July 2, 2008 (Champéry, Switzerland) – The fifth round of the Swisspower Cup series took place on Saturday, June 28 in Champéry, Switzerland – the past UCI MTB World Cup venue from 2007 and future host of a World Cup stop in 2009. The Swiss took victories in both the Elite Women’s and Men’s competitions, with local Marielle Saner (Sui) Bikepark.ch (who won the World Cup women’s DH here last year) easily riding away from the field on the long, technical singletrack section on the first lap of five, and never looking back. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse took second, Katrin Leumann (Sui) Goldwurst-power.ch was third, and Canada’s Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team just missed the podium, placing fourth.

In the men’s race, it was Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum who triumphed on the sunny summer day after seven laps of the 5.2km course. Italy’s Marco-Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Hard Rock FRW was second, followed by Gion Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team in third place. Rusca now leads the women’s series, while Walter remains in fourth, and Gujan leads the men’s overall rankings. Swisspower Cup #5 takes place on July 12-13 in Savognin.

Elite Men

1. Martin Gujan (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team 1:46.46
2. Marco-Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Hard Rock FRW 0.50
3. Gion Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team 1.45
4. Daniel Suter (Sui) Giant-Swiss-Team 3.19
5. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Tower Sports 3.38
6. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant-Swiss-Team 5.03
7. Ivan Planzer (Sui) Giant-Swiss-Team 5.31
8. Severin Disch (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 5.58
9. Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Scott Allianz Suisse 6.25
10. Andreas Kugler (Sui) Fischer-BMC 6.32

Elite Women

1. Marielle Saner Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.ch 1:30.48
2. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) Scott Allianz Suisse 0.59
3. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Goldwurst-power.ch 2.00
4. Sandra Walter (Can) X.0-Felt Women’s MTB Team 2.46
5. Francisca Campos Salas (Chi) Centre Mondial du Cyclisme 3.07
6. Rosara Joseph (NZl) Ghost International 4.21
7. Séverine Hansen (Fra) BH SR Suntour 7.23
8. Fabienne Niederberger (Sui) X.0-Felt Womens MTB Team 8.28
9. Anna Israel (Fra) Conseil Général du 13 10.36
10. Myriam Saugy (Sui) Texner BMC 14.20