April 14, 2008 (Muttenz, Switzerland) – Round 3 of the Swisspower Cup series took place in Muttenz on Saturday. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Goldwurst-power grabbed victory in the women’s race, followed by Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler Pro Team in second, and Marielle Saner (Sui) Bikepark.ch in third. Canada’s Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team placed fifth. Leumann now leads the series and Walter has moved into fourth overall.

In the men’s race, Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team pulled off a hat trick, taking his third Swisspower victory in as many races. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum was third, followed by Italian Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Hard Rock FRW in third. Canada’s Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain was also on the start, but according to girlfriend and former National Team rider, Trish Sinclair, he has been fighting a cold he picked up during his travels to Europe last week, and pulled out of the race early, opting to focus on getting healthy for this weekend’s World Cup opener in Belgium.

Riders battled on a very flat 6km course that started roadie-style on a horse track in St. Jakob Stadium, then headed out into the woods for a short, slick climb and descent, followed by some swooping singletrack along the river Birs. Once back in the infield, riders faced a series of technical manmade obstacles, like whoop-dee-do’s bridges, logs, ramps and a gap jump. Spectators were out in force, cheering on the world-class fields. The Swisspower Cup Series now takes a break, while the World Cup Series gets underway in Europe. The next Swisspower Cup takes place on May 25, in Gränichen.

Elite Women – 7 laps – 42 km

1. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Goldwurst-power 1:49:13
2. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler Pro Team at 0:24
3. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.ch 0:54
4. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago 4:13
5. Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team 4:41
6. Renata Bucher (Sui) Stöckli-Craft 4:59
7. Bettina Schmid (Sui) Fischer-BMC 5:35
8. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Merida Suisse Team 6:57
9. Kate Potter (Aus) Cotic Bontrager Race Team 8:34
10. Niederberger Fabienne (Sui) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team 10:02

Elite Men – 9 laps – 54km

1. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team 1:57:19
2. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum at 0:34
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Hard Rock FRW 1:18
4. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized 2:31
5. Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC 2:54
6. Thomas Frischknecht (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team 2:57
7. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum 2:59
8. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Orbea 4:19
9. Moos Alexandre (Sui) Fischer-BMC 4:32
10. Metzler Hannes (Aut) Giant-Swiss MTB Team 5:32

April 24, 2006 – World MTB and Olympic Champion Julien Absalon, (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) made a golden appearance in Buchs, St. Gallen yesterday, taking victory in Swisspower Cup #3. He was strongest on the 5.2-kilometre course that included a 2.5-kilometre climb with an ascent of 271 vertical metres and a rough descent. Switzerland’s Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) put up a strong chase, finishing 32 seconds in arrears. Swisspower teammate Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) grabbed third place. After three of 12 races, Schurter leads the series with 175 points.

Swiss National Women’s Champion Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) continued her strong season with a win in Buchs. Renata Bucher (SUI, Stoeckli Racing) finished third, 42 seconds back from the lead. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) used her home field advantage to grab the final podium spot. Canadian Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) cruised into the top 10, with teammate Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) just behind in 11th. After the third of 12 races, Henzi is leading the series with 280 points, Walter is fifth with 158 points and Feldmann is 28th with 56 points.

Results

Women (5 laps, 26km)

1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 1:40:08
2. Renata Bucher (SUI, Stoeckli Racing) 1:40:50
3. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) 1:41:41
4. Daniela Louis (SUI, Stoeckli-Craft) 1:41:58
5. Pia Sundstedt (FIN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 1:43:58
6. Franziska Rothlin (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 1:45:17
7. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Bikepark.ch) 1:46:00
8. Esther Suss (SUI, Ghost International) 1:48:16
9. Sonja Traxel (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 1:48:20
10. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 1:49:01

11. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 1:49:41

Men (6 laps, 31.2km)

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 1:35:57
2. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) at 1:36:33
3. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 1:38:52
4. Gion Manetsch (SUI, Athleticum) 1:38:54
5. Karl Markt (AUT, Peto Zams) 1:38:55
6. Frederic Frech (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:40:36
7. Hannes Metzler (AUT, Giant Swiss) 1:42:17
8. Joris Boillat (SUI, Texner BMC) 1:43:15
9. Yvan Schalbetter (SUI, Giant Swiss Team) 1:43:31
10. Thomas Stoll (SUI, Stoeckli-Craft) 1:43:42

Women Overall

1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 280 points
2. Daniela Louis (SUI, Stöckli-Craft) 189
3. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost International) 180
4. Sonja Traxel (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 160
5. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 158
6. Karin Steiner (SUI, Thomy K MTB Team) 140
7. Maroussia Rusca (SUI, BikePark.ch) 138
8. Ivonne Kraft (GER, Fuji Bikes) 135
9. Fanny Senn (SUI, Cyclestore Giant) 133
10. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) 129

28. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 56

Men Overall

1. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 175 points
2. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 170
3. Gion Manetsch (SUI, Athleticum) 168
4. Gujan Martin (SUI, Athleticum) 159
5. Joris Boillat (SUI, Texner BMC) 153
6. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 145
7. Daniel Suter (SUI, Giant Swiss) 145
8. Andreas Moser (SUI, Team Hörmann) 136
9. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN, Cannondale-Vredestein) 135
10. Jürg Graf (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 125