Strong signal ahead of home World Championships!
A successful form test just a few days before the home World Championships in Valais: Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger (both Thömus maxon) impressed in Les Gets, finishing second and third.
Alessandra Keller was among the leaders right from the start. Behind the dominant winner Jenny Rissveds (Swe), she battled it out with Samara Maxwell (NZL) in the final lap. Thanks to her endurance and determination, Keller prevailed and secured her ninth podium finish in an XCO World Cup race with second place.
The 29-year-old Swiss champion drew an extremely positive conclusion: «It was a very good race for me. After a cautious start, I found my own rhythm and finished in a good second place. Two second places this weekend: that was a successful check in view of the World Championships on home soil.»
Flückiger also in World Championship form
Mathias Flückiger also showed himself to be in good shape. The 36-year-old only had to let the eventual winner Luca Martin (France) and Luca Braidot (Italy) pass him on the final lap. With third place, he celebrated his second cross-country podium of the season – after second place in Leogang – and thus underlined his ambitions for the World Championships on home soil.
«I knew I was in good shape. But translating your training numbers into the race is always a different story. I’m taking a lot of good moments from the race with me, which will help to build my confidence even further. With third place today, I’m looking forward to Crans Montana with confidence», said Flückiger, looking ahead to his big goal for the season.
Albin strong but held back
Vital Albin also had a very strong race. However, a mechanical forced him to take a break in the tech zone. Falling back from 15th to 33rd place, Albin did not give up and fought his way back to 22nd place thanks to strong lap times in the last third of the race. Things did not go so well for Lars Forster, who never found his rhythm today and finished on 59th place.
Full focus on the World Championships in Valais
The big highlight of the season, the home World Championships in Valais, is just around the corner. The XCC competitions will take place in Zermatt on Monday (qualifying) and Tuesday, September 8 and 9. The cross-country races will be held in Crans Montana – the women on Saturday, September 13, and the men on Sunday, September 14.