The new UCI XCO world champion Alan Hatherley (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC) survived a last-lap scare to win the Men's Elite category.
The Swiss public also greeted with emotion Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), retired after a brilliant career. The dry and dusty conditions of the Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide They gave life to spectacular races, characterised by mechanical problems and punctures.
In the men's Elite category, Hatherly replicated his dominant performance in Valais the previous weekend, with no one able to follow his attack midway through the race. This was until the final lap, when the rider from Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC saw his one-minute lead halved due to a mechanical problem with his chain. Meanwhile, Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) led a four-man chase group to take his second-best personal best result in the XCO category, and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) placed third.
Alan Hatherley (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC) finished his mountain bike season with the first UCI World Cup victory of the year. The South African has tackled a mix of road and mountain bike racing this season, proving his form and distancing himself from his rivals.
Meanwhile, Swiss fans gathered to say goodbye Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), retired after a career studded with nine UCI World Cup overall titles, 10 UCI World Championship titles and 36 World Cup victories.
The narrow starting circuit of the Bike Kingdom of Lenzerheide saw the men's Elite team compact, with little room to move. At the top of the standings was Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team), while Schurter climbed from 33rd to 15th place on the starting grid.
The leader of the general classification Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) had another day to forget: a broken chain on the second lap cost him a lot of time and positions.
After the second lap concluded, a group of nine riders had regrouped in the lead group. Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) had managed to catch up to the leading group before getting a puncture and ripping his rear tire off the rim, ending his challenge.
As the race began to heat up, Hatherly attacked on the lap's main climb and gained 12 seconds.
Behind the only leader, the British competitor Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) led the chasing group with Andreassen.
A cautious race ensued for the remaining podium positions, with Hatherly increasing his lead to 54 seconds on the penultimate lap.
By the time the bell rang, Hatherly had extended his lead to a minute over a chasing group of four riders battling for the remaining podium spots. Aldridge pushed the pace in pursuit of second place, while Andreassen suffered a puncture, ending his hopes.
There was one final twist, when Hatherly suffered a mechanical problem with his chain and had to dismount his bike on two occasions. Nevertheless, the South African managed to bring his bike home and take the victory, with Aldridge second, 32 seconds behind, and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) rewarded for his tenacity with third place.
Following mechanical problems, Blevins finished 27th and saw his overall benefit reduced to 290 points with two rounds to go.
After the victory, Hatherly said: "This is a really special place for me. I've only won once here, my Under-23 World Championship title. I was really hungry for victory. This is my last World Cup of the season, unfortunately, so I wanted to do the jersey justice and come away victorious."
“I'm back at the top. I finished last season at a similar level, and I'm really happy to be back to my normal level.”
"The main goal this season was to combine road and mountain bike racing. Road racing is a really big challenge for me, but I'm enjoying every step of the way."
Speaking about the mechanical problem that occurred to him on the last lap, the driver of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC ha aggiunto: “My chain fell off, it had never happened to me before, but it was one of those lucky things that happen.”
“Fortunately, the gap was big enough and I was able to close the deal.”
Schurter crossed the finish line to a huge ovation, finishing 24th on the day, 3 minutes and 27 seconds behind the winner.
He added: “It's amazing. I'm so grateful for everything. It's been a fantastic career, and I feel so good.”
“It's better than I could have ever imagined. Today was a beautiful day, but it was tough again for me. I was afraid of the 80% rule, so I had to push hard to get to the end of the race.”
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | HATHERLY Alan (GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM – XC) | 1:20:23 |
| 2. |  | ALDRIDGE Charlie (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 1:20:55 +32 |
| 3. |  | * BOICHIS Adrien (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:21:02 +39 |
| 4. |  | AVONDETTO Simone (WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM) | 1:21:10 +47 |
| 5. |  | VIDAURRE KOSSMANN Martin (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:21:15 +52 |
| 6. |  | * PUNCHARD Cole (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 1:21:16 +53 |
| 7. |  | ANDREASSEN Simon (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) | 1:21:35 + 1: 12 |
| 8. |  | ALBIN Vital (THOMUS MAXON) | 1:21:45 + 1: 22 |
| 9. | | PUNTENER Fabio (BIKE TEAM SOLOTHURN) | 1:21:47 + 1: 24 |
| 10. | | SCHÄTTI Luca (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM) | 1:22:01 + 1: 38 |
