What a way to end the Swiss marathon racing season: Swiss champion Konny Looser leads the final classification of the "Garmin Bike Marathon Classics" with his victory ahead of world champion Alban Lakata from Austria and jumps from fourth to first place in the final standings. Last year's German champion Markus Kaufmann came third in the final. Marc Stutzmann from Rüfenacht near Bern reaches the finish line in fourth place after a puncture and is able to maintain his second place in the Classics. However, the previous leader Hansueli Stauffer experienced a pitch-black day. Not in full possession of his strength anyway due to a heavy cold, the thru-axle on his bike came loose on the first descent. The man from Sigriswil then got two more punctures and fell hopelessly behind, eventually finishing in eighth place and dropping back to third place in the final classification.

"After the Swiss Epic and the cold the following week, I was skeptical as to whether I could keep up with the best. But then everything went really well and suddenly I was alone at the front with Alban Lakata. I certainly had a bit of luck. Marc Stutzmann unfortunately had a flat tire. But that's the sport. Of course I'm super happy with this season finale - 'de Foifer und s Weggli'," Looser gushed at the finish. Alban Lakata says: "I felt very good today and I took my cue from Konny Looser, because I knew he was riding for the overall classification. He then rode a very spirited race. However, I missed the sprint against him a bit at the end. He deserved to win and I'm happy with my second place." Third-placed Markus Kaufmann, who, like Lakata, was competing in the Iron Bike for the first time, was full of praise: "This won't be the last time I've ridden here. I really like the atmosphere, the great routes and the high standard of organization of the Swiss races. What's more, the Iron Bike is only around two hours' drive from my home in southern Germany."

"A good end to a great year," sums up Esther Süss. The 43-year-old from Küttigen in the canton of Aargau, who is celebrating her seventh triumph in Einsiedeln - plus her fifth overall victory in the marathon race series - said that the race went very well for her and she was even able to overtake four men at the end. The following two places in the final are also identical to the Garmin Bike Marathon Classics final classification: Cornelia Hug comes second, Andrea Ming third. As expected, Norbert Amgarten won the Garmin Classic for the second time in the Fun category, ahead of David Tschanz and Lars Zumstein.

There are also upsets in both middle distance categories: Michèle Wittlin from Basel replaces Alessia Nay as the overall winner in the women's race. Nay finishes second ahead of Alexandra Lehmann. In the men's race, Fadri Baradun overtakes Remo Fischer in the final race.

Results

Men (101 km):
1st Konny Looser (Hinwil) 4:23:19.
2nd Alban Lakata (Austria) 0:01.
3rd Markus Kaufmann (Germany) 2:07.
4th Marc Stutzmann (Rüfenacht, BE) 2:23.
5th Oliver Zurbrügg (Wilderswil) 3:41.
6th Adrien Chenaux (Fribourg) 3:44.
7th Mattia Longa (It) 5:19.
8th Hansueli Stauffer (Sigriswil) 6:40.
9th Andreas Moser (Madiswil) 8:32.
10th Matthias Bettinger (De) 14:56.

Women (101 km):
1st Esther Süss (Küttigen) 5:16:32.
2nd Cornelia Hug (Amsoldingen) 28:30.
3rd Andrea Ming (Neerach) 35:06.

Men (77 km):
1st Sebastien Breuer (De) 3:16:40.
2nd Fadri Baradun (Samedan) 0:14.
3rd Jeremias Marti (Gettnau) 0:49.
4th Remo Fischer (Oberhallau) 3:14.
5th Francisco Lopez (Sp) 9:09.

Women (77 km):
1st Verena Huber (De) 3:51:14.
2nd Michèle Wittlin (Liestal) 6:58.
3rd Janine Schneider (De) 15:46.
4th Tanja Blickenstorfer (Horgen) 16:09.
5th Katja Montani (Sui) 19:06.

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