In the main climb to La Berra, a group of five including Urs Huber, Marc Stutzmann, Emilien Barben, Adrien Chenaux and Michael Stünzi were able to break away from the rest. But it was the final climb over the Chibloux that decided the race. At the steepest point, Huber attacks and gets away. But Stünzi and shortly afterwards Chenaux were able to close the gap to the leader. Huber attacks again on the descent from Chibloux and gets away easily, but slips in a bend and has to go down. So it's back to three on the last flat kilometers before the finish. No one is a match for Huber's final attack. Only Chenaux can follow at first, but then has to let go. Huber reaches the finish solo with a six-second lead over Chenaux, who is able to catch the surprisingly strong Stünzi just before the finish line.

Huber was pleased with his renewed triumph in Bulle and his second win in the Bike Marathon Classics. He said: "It's going like clockwork. However, I also need the Classics points cushion, because I want to ride the World Championships, so I can't take part in the BMC final race in Einsiedeln." Chenaux was also satisfied: "When Urs set the pace at La Berra, I struggled for a moment, but then found my rhythm and was able to keep up well. I'm satisfied that I was able to defend second place against Michael."
Stünzi explained: "I knew I was in good shape, but I didn't know the course." For the man from Prättigau, third place is his best elite result on the long course to date.

Ilona Chavaillaz rode to a commanding start-to-finish victory in the women's race. The 37-year-old Glânoise outpaced her opponents, some of whom were significantly younger, by more than half an hour. It is her third success in two weeks, after coming second at the Raid Evolenard in Evolene and the Elsa Bike Trophy in Estavayer-le-Lac. She says: "The race today was really nice. It inspired me to be able to live up to my role as favorite on this picturesque route through my region in the great weather." However, it was not quite the most important victory in her biking career. "I rate my triumph in the short distance of the Grand Raid 2015 a little higher," says the mother of two, whose daughters also ride bikes.

Results

Men (79 km): 1. Urs Huber (Mettmenstetten) 3:32:52. 2. Adrien Chenaux (Fribourg) 0:06. 3. Michael Stünzi (Grüsch) gl. 4. Marc Stutzmann (Rüfenacht, BE) 2:38. 5. Emilien Barben (Chez-le-Bart) 4:23. 6. Andreas Moser (Madiswil) 5:32. 7. Konny Looser (Hinwil) 8:51. 8. Oliver Zurbrügg (Lauterbrunnen) 11:22. 9. Arnaud Rapillard (Saillon) 13:31. 10. Xavier Dafflon (Fribourg) 14:04.

Women (79 km): 1. Ilona Chavaillaz (Sommentier) 4:17:08. 2. Stefanie Zahno (Bürchen) 32:28. 3. Alessia Nay (Zizers) 36:45. 4. Nicole Ruchti (Thun) 47:52. 5. Bettina Gauch (Hünibach) gl. time

Men (36 km): 1. Micha Klötzli (Tramelan) 1:24:02. 2. Adrian Jäggi (Lohn-Ammansegg) 0:59. 3. Cédric Pacios (Vétroz) 1:00. 4. Joel Aebischer (Alterswil, FR) 2:01. 5. Stefan Wüthrich (Uttingen) 2:08.

Women (36 km): 1. Martinette Martin (Les Moulin) 1:37:42. 2. Alexandra Zürcher (Oey) 0:22. 3. Letizia Strimer (Ardez) 1:58. 4. Naika Racheter (Hauterive, NE) 5:30. 5. Mathilde Grossrieder (Pringy) 6:26.

www.bikeclassics.ch
www.bergibike.ch