June 6, 2006 — Switzerland’s highly competitive national series was rolling again yesterday after a three-week break for the European World Cups. The sixth race in the 12-race series finally saw pleasant weather and conditions in a country that has been suffering a seemingly unending winter with temperatures regularly in the single digits.

Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) took the win in the 30-kilometre women’s race, completing five laps in 1:48:12. The 2004 Junior Women’s World Champion, Nathalie Schneitter (SUI, Biketeam.ch), finished less than two minutes in arrears of Süss to take second place on a course that included 250 vertical metres of climbing per six-kilometre lap. France’s Hanna Israel (FRA, Orbea) trailed Schneitter by only 21 seconds and finished third. Canada’s Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) crossed the line in sixth spot and Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) also cracked the top 10 with an eighth-place ride.

Despite sitting out this race, Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) still leads the series with 380 points, followed closely by Süss, who has 360 points. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) took over third spot with 285 points. Walter sits in fourth position with 280 points, Feldmann is in 14th overall with 166 points and Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) is in 34th spot with 80 points.

Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Swisspower) won the men’s race in a six-lap battle. He edged out second- and third-place riders Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) and Andreas Kugler (SUI, Athleticum) by less than a minute in the 36-kilometre race. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) leads the series with 324 points, Balz Weber (SUI, BikePark.ch-TUI) is second with 314 points and Frech is third with 311 points.

The next Swisspower Cup — UCI E1 Classification — takes place this Sunday, June 11, in Gränichen.

Women (5 laps, 30km)

1. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) 1:48:12
2. Nathalie Schneitter (SUI, Biketeam.ch) 1:50:00
3. Hanna Israel (FRA, Orbea) 1:50:12
4. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 1:50:21
5. Hanna Klein (GER, Cross) 1:53:07
6. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 1:56:57
7. Sandy Kunz (SUI, TG-Hütten) 1:57:47
8. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 1:58:18
9. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Sputnik Bikeshop) 1:59:43
10. Fabienne Niederberger (SUI, X.O-Felt) 2:00:02

Overall after six events

1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 380
2. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) 360
3. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 285
4. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 280
5. Sonja Traxel (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 273
Other Canadians:
14. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 166
34. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 80

Men (6 laps, 36km)

1. Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Swisspower) 1:43:04
2. Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:43:12
3. Andreas Kugler (SUI, Athleticum) 1:43:47
4. Balz Weber (SUI, BikePark.ch-TUI) 1:44:09
5. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 1:44:50
6. Hannes Genze (GER, Alb Gold) 1:46:41
7. Rudolf Biedermann (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:46:42
8. Daniel Suter (SUI, Giant) 1:47:15
9. Hannes Metzler (AUT, Giant Swiss Team) 1:47:19
10. Daniel Schütz (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:47:20
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Overall after six events

1. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) 324 points
2. Balz Weber (SUI, BikePark.ch-TUI) 314
3. Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 311
4. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 310
5. Gion Manetsch (SUI, Athleticum) 284