The two Swiss women are favored and immediately put their stamp on the race. When they overtook Evie Richards in the lead after two kilometers, a gap immediately opened up and the title fight became a duel between the Swiss. However, the joint escape came to an end on the third lap. Alessandra Keller pulls away and within one lap she rides a minute ahead, while Sina Frei loses some time to her two pursuers Marike Tovo and Ronja Eibl (Germany).

Keller celebrates a commanding victory, her first in the U23 category, after having had bad luck in previous years. "There are hardly any words to describe the feeling. Last year I was unlucky, today I fought hard and Sina was strong. It's the best thing that could have happened in front of a home crowd," says Keller of her success and talks about the high expectations in Switzerland. "It's a dream come true for me, it's incredible. When I was in front, I just gave it my all," said Keller.

Sina Frei says that she stumbled briefly and then lost her rhythm. "I got a little stomach ache for a moment, but then I was fine again and I'm proud of the silver medal. We certainly had a lot of pressure. I'm certainly a little disappointed, but it's not that I'm completely gutted," said Frei, commenting on her silver medal after two golds in 2016 and 2017.

Nicole Koller had her "usual" bad start, but then worked her way up to the group in fifth place. But then she threw up. "That made me lose my rhythm," admits Koller and when she had to dismount once in a root passage on the penultimate lap, cramps set in.
"I gave it my all and the home crowd was great," she laughs at the finish line, which she reaches in ninth place, 5:21 minutes behind teammate Alessandra Keller.

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