The women's race is characterized by tactics for 15 minutes. An escape attempt by Chloe Woodruff is neutralized unspectacularly. For a long time, it was mainly a battle for a better position before each short technical passage. It was only when the last of nine laps was heralded that Maja Wloszczwoska from Poland opened fire from a leading group of ten. However, her strength only lasted until halfway through the final lap. "Then it was over. I wanted to try, but at the same time it was a template for Jolanda," explained Wloszczowska, who finished eighth.

Two Swiss riders, cross-country world champion Jolanda Neff and Linda Indergand, finished behind the marathon world champion.

Annika Langvad: "I'm really happy. I already knew that my form was good, but this is something completely different. It was a tactical ride and I stayed calm the whole time. And then suddenly it went, boom, boom."

Jolanda Neff: "I think it's super cool that we have two Swiss riders on the podium. Annika was simply stronger in the end, but I'm very happy with second place. The race is unpredictable, you always have to be on your guard. Sunday will be a different story."

Linda Indergand: "I was on Jolanda's rear wheel at the end, Annika on the other side. So I got past Maja, but not Jolanda. But of course, I'm happy with a podium."
Alessandra Keller completed the excellent Swiss result in fourth place.

The same tension built up in the men's race: A large group but no fruitful attacks. Mathieu Van der Poel kept trying to narrow the field, but it didn't work. It wasn't until three laps before the end that he tried again and was suddenly alone at the front. "I decided to go for it," says Van der Poel, who did the right thing and won the race solo. "I'm even happier that I managed it. Races like this suit me very well, and the fact that I can therefore start at the front on Sunday suits me very well here on this fast but narrow course."

However, it is almost forgotten that Van der Poel broke her scaphoid just over a week ago and underwent surgery. "It went quite well with the hand, especially on this course. It hurts more on the long descents of the cross-country course, but there are still just under two days until the race and with the adrenaline that builds up during the race and the focus on it, the pain shouldn't fade into the background," the Dutchman answers the question about the pain.

Nino Schurter's short track premiere is anything but successful. His goal of achieving a good starting position on the starting straight is a long way off. The world champion experiences shifting problems and has to get off his bike. He tries to make up two laps, but then gives up in a hopeless situation. "It can happen and I'm looking forward to Sunday," says Schurter pragmatically in an Instagram video.

Flückiger's surprise

"Nobody would have believed that I would be on the podium here at the whole event," says Mathias Flückiger at the finish line with a grin and adds: "Me neither." In fact, the race got off to the worst possible start for him. He was "shot down" by a competitor on the first lap and found himself in 30th position. "I then had to do three laps flat out," says Flückiger, explaining how he worked his way back to the front and then only had the best 16 in mind, which would help him to a place in the first two rows of the grid on Sunday.

"It was tactical, but there was never a lull. I had good power though and on the last lap we got away a bit with eight riders and I thought, great: could be enough for row one." But there was still more to come for Mathias Flückiger. Before the last singletrail, he tried to get into first position, but Sam Gaze was faster. "Maybe that was even a good thing, because it meant I could stay on his rear wheel," said Flückiger.

This created a small gap to Florian Vogel, who had dominated the entire race at the front and had also broken away together with Mathieu van der Poel at one point. Mathias Flückiger loses the sprint duel with the former world championship silver medallist in the sprint, but is completely satisfied with his race.

Florian Vogel loses the duel for fifth place against Lars Forster. "I always tried to stay as far in front as possible. It worked out in the end. I'm quite satisfied, even though it looked at times as if I could finish on the podium. But it was just important for me to ride into the top eight and I managed to do that."

Good starting position

So on Sunday, several Swiss riders will start from the front positions: In addition to Neff and Indergand, Alessandra Keller is also on the front row of the women's race. Kathrin Stirnemann is 14th on the second row, Ramona Forchini 26th from fourth
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In the men's race, four Swiss riders will start from row one: Mathias Flückiger, Florian Vogel, Lars Forster and Lukas Flückiger. Reto Indergand in ninth place just missed out, so he will start from the second starting line with Marcel Guerrini in twelfth place and Nicola Rohrbach in 16th place.