-man lead group splits on the climb to Guarda. Only the Italian Mattia Longa, the German Simon Stiebjahn and the Swiss Marc Stutzmann and Andreas Moser are able to keep the rear wheel of the two-time World Championship bronze medal winner from the Czech Republic. Only Bike-Marathon-Classics leader Adrien Chenaux is able to regain contact with the leaders. It comes to a sprint of the sextet, which Stiebjahn wins confidently. Chenaux finishes sixth, but maintains his leading position in the national "Bike Marathon Classics" race series.

"I was happy that I was able to catch the train to the front in the group of six. I knew that I could sprint well and relied on the fact that we would get to the finish line together. That worked. The race was fun and I think it was the right decision to shorten the race because of the bad weather forecast. He will be back next year," said Stiebjahn at the finish line. Second-placed Marc Stutzmann recaps: "After we left, the group worked well. I attacked in Ftan and got a few meters away with Stiebjahn. But the other four managed to catch up with us again. So it came down to a sprint. I'm happy with my second place."

Urs Huber, who broke his collarbone in a crash at the Eiger Bike Challenge two weeks ago, reached the finish line in eighth place.

Pushed to victory

Women's winner Esther Süss is lucky not to be involved in a crash on her winning ride. "A rider crashed in front of me. I only just managed to avoid it," says the rider from Aargau, who is delighted that she was able to keep her challenger Janine Schneider, who is half her age, at bay. "The short distance spurred me on to show that I can also start fast," says Süss with a laugh. "Winning second place behind Esther is like a victory for me," said second-placed Janine Schneider. Andrea Ming came third.

In the Jauer race, Bike Marathon Classics middle distance leader Fadri Barandun was beaten by Simon Brändli from Zurich. At the highest point before the final descent, the two are still tied. However, Brändli was the first to start the descent and was thus able to distance himself from Barandun decisively. "As I crashed on my racing bike on the "Tortour" a few days ago, I didn't want to take any risks on the descent," explained Barandun, who was a little annoyed as he had set his sights on victory.

In contrast, local skier Arina Riatsch was completely satisfied with second place, having to admit defeat to Germany's Stefanie Dohrn. That is surprising. In the two previous years, Riatsch had won the middle distance by a wide margin and in 2017 was the first woman to complete the 103-kilometer Jauer course in under five hours. She says: "I didn't think I would achieve a podium finish. After overdoing it over the winter, I had to take a long break until I regained my strength. I spent the last ten weeks preparing for the National Park Marathon. It was the first bike race of the season and it went really well."

Bike Marathon Classics middle distance leader Michèle Wittlin had a stroke of luck, crashing at the start of the hectic race but still finishing fourth and retaining her leader's jersey.

OC President Claudio Duschletta is also satisfied. Despite the poor weather forecast, which resulted in the route being shortened, almost 1400 mountain bikers took part in the National Park Bike Marathon. The majority welcomed the route restriction imposed by the OC.

Results

Men (Vallader field, 47 km):
1st Simon Stiebjahn (De) 1:22:14.
2nd Marc Stutzmann (Rüfenacht b. Bern) gl. time
3rd Mattia Longa (It) 0:01.
4th Andras Moser (Madiswil) 0:03.
5th Kristian Hynek (Tsch) 0:04.
6th Adrien Chenaux (Fribourg) gl. time
7th Matthias Alberti (De) 0:53.
8th Urs Huber (Mettmenstetten) 0:54.
9th Hansueli Stauffer (Sigriswil) 0:56.
10. Konny Looser (Hinwil) 1:23.

Women (Vallader field, 47 km):
1st Esther Süss (Küttigen) 1:33:50.
2nd Janine Schneider (De) 1:52.
3rd Andrea Ming (Neerach) 4:02.
4th Eliane Mueggler (Thal) 7:54.
5th Alessia Nay (Zizers) 11:00.

Men (Jauer-Feld, 47 km):
1st Simon Brändli (Zurich) 1:29:16.
2nd Fadri Barandun (Samedan) 0:31.
3rd Stefan Wüthrich (Uttigen) 0:58.
4th Andreas Plüss (Aarburg) 1:02.
5th Adrian Jäggi (Lohn-Ammansegg) 1:32.
6th Christian Kälin (Bennau) 1:42.
7th Valentin Fliri (It) 2:30.
8th Pascal Kiser (Giswil) 2:54.
9th Fabian Heinzer (Schwyz) 2:57.
10. Sascha Deplazes (Sedrun) 2:59.

Women (Jauer-Feld, 47 km):
1st Stefanie Dohrn (De) 1:39:36.
2nd Arina Riatsch (Sent) 0:46.
3rd Tanja Blickenstorfer (Horgen) 2:45.
4th Michèle Wittlin (Liestal) 3:48.
5th Tinetta Strimer (Scuol) 4:30.

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