June 26, 2006 – The ninth race of the 12-race Swiss national cross country mountain bike series took place in the French-speaking canton of Neuchatel yesterday. Swiss National Women’s Champion Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) took another victory, giving herself a perfect score of 600 points in the series. Each rider’s six best results count for the overall classification, with 100 points awarded for a win.

The women had ideal weather conditions for their four-lap, 32-kilometre race, with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 20’s . Each eight-kilometre loop gained a total of 310 vertical metres and included fast, technical descents, made slippery by rain showers the night before. Austria’s Elisabeth Osl (AUT, Tonis Pro Team) attacked the favourite, Henzi, in the first lap, but it didn’t stick. The veteran, Henzi, powered to take the win, followed by a content Osl in second. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Sputnik Bikeshop) finished third. Canada’s Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) took 12th spot and currently holds 6th in the overall standings. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) crashed and was forced to abandon. Feldmann is currently 15th in the series.

The men’s race started with the same pleasant conditions that the women enjoyed, but by mid-race in the competition, the skies opened up and released torrential rain and hail. Organizers shortened the race from five to four laps of the eight-kilometre loop. Frenchman Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA, Orbea) took control of the race from the start and dealt handily with the deteriorating course conditions that resulted from the weather onslaught. The fight for the remaining podium spots was exciting, however, with fellow Frenchman Nicolas Filippi (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) finally getting away from Switzerland’s Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) to take second spot, with Bundi settling for third. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) continues to lead the series with 446 points.

Men (4 laps, 32 km)
1. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA, Orbea) 1:36:47
2. Nicolas Filippi (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:37:38
3. Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) 1:37:49
4. Andreas Kugler (SUI, Athleticum) 1:38:05
5. Frederic Frech (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:38:44
6. Stéphane Tempier (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:39:20
7. Daniel Suter (SUI, Giant Swiss Team) 1:39:49
8. Till Marx (SUI, Swisspower MTB Team) 1:40:13
9. Joris Boillat (SUI, Texner-BMC) 1:40:30
10. Francois Bailly-Maitre (FRA, Scott Allianz Suisse) 1:41:21

Overall after nine events:
1. Martin Gujan (SUI, Athleticum) 446
2. Balz Weber (SUI, Bikepark.ch-TUI) 414
3. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 385
4. Frederic Frech (SUI, Scott Allianz Suisse) 382
5. Silvio Bundi (SUI, Athleticum) 371

Women (4 laps, 32 km)
1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 1:59:56
2. Elisabeth Osl (AUT, Tonis Pro Team) 2:01:03
3. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Sputnik Bikeshop) 2:01:55
4. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) 2:02:28
5. Annika Smail (NZL, Velobern) 2:02:29
6. Sarah Koba Sarah (SUI, Koba biketeam.gr) 2:06:37
7. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 2:10:44
8. Laura Metzler (FRA, VTT MBK La Pomme) 2:12:25
9. Antonia Wipfli (SUI, Gisler-Visiongate) 2:12:31
10. Julie Krasniak (FRA, Lapierre International) 2:13:24

12. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 2:14:48
DNF Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt)

Overall after nine events:
1. Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 600
2. Esther Süss (SUI, Ghost) 438
3. Sarah Koba (SUI, Koba) 388
4. Bettina Schmid (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 358
5. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Sputnik Bikeshop) 354

6. Sandra Walter (CAN, X.O-Felt) 341
15. Martina Feldmann (CAN, X.O-Felt) 231
45. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 80