"I am satisfied. My tactics worked. I wanted to ride defensively at the start and only make the decision after Oberiberg. I actually managed to do that a short time later on the climb to Adlerhorst. I was able to distance myself from my last companion and toughest rival in the battle for the overall classification, Hansueli Stauffer," explains Urs Huber after crossing the finish line on the Einsiedeln monastery square as the winner for the fourth time. Huber adds that it is special for him to win the series with one race less than Stauffer. "I certainly had a bit of luck too. If Hansueli hadn't had any defects on the O-Tour, it would have been closer." It is always something special for him to win the Swiss marathon series, even if it is the fifth time, concludes Huber.

Hansueli Stauffer's disappointment about second place is limited: "The strongest man won. I tried everything and fought to the end." He is taking a lot of positives with him for the coming season. "My goal is to gain a few more percent so that I can stand up to Urs even more next year." He didn't expect things to go so well this year after the disastrous 2015 season. Nevertheless, Stauffer still sees room for improvement. Konny Looser, who climbed back onto the podium of the Garmin Bike Marathon Classics for the first time after his leg artery operation, was delighted. "A good omen for the coming season," says Looser happily.

Sweet for sixth - Waldis wins middle distance

Former marathon world champion Esther Süss secures her sixth victory in Einsiedeln in the women's race. Süss says: "I didn't have completely fresh legs after the Swiss Epic the previous week. In addition, Cone Hug was riding very strongly, which stressed me out a bit at times. I was able to distance her on the climb to Sattelegg, but then didn't catch a fast group in the Euthal. Whereupon she came threateningly closer again. After Unteriberg, however, I was able to make things clear." Cornelia Hug was delighted with her second place: "Esther is no longer as far away as she was before," said the Amsoldingen native, who has already won the O-Tour and the National Park Marathon. Garmin leader Nadia Walker crossed the finish line in third place. She thus also secures the final classification. "I'm happy, but I'm also glad that this was my last race as an active athlete. I've had a difficult time in recent weeks and am now looking forward to new goals," says Walker.

The race organizers around OC President Thomas Uhr are also in a celebratory mood. Thanks to the beautiful weather, the 20th anniversary of the Iron Bike attracted more than 2000 participants.

Results Einsiedeln

Men (101 km):
1st Urs Huber (Mettmenstetten) 4:18:56.
2nd Hansueli Stauffer (Sigriswil) 1:30.
3rd Konny Looser (Hinwil) 5:56.
4th Frans Claes (Be) 6:04.
5th Andreas Moser (Madiswil) 13:05.
6th Oliver Zurbrügg (Wilderswil) 13:08.
7th Arnaud Rapillard (Conthey) 14:49.
8. Michael Stünzi (Grüsch) 15:27.
9th Adrien Chenaux (Fribourg) 15:37.

Women (101 km):
1st Esther Süss (Küttigen) 5:11:17.
2nd Cornelia Hug (Amsoldingen) 8:17.
3rd Nadia Walker (Altdorf UR) 17:17.
4th Florence Darbellay (Neuchâtel) 24:29.
5th Andrea Ming (Neerach) 34:13.
6th Janine Schneider (De) 38:04.

Men (77 km):
1st Mattia Longa (It) 3:06:17.
2nd Sebastian Breuer (Einsiedeln) 8:01.
3rd Jeremias Marti (Gettnau) 8:41.
4th Stefan Vögeli (Wimmis) 12:46.
5th Rick Reimann (Uster) 15:14.
6th Samuel Jud (Oetwil am See) 15:19.
7th Jonas Kälin (Gross) 17:35.
8th Sascha Deplazes (Sedrun) 18:46.
9th Martin Solvia (Galgenen) 19:58.
10th Daniel Räss (Appenzell) 19:59.

Women (77 km):
1st Andrea Waldis (Morschach) 3:54:02.
2nd Verena Huber (De) 8:01.
3rd Michèle Wittlin (Liestal) 9:12.
4th Sandra Weiss (Sulz) 9:19.
5th Eliane Müggler (Thal) 11:52.
6th Margrit Abächerli (Erstfeld) 17:19.
7th Anita Hürlimann (Unterägeri) 19:08.
8th Alessia Nay (Zizers) 21:52.

www.garmin-bikeclassics.ch
www.facebook.com/bikemarathonclassics
www.iron-bike.ch