SKS MIG: Gold & Silver at the European Championships U23
Fit at the right time: the Swiss champion Fabian Giger won the XC-European Zoetermeer in the Netherlands against the competition. On the 41.6 kilometers long and technically less demanding route with only 160 meters in altitude 93 drivers went on title hunt.
Outstanding team performance
Five Swiss - including Fabian Giger and Thomas Litscher - led in the first round. Already in the second round Thomas Litscher left the top group. Fabian Giger returned to his team-mates. Together they built up their advantage continuously. In the third round, it was 25 seconds, in the penultimate round one minute. Litscher and Giger provided a thrilling head to head race: in the last round Fabian Giger decided the race for themselves. With a lead of 32 seconds the U23 rider won his first international title before the second-placed Thomas Litscher. Pascal Meyer placed 13th after a great fight.
Fifth place for Schulte-Lünzum
The German champion Markus Schulte-Lünzum started the U19 junior´s race of an extremely unfavorable position, but he was getting better towards the end of the race. So, he finally reached Place 5. The SKS M.I.G. rider Sascha Bleher reached place 12. Wenzel Böhm-Gräber fall shortly after the start due to a mass fall and was ranked 46th. Within three laps, but he fought into the top 15 again and finished as 15th.
Eiberweiser placed 4th
The last year´s winner Mona Eiberweiser was 3rd in the juniors race from the beginning. In the penultimate round of the 26-kilometer route, a defect let Anne Terpstra overtake the 3rd place. With a gap of 5:13 minutes on the first place Mona placed 4th. It was the last race for the SKS Made in Germany team. The team wishes her every success and happiness for her future.
Team Relay
Already on Thursday Thomas Litscher could celebrate. He won with the Swiss relay team the silver medal.
Conclusion: 4 titles in one week
This season is already successful as the very successful 2008. 2 German Championships, a bronze medal by Pascal Meyer and the Swiss-and European champion Fabian Giger and two silver medals by Thomas Litscher at the European Championships.