Fabian Giger and the Czech Ondrej Cink are in the lead for a while at the start. However, five chasers were soon able to catch up with the leaders again. Although the group splits up on the following descent, it soon comes together again. Florian Vogel also manages to join the group. Then prologue winner Jan Skarnitzl (CZE) leaves the leading group due to a puncture. Fabian Giger attacks on the final four-kilometer climb. Only Cink is able to follow him. Giger accelerates again on the last kilometer and takes the stage win ahead of the Czech rider.

Florian Vogel, still in third place, is caught by the German Julian Schelb. The two reached the finishing straight together, where Vogel was beaten in the sprint and finished fourth. Fifth place goes to the Italian Marco Aurelio Fontana. Thomas Litscher and Reto Indergand also deliver pleasing results with eleventh and twelfth place. Nicola Rohrbach, on the other hand, did not have luck on his side. He loses a lot of time due to a puncture and also crashes on the last eight kilometers. 18th place is a comforting result.

Downhill queen Neff
The three podium riders of the prologue are already looking for the decision in the first third of the race. Jolanda Neff, Adelheid Morath and Annika Langvad soon take the lead with a good minute advantage over pursuer Sabine Spitz. The trio head into the Kionia singletrail together, where Jolanda Neff is able to shake off Langvad and Morath. Neff, known as a speedy downhill rider, thus brings about the decision halfway through the race. "I felt great today. The downhill was really cool," said a grinning Jolanda Neff after crossing the finish line with a lead of well over two minutes.

Behind her, Annika Langvad was able to leave prologue winner Adelheid Morath behind. The German gets closer until the final climb. Langvad then mobilized once again and crossed the finish line a good 20 seconds ahead of Morath. Her team-mate Sabine Spitz missed the attack at the start and had to settle for fourth place at the end.

Katrin Leumann finished the stage in a good eleventh place. Nathalie Schneitter, on the other hand, was unlucky when she suffered a laceration to her knee in a fall. Although she fought her way to the finish in 28th place, she then had to seek medical treatment. With eight stitches, Schneitter's knee is no longer fit for use. She will start her journey home tomorrow.

www.cyclingcy.com

Stage 2 Afxentia Stage Race, Cyprus
Men
1.	Fabian Giger (SUI)	Giant Pro XC Team	2:01.16,891
2.	Ondrej Cink (CZE)	Multivan Merida	+0:00.11,927
3.	Julian Schelb (GER)	Multivan Merida	+0:00.20,662
4.	Florian Vogel (SUI)	Scott-Odlo MTB Racing	+0:00.21,748
5.	Marco Aurelio Fontana (ITA)	Cannondale Racing Team	+0:00.30,350
6.	Rudi van Houts (NED)	Multivan Merida	+0:00.45,626
7.	Michiel van der Heijden (NED)	Giant Pro XC Team	+0:01.17,907
8.	José Antonio Hermida (ESP)	Multivan Merida	+0:01.46,927
9.	Jan Skarnitzl (CZE)	Czech National Team	+0:01.55,571
10.	Anton Sintsov (RUS)	TiTiSi LGL Pro Team	+0:01.57,274
11.	Thomas Litscher (SUI)	Multivan Merida	+0:02.10,367
12.	Reto Indergand (SUI)	BMC Mountainbike Racing Team	+0:02.20,490
18.	Nicola Rohrbach (SUI)	Goldwurst-Power/Stöckli	+0:04.46,787
20.	Lukas Flückiger (SUI)	BMC Mountainbike Racing Team	+0:05.05,834
37.	Lucien Besancon (SUI)	Wheeler-iXS	+0:08.11,763
42.	Ralph Näf (SUI)	BMC Mountainbike Racing Team	+0:08.51,747
60.	Ronny Koller (SUI)	JB Felt Team	+0:12.40,767
85.	Ulisse Fieschi (SUI)	Fischer-BMC	+0:20.20,703
100.	Florian Chenaux (SUI)	Zimmermann-BMC Mathieu SA	+0:31.20,979
107.	Nicolas Fischer (SUI)	JB Felt Team	+0:44.14,078
Women
1.	Jolanda Neff (SUI)	Giant Pro XC Team	2:13.39,540
2.	Annika Langvad (DEN)	Specialized Racing	+0:02.30,760
3.	Adelheid Morath (GER)	Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team	+0:02.53,243
4.	Sabine Spitz (GER)	Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team	+0:06.32,878
5.	Tereza Hurikova (CZE)	Czech National Team	+0:07.25,983
11.	Katrin Leumann (SUI)	Ghost	+0:12.07,041
13.	Kathrin Stirnemann (SUI)	Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team	+0:12.45,351
14.	Linda Indergand (SUI)	Strüby-BiXS Team	+0:13.12,251
17.	Corina Gantenbein (SUI)	Fischer-BMC	+0:15.08,732
20.	Ramona Forchini (SUI)	Strüby-BiXS Team	+0:16.07.546
27.	Michelle Hediger (SUI)	Fischer-BMC	+0:20.31,616
28.	Nathalie Schneitter (SUI)	Colnago Pro Cycling Team	+0:21.09,169
38.	Chantal Eheim (SUI)	JB Felt Team	+0:38.40,155