Bronze for Wiedmann – Albin strong fifth place
Luke Wiedmann won bronze in the U23 category at the Swiss Championships in Echallens (VD). Vital Albin put in a very strong performance in the elite mens category and finished the race in a good fifth place.
Without the two team leaders Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger, Team Thömus maxon got the maximum out of the XCC and XCO national championships. After Lars Forster’s gold in the XCC on Friday, Luke Wiedmann unexpectedly secured the bronze medal in the U23 race in the XCO. However, it didn’t look like that until shortly before the start: «I felt empty and drained over the last two weeks. Because I was also stung by a bee on Saturday, I wasn’t sure in the morning whether I would even start,» explained Wiedmann after the race.
Strong battle and well deserved bronze medal
However, once the young man from Solothurn had made the decision to start, he presented himself from his best side. There was nothing he could do against the superior Finn Treudler. But behind him, Wiedmann and Maxime L’Homme battled it out for silver. Only in a tight decision in the final kilometers did Wiedmann have to admit defeat in the duel and thus win bronze.
Albin close to the medals with a strong performance
Lars Forster and Vital Albin were the outsiders in the elite competition. Both got off to a good start, but Forster soon had to realize that he didn’t have the legs to be right at the front. Vital Albin suprised in a positive way at the front of the race, battling for silver and bronze for a long time. In the end, the 25-year-old achieved a strong fifth place and stood on the extended podium.
«I’m pretty happy with my performance. I felt good, was able to push really hard and fight for fourth place in the sprint at the end. That’s a successful end to the first part of the season,» said Albin, looking back on his race. Lars Forster finished in 11th place.
Only two weeks to go until Paris
While the majority of the team is now enjoying a well-deserved break, Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger are preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris. Keller, the current world number 1, will compete in her first Olympic Games on Sunday, July 28. Mathias Flückiger will start one day later, on Monday, July 29.