Vogel, Leumann win Racer Bikes Cup finale in Muttenz

Racers enjoyed glorious weather at the final round of the Swiss Racer Bikes Cup in Muttenz this weekend. In the men's race, Florian Vogel beat Ralph Näf in the final meters for the win while Nino Schurter won the final sprint for third ahead of Julien Absalon and Christoph Sauser. A three-way sprint decided the women's race with European Champion Katrin Leumann winning ahead of Marielle Saner and Esther Süss.

Racers got to fine tune their form before the final World Cup next weekend in Windham, New York, and the World Championships the following weekend in Canada. The course was fast and major groups with the favorites soon formed at the front of each race, setting up tight sprint finishes.

In the men's race, a crash by Schurter on a narrow section of the course, with three to go, brought nearly the whole group to a stop. Näf took advantage of the opportunity and put the hammer down. Only Vogel could catch Näf, and he still had enough energy at the end to be able to overtake him in the final sprint.

Absalon secured the Racer Bikes Cup series win ahead of Lukas Flückiger and Schurter.

The women's race was no less exciting and was also decided in a sprint. Women's Olympic champion Sabine Spitz missed the podium and finished fourth. With her third place in the final round, Esther Süss won the overall Swiss Racer Bikes Cup ahead of Leumann and Marielle Saner.

In the junior men's race, Lars Forster won the race. Third place gave Roger Walder overall victory in the junior series.

Jolanda Neff dominated the junior women's race, taking the day's competition and the overall.

In 2011, the Racer Bikes Cup will resume with the opening round in Schaan.

Full Results