June 18, 2007 (Savognin, Switzerland) — Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea and Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International won the fifth installment of the Swisspower Cup Series on Saturday in the Elite Men’s and Women’s categories, respectively. Canada’s Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Womens MTB Team finished seventh.

The men’s race saw a big battle between Absalon and World Cup #1 winner José Hermida (Esp) Multivan-Merida, who eventually placed second. Jean-Christoph Peraud (Fra) Orbea took third spot, shutting the Swiss out of the medals.

The race, held in Savognin, Switzerland, took place on a 6.5-kilometre course, which contained 210 vertical metres of climbing each lap. The women completed six laps and the men raced around eight laps.

Heavy rain the day before resulted in some muddy sections, but most of the route consisted of pavement and gravel, so it dried quickly in the sunshine that appeared on race day.

Renata Bucher (Sui) Stöckli-Craft, who placed second, leads the women’s overall and Walter is ranked fifth. Absalon leads the men’s rankings.

Elite Women

1. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International 1:46:25
2. Renata Bucher (Sui) Stöckli-Craft at 01:09
3. Katrin Leumann (Sui) goldwurst-power.ch/Sputnik 02:24
4. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized 02:58
5. Sarah Koba (Sui) Koba-Biketeam 03:59
6. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) X.0-Felt Womens MTB Team 05:21
7. Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 06:06
8. Antonia Wipfli (Sui) Gisler Craft 06:52
9. Kathrin Heimberg (Sui) Velo Franz-Gary Fisher 07:03
10. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 08:16

Overall after 5 events

1. Renata Bucher (Sui) Stöckli-Craft 310
2. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International 300
3. Katrin Leumann (Sui) goldwurst-power.ch/Sputnik 272
4. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) X.0-Felt Womens MTB Team 242
5. Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 241

Elite Men

1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 1:55:11
2. José Hermida (Esp) Multivan-Merida at 00:32
3. Jean-Christoph Peraud (Fra) Orbea 03:28
4. Alexandre Moos (Sui) BMC Racing 03:45
5. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum 04:01
6. Fabian Giger (Sui) Tower Sports 05:28
7. Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC 05:42
8. Gion Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum 05:59
9. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum 06:00
10. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum 06:26

Overall after 5 events

1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 400
2. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower 302
3. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team 251
4. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum 247
5. Jürg Graf (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 237

May 7, 2006 – Canada’s Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) was second today in Swisspower Cup #5, trailing Switzerland’s Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) by a minute. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) snatched the third podium spot. Canada’s Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) finished 12th. The 5.5-kilometre course included 200 vertical metres of climbing and technical descents made more difficult by rain on and off all week.

Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) won the 38.5-kilometre men’s race, followed by Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) in second place, only 12 seconds back. Balz Weber (SUI, Bikepark.ch-TUI) finished third.

After five of 12 races, the Swisspower Series is taking a three-week break to avoid conflict with the three back-to-back World Cup races starting next weekend with Madrid. The Swiss national series will resume on June 5 in Perrefitte, BE.

Results

Women (6 laps, 33km)
1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 1:50:37
2. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 1:51:35
3. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) 1:52:54
4. Franziska Röthlin (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 1:55:18
5. Renata Bucher (SUI, Stöckli) 1:57:11
6. Jaqueline Mourao (BRA, Scott-Brazilian Federation) 1:57:40
7. Githa Michiels (BEL, Belgian Cycling) 1:58:12
8. Sabrina Enaux (SUI, Lapierre International) 1:58:17
9. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Bikepark.ch-TUI) 1:59:29
10. Sonja Traxel (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 1:59:47

12. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 2:01:03
20. Fabienne Niederberger (CAN, X.O-Felt) -1 lap

Men (7 laps, 38.5km)

1. Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) 1:42:07
2. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 1:42:29
3. Balz Weber (SUI, Bikepark.ch-TUI) 1:43:06
4. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) 1:43:16
5. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 1:44:10
6. Frederic Frech (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:44:26
7. Gion Manetsch (SUI, Athleticum) 1:45:05
8. Stéphane Tempier (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:45:35
9. Lukas Flückiger (SUI, Bianchi-Agos) 1:47:02
10. Daniel Suter (SUI, Giant Swiss) 1:47:05