Absalon and Henzi win in Winterthur

In his first race start in Switzerland since his Olympic victory in Beijing last summer, Frenchman Julien Absalon (Orbea) took victory in the Wintherthur round of the Racer Bikes Cup. Absalon defeated German Moritz Milatz (Multivan Merida Biking Team) and Englishman Liam Killeen (Trek World Racing). With several top Swiss riders absent, the best Swiss finisher was Fabian Giger (SKS M.I.G. Team) in fifth place. In the women's competition, Swiss Petra Henzi (Fischer-BMC) won her first race of the year.

Friday's rains made the route around the mountain at Winterthur looser and more technically demanding than expected. The many climbs and descents added challenges for the racers.

It was on the third of eight laps that Absalon, Milatz and Killeen escaped. Absalon was the one who set the pace and on the second last lap, he upped his pace to put the pressure on his last remaining companion, Milatz.

Absalon won by just 23 seconds over Milatz.  Killeen was not much further back, at 34 seconds.

"The route in Winterthur is hard but also very technical. It's a pity the best Swiss riders are not lined up against me," said Absalon after his win. Racers like Florian Vogel, Ralf Naaf and Christoph Sauser were absent.

Giger did his best to put in a good race for the Swiss. The 22-year-old, spent much of the race together with Spaniard Inaki Lejarreta (Orbea), who finished fourth. Alexander Moos (BMC) was the second best Swiss rider, in sixth place.

Henzi beat compatriot Marielle Saner-Guinchard (BikePark.ch) by 37 seconds and German Adelheid Morath (Rothaus-Cube MTB Team) by 1:42 in the women's race.

Swiss champion Kathrin Leumann (goldwurst-power / Sputnik) was not at full strength as she was suffering from stomach problems all during the night before the race. Nonetheless, she still finished seventh. American Chloe Forsman (USA Cycling MTB team) finished 21st.

Zurich's Roger Walder (Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing) took a tight junior men's victory over Dutchman Michiel Hejden (KNWU).

The Austrian Lisa Mitterbauer (BikePark.ch) surprised some with her first victory in the junior women's race, ahead of Vania Schumacher (Top Cycle) and Michelle Hediger (Fischer-BMC).

Matthias Rupp (Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing) won his fifth win in the amateurs & masters category. He had plenty of time to celebrate before last year's junior Swiss champion Mirco Widmer (Fischer Junior MTB Team) finished behind him by about two minutes