September 8, 2008 (Bern, Switzerland) – The Swisspower Cup series concluded with a challenging event on a course made incredibly difficult because of thick mud, despite organizers’ decision to shorten the lap on race day. The rain let up just in time for the start of the women’s race at 11:00 a.m. local time, but the damage had already been done.

Russia’s Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon, bronze medalist at the Olympics in Beijing, virtually floated over the muck to take the win over Olympic gold medalist Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost in the contest consisting of one 0.8km start loop and five full 4km laps. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC, who was sixth at the Olympics, took third spot yesterday in Bern. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse, who placed eighth in the race, won the overall series title. Canada’s Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team defended her fourth place overall in the series, and finished 11th in the final.

Many favourites abandoned the men’s race, which consisted of three 0.8km start loops, plus six full laps at 4km. Among the casualties were Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Full Dynamix, Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower, Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Hard Rock, and Manuel Fumic (Ger) Fumic Brothers Racing. Other favourites who didn’t abandon experienced upsets.

Olympic bronze medal winner Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower placed an uncharacteristic 30th, and current World Champion Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized was overthrown by Bromont World Cup winner Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum. Sauser settled for second and Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC took third in another case of Swiss domination of the deep, international field. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum took the overall series title. Mountain bike legend Thomas Frischknecht (Sui) Swisspower celebrated the final race of his career in style, finishing 10th.

Results (brief)

Women

1. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon 1:45:56
2. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost 0:29
3. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC 0:39
4. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost) 1:46
5. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago 7:29
6. Marielle Saner Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.ch 10:03
7. Sarah Koba (Sui) Koba 12:52
8. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 13:38
9. Katrin Leumann (Sui) goldwurst-power/Sputnik 14:06
10. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) Joybike/MBC Bochum) 16:42
11. Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 17:05
12. Fabienne Niederberger (Sui) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 19:30
13. Stephanie Wiedner (Aut) Rad Team Kärnten 19:43
14. Asa Erlandsson (Swe) Subaru Gary Fisher -1 lap
15. Tatjana Dold (Ger) Fuji Bikes Europe/RIG Freiburg -1 lap

Men

1. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum 1:43:12
2. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized 1:07
3. Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC 1:24
4. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Full-Dynamix 1:36
5. Ralph Näf (Sui) Multivan Merida 3:31
6. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia 3:41
7. Jochen Kaess (Ger) Alb-Gold 4:14
8. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum 4:28
9. Fabian Giger (Sui) SKS M.I.G. 4:40
10. Thomas Frischknecht (Sui) Swisspower 5:49
11. Silvio Bundi (Sui) Giant Swiss 6:07
12. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Giant Italia 6:13
13. Hannes Metzler (Aut) GiantSwiss 6:23
14. Jürg Graf (Sui) Swisspower 6:42
15. Gion Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum 7:25

Final Series Rankings after 7 Events

Women

1. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 388 points
2. Katrin Leumann (Sui) goldwurst-power/Sputnik 372
3. Marielle Saner Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.ch 357
4. Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 299
5. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC 295

Men

1. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum 388 points
2. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum 343
3. Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC 301
4. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower 300
5. Gion Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum 296