Florian Vogel celebrated his first victory of the season at the penultimate round of the BMC Racing Cup in Davos. Vogel, third at the Swiss Championships, won the race ahead of former world champion Jose Hermida from Spain and the surprisingly strong German U23 rider Julian Schelb. In the women’s competititon Swiss rider Kathrin Stirnemann surprised with second place „between“ two Olympic champions: Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa won the race, Sabine Spitz was third.
In the men's race a leading group of three established itself in the second loop of seven five-kilometer laps. However, this group did not include – as had been expected – the two BMC riders Lukas Flückiger and Ralph Naef). Scott-Swisspower’s Florian Vogel and Spaniard José Antonio Hermida were accompanied by 20-year-old German Julian Schelb.
This trio managed to create a six-round lead of half a minute. But then Schelb was no longer able to follow the two world class bikers. Thus the duel for the victory in Davos was opened.
Florian Vogel launched his decisive attack in the final lap at the Cologna Stutz (named as Swiss cross country skier Dario Cologna) which ist the longest and steepest climb of the Davos race course. Finally Vogel celebrated his first victoriy of the season, crossing the line some 20 seconds ahead of José Hermida. Schelb was third, 1:10 minutes back.
„I was feeling fine today and I kept an eye on my watts. Therefore I was able to pace myself correctly. In every lap I did very well in the Cologna Stutz. That’s why I saw my chance there“, explained Vogel. He was very happy about this victory which confirms his outstanding performance at the world cup in Andorra last week.
Runner-up Hermida commented: "Florian was super strong in these steep climbs. He got away a few meters which made it hard for me. Nevertheless I am very happy about this result because last week in Andorra I had a bad day. Florian was seventh there, so I trust that my form is on a good level. Today was quite good as far as morale is concerned.“
Schelb was very pleased with his first podium finish at the BMC Racing Cup and said: „Even after they had shaken me off, I was able to deliver top performance.“
Behind him, BMC’s Armada regrouped itself. Lukas Flückiger reached fourth place when he finally managed to overtake his German teammate Moritz Milatz in the last lap. Milatz crossed the line 13 seconds behind Flückiger. Their teammates Martin Fanger and Ralph Naef were sixth and seventh.
Record World Cup champion and reigning world marathon champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) was victorious in the women’s competition after a thrilling race.
Women: Decision in the last lap
As usual, U23 World Champion Jolanda Neff in women’s race was fastest rider right from the start, but then a seven-member group began to form at the front, from which Linda Indergand soon had to say goodbye soon.
Six women stayed together until the end of the penultimate lap. Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa entered the final five-kilometre lap in first position and was followed up the longest climb by Kathrin Stirnemann. However, Stirnemann was passed by Sabine Spitz und Esther Suess before the group reached the end of the climb.
Dahle Flesjaa had a small lead which she was not prepared to part with. "I was at the limit, but in first position I was able to shape the race according to my style. I was a few seconds ahead in the last downhill, and I brought my run down safely. That was a real good workout in a strong field." 40-year-old Dahle-Flesjaa was 14.4 seconds ahead when she crossed the finish line.
Kathrin Stirnemann surprised with a splendid final descent. She passed both Spitz and Suess to conquer second place. "I have certainly had some benefit from the fact that it had rained a little. As a result, the track was more difficult. I've just come from a week of altitude training and did not think that I would be able to do so well," said the young woman from Graenichen.
The battle for third place between Esther Suess and Sabine Spitz was decided by a minimal malfunction of Suess’s shifting system. Although Suess managed to come close to Spitz again, she was not able to pass the German rider. "Actually, I was doing a great job, but there were one or two mistakes too many," said European marathon champion Esther Suess.
Andorra World Cup winner Sabine Spitz was „very happy“ about her race. She had a number of appointments last week. "Under these circumstances everything is fine. The course was good for my training programme," said Spitz.
New Zealand’s Samuel Gaze won the Junior men’s competition. He had also been victorious in the Junior World Cup in Val di Sole. Swiss rider Andri Beeli was second, Swiss champion Simon Vitzthum was third.
The Junior women’s competition was won by Swiss champion Alessandra Keller. She outpaced Mallory Barth, who celebrated a strong comeback after she had been out of contention with a broken collarbone.
Source: press release
