He is the man of the season, stamping his authority on the Škoda Swiss Bike Cup in Basel in the men’s race. Fabio Püntener (Bike Team Solothurn) and Vital Albin (Thömus Maxon) broke away in the third-to-last lap on the course around Basel’s Schänzli and entered the finishing straight together. In the sprint, Püntener edged ahead by the narrowest of margins. “It was the perfect race. Vital and I got off to a good start, and in the sprint I just gave everything once again,” said the winner. With this victory, he takes the overall lead before the final Škoda Swiss Bike Cup in Gränichen. The Škoda Swiss Bike Cup took place as part of the Bikefestival Basel, which celebrated its last edition this year, as the Schänzli area will be redeveloped.

Keller’s plan worked
As in the last round in Savognin, the winner in the women’s elite race was Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). Together with local rider Seraina Leugger (BIXS Performance Race Team), Keller broke away already in the second lap. Two laps before the finish, Leugger was no longer able to keep up with Keller’s pace. “Seraina showed a strong race, but my plan was to push again in the penultimate lap, and it worked,” Keller explained afterwards. Leugger also expressed her satisfaction: “It’s great to show such a performance in front of the home crowd and to make it onto the podium.” Third place went to Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing).

Bouten and Hahn win in U23
Freek Bouten delivered a show of strength in the U23 men’s race. The Dutchman distanced the competition by almost a minute. Nicolas Halter (Thömus Maxon) was the only one able to keep up to some extent. He finished second, 50 seconds behind. Third place went to the Italian Matteo Siffredi (KTM Protek Elektrosystem). The decision in the U23 women’s race was much closer. German rider Carla Hahn (KMC Ridley) prevailed by three seconds ahead of Monique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) and eight seconds ahead of Elina Benoit (Lexware Mountainbike Team).

Photo finish victory for Šerkezi
The junior men’s and women’s races counted towards the UCI Junior Series. A photo finish decided the race between Anja Grossmann (Specialized Junior Team Switzerland) and Marusa Tereza Šerkezi. In the end, it was the Slovenian who celebrated, winning by the narrowest of margins. Third place went to American rider Sophia Wellmeier (Bear National Team). In the junior men’s race, Austria celebrated a double victory thanks to Valentin Hofer (Union Maria Schmolln KTM) and Maks Berret Mauz (BC Giant Stattegg). Max Ebrecht (German Cycling/Bulls Junior Team) completed the podium. The final race of this year’s Škoda Swiss Bike Cup will take place on September 27–28 in Gränichen, canton of Aargau.

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Results

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