The «Multivan Merida Biking Team» has seen a weekend rich on podium finishes: All five riders succeeded to place themselves within the top-three at their respective races. At Winterthur’s Swisspower Cup race, Germany’s Nina Göhl won the women’s race undisputedly, while Moritz Milatz missed out on the victory at the same race by a mere two seconds. Ending up third, Ralph Näf secured another podium finish for the team.
At the high-profile Sunshine Cup in Nals, Italy, Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle outclassed her competitors: The reigning world champion distanced the runner-up, America’s Mary McConneloug, by over four and a half minutes. Winning an international race in Czechia, Spain’s José Hermida secured the third gold medal of the weekend for the team.
In Winterthur, Nina Göhl showed a kind of race that Gunn-Rita Dahle has become known for. The young German dropped her competitors early on in the race, increasing her lead lap by lap. At the finish line, this lead had built up to over three minutes, proving that her preparation for Madrid, Spain’s worldcup race in two weeks is exactly on target.
Germany’s Moritz Milatz narrowly missed out on a sensation in Winterthur – the first double-victory of «Multivan Merida Biking Team»’s two youngsters. Lap by lap, he closed down the gap to the leader, Switzerland’s Martin Gujan, who narrowly managed to save his victory with a sprint to the finish line. A mere two seconds separated Milatz from a triumph. Switzerland’s Ralph Näf finished third, having been in the lead during the first half of the race. A flat tire and difficulties to fix it on the muddy course threw him back, but he fought back to finish third.
The Multivan Merida Biking Team’s next races are scheduled for next weekend: At the MTB Bundesliga race in Heubach, Germany, and at the next race of the Swisspower Cup in Hasliberg, Switzerland. But the focus is already shifting to the following worldcup races in Madrid (ESP), Spa (BEL) and Fort William (UK).
Results Swisspower Cup Winterthur (CH), Men:
1. Gujan Martin (SUI) 1:55:05.
2. Milatz Moritz (GER) +00:02.
3. Näf Ralph (SUI) +01:09.
4. Weber Balz (SUI) +01:37.
5. Schurter Nino (SUI) +02:48.
6. Jongewaard Chris (AUS) +03:13.
7. Suter Daniel (SUI) +04:11.
8. Frech Frederic (FRA) +04:39.
9. Manetsch Gion (SUI) +05:05.
10. Schmid Raffael (SUI) +05:36.
Results Swisspower Cup Winterthur (CH), Women:
1. Göhl Nina (GER) 1:37:16.
2. Süss Esther (SUI) +02:53.
3. Enocsson Anna (SWE) +03:28.
4. Röthlin Franziska (SUI) +04:06.
5. Schmid Bettina (SUI) +07:48.
6. Kuster Andrea (SUI) +07:57.
7. Walter Sandra (CAN) +08:52.
8. Steiner Anita (SUI) +15:49.
9. Traxel Sonja (SUI) +16:45.
10. Kunz Sandy (SUI) +20:57.
Results Sunshine Cup Nals (I), Men:
1. Kessiakoff Fredrik (SWE) 1.39.32
2. Paulissen Roel (BEL) 1.41.06
3. Pirazzoli Mirko (ITA) 1.41.18
4. Torsten Marx (GER) 1.42.14
5. Bianchi Ramon (ITA) 1.42.28
6. Paez Leonardo (COL) 1.43.17
7. Markt Karl (AUT) 1.43.17
8. Zoli Yader (ITA) 1.43.20
9. De Bertolis Massimo (ITA) 1.43.55
10. Baretto Igor (ITA) 1.44.38
16. Näf Ralph (SUI) 1.48.03
Results Sunshine Cup Nals (I), Women:
1. Dahle Gunn-Rita (NOR) 1.12.25
2. McCooneloug Mary (USA) 1.16.47
3. Byberg Lene (NOR) 1.18.01
4. Osl Elisabeth (AUT) 18.53
5. Lechner Eva (ITA) 1.19.51
