The race track was soaked from the rain in the previous days but rigeht in time for the race day sun came out and dried it a little, only a couple of sections were muddy.
We had six laps to ride. I had a good start and could finish the first lap on the fifth place. I searched the rhythm and didn’t let affect me from other riders. On this course you need always some power left to ride smooth the technical parts. Also it was quite hot, what I don’t really like.
In the third lap Stander was crashing in front of me. I could’t pass him so I was falling down into the rocks,  too. First I was disappointed that I lost my good position and half of a lap I was just cruising. Then I improved the speed again. Finally I sprinted with Litscher for  the 9th place which I lost by just one centimeter. With the 10. place I reached my Top10 ranking I aimed for. Obviously I’m not happy right now due to losing the sprint and the crash.

Pics

Complete results here

1	Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing	1:35:51
2	Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing	0:01:42
3	José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team	0:01:54
4	Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing	0:02:33
5	Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing	0:02:51
6	Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing	0:03:42
7	Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain	0:04:14
8	Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing	0:04:31
9	Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team	0:04:33
10	Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing
11	Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi	0:04:56
12	Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry	0:05:09
13	Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team	0:05:20
14	Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing	0:05:48
15	Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team	0:06:56