WEEKEND PREVIEW // NOW UPDATED WITH RESULTS & FILM //
EKZ Cross Tour Baden - highlights film:
IT'S been encouraging to watch the resurgence of Swiss cyclocross over the past few seasons. The once all-conquering cyclocross nation provided the men’s World champion on six occasions between 1976-88 and the country has also hosted the championships seven times.
In recent seasons it has been Simon Zahner (14 th in Cross Vegas this week) and Julien Taramarcaz, Swiss champion in 2012 and 2013, who have been flying the flag for the mountainous country that is home to the UCI.
On Sunday (September 14th), Supercross Baden will be the first UCI-ranked European race of the 2014-15 season and it now forms part of the new EKZ Cross Tour. The Tour, sponsored by energy company EKZ, is new initiative to increase the profile of the sport in Switzerland and Baden, a C1-ranked event, has attracted riders from 15 different countries. Each year Supercross Baden produces an excellent preview film which we've shared below.
Sanne Cant (BEL) will start as favourite in the women’s race and the world number four will face Eva Lechner (ITA), Sophie de Boer (NED) and the legendary Hanka Kupfernagel (GER).
German champion Philipp Walsleben is the defending men’s titleholder, but he’ll meet tough opposition in 2012 winner Francis Mourey (FRA). Current Swiss champion Lukas Fluckiger will want to impress on home soil, as will Taramarcaz. Michael Vanthourenhout and Jens and Joeri Adams are among the younger Belgian riders who will travel to Switzerland along with the more experienced Dieter Vanthourenhout.
In the United States this weekend there are two UCI-ranked races in Boulder, Colorado. On Saturday it’s the C2-ranked US Open of Cyclocross followed by the C1-ranked Boulder Cup on Sunday. American champion Jeremy Powers (interviewed here) will be the favourite and Katie Compton will look for revenge on Meredith Miller, won won Cross Vegas (report), in the women’s races which also featuring British and European champion Helen Wyman.
RESULTS:
EKZ Cross Tour, Baden (SUI) – C1: Men's result: 1 Francis Mourey (FRA); 2 Philipp Walsleben (GER); 3 Bryan Falaschi (ITA); 4 Michael Vanthourenhout (BEL); 5 Jens Adams (BEL); 6 Clement Venturini (FRA); 7 Dieter Vanthourenhout (BEL); 8 Lukas Fluckiger (SUI); 9 Lars Forster (SUI); 10 Marcel Wildhaber (SUI)… 11 Joeri Adams (BEL); 14 David van der Poel (NED); 15 Arnaud Grand (SUI); 17 Simon Zahner (SUI); 24 Julien Taramarcaz (SUI).
Women's result: 1 Eva Lechner (ITA); 2 Nicole Koller (SUI); 3 Sanne Cant (BEL).
US Open of Cyclocross, Boulder, CO (USA) – C2: Men's result: 1 Jeremy Powers (USA); 2 Ben Berden (BEL); 3 Allen Krughoff (USA).
Women's result: 1 Katie Compton; 2 Caroline Mani (USA); 3 Chloe Woodruff (USA)… 5 Gabby Durrin (GBR); 11 Helen Wyman (GBR).
Boulder Cup, Boulder, CO (USA) – C1: Men's result: 1 Jeremy Powers (USA); 2 Allen Krughoff (USA); 3 Tim Johnson (USA).
Women: 1 Katie Compton (USA); 2 Meredith Miller (USA); 3 Georgia Gould (USA)... 9 Helen Wyman (GBR); 10 Gabby Durrin (GBR).