June 18, 2006 — Switzerland’s Balz Weber (SUI, BikePark.ch-TUI) took victory today over Olympic Gold medalist Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) and World Cup contender Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) at Swisspower Cup #8 in the resort town of Grächen in the Walliser Alps.

In the first 5.5-kilometre lap of six, the men’s pack split wide open, with four riders quickly separating themselves from the rest. Absalon, Paulissen, Weber and Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) rode together until midway through the race, when Absalon and Weber managed to get a gap on the other two riders. Then, on the final climb on the final lap, Weber attacked his French rival and managed to hold his lead to the finish. A technical issue held Absalon up in the final descent, allowing a hard-chasing Vogel to pass the Frenchman as well.


Results (6 laps, 33 km)

1. Balz Weber (SUI, BikePark.ch-TUI) 1:42:36
2. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 1:43:38
3. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 1:43:47
4. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) 1:45:18
5. Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:46:12
6. Lukas Flückiger (SUI, Bianchi Agos) 1:47:23
7. Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) 1:47:46
8. Daniel Suter (SUI, Giant Swiss) 1:47:59
9. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) 1:48:49
10. Robert Odink (SUI, Kona-Verbier-Swiss Factory) 1:49:19


Overall after eight events (Best six results):

Men

1. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) 446
2. Balz Weber (Bikepark.ch-TUI) 414
3. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 385
4. Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 373
5. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 361


Women

1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 580 points
2. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) 430
3. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 351
4. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 339
5. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) 328

Other Canadians:

13. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 231
41. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 80