05.06.2022

XCO Swiss Championships Leysin

Until a few hours before the race it wasn't't clear if there wil be a mud race at this year's Swiss Championship. Thanks to several thunderstorm cells and a strong summer thunderstorm, my "wish" was granted and the new track in Leysin turned into a mud bath. Just what I love!

1, Schurter, Nino, Scott-SRAM, , SUI 2, Flückiger, Mathias, Thömus Maxon, , SUI 3, Colombo, Filippo, BMC MTB, VC Monte Tamaro, SUI 4, Forster, Lars, Scott-SRAM, , SUI 5, Frischknecht, Andri, Scott-SRAM, , SUI 6, Albin, Vital, Thömus Maxon, , SUI 7, Indergand, Reto, Giant Factory Off-Road Team, , SUI 8, Roth, Joel, BiXS Performance Racing, RC Gränichen, SUI 9, Guerrini, Marcel, BiXS Performance Racing, , SUI 10, Püntener, Fabio, Bike Team Solothurn, VMC Silenen, SUI 11, Spescha, Ursin, KA Boom - Krapf, VC Surselva, SUI 12, Vitali, Bruno, Boldair Sport, VTT Club Jura, SUI 13, Ryf, Joris, Joris Ryf / JR Racing, , SUI 14, Burki, Nick, Bike Team Solothurn, Biketeam Solothurn, SUI 15, Thoma, Dario, BiXS Factory, , SUI 16, Olivetti, Sven, Mössinger Racing, VC Steinmaur, SUI 17, Rüegg, Timon, Cross Team Legendre, VC Steinmaur, SUI 18, Krieg, Kevin, Pedale Simplon, , SUI 19, Trevisani, Sandro, Chiffelle, Zeta Cycling Club, SUI 20, Lüthi, Eric, SF, Biketeam Solothurn, SUI 21, Nascarella, Elia, Bike Team Solothurn, , SUI 22, Bollhalder, Dominik, Lindi-Bike, VC Baar-Zug, SUI 23, Muri, David, , RMC Gossau, SUI 24, Mottiez, Gilles, Cross Team Legendre, , SUI

Since the track had many meadow sections, I relied on a narrow mud tire with very high lugs. I was aware that this was a big risk, because I have never tested this tire on the track. Nevertheless, I wanted to drive with this tire, if my risk would work out, I would have a big advantage over the other drivers. Already in the starting lap I had to realize that I had made a wrong decision. In the sections where I had hoped for an advantage, I could only gain a few seconds and the very difficult sections I had to run with my mud tire. The problem with a mud tire is the rolling resistance, this is much greater than with the normal tires and accordingly I lost a lot of time in the passages with the paved roads. In the first two laps I was able to compensate for the higher rolling resistance with my power, but at some point practically nothing worked and I lost rank after rank.

2, Flückiger, Mathias, Thömus Maxon, , SUI 5, Frischknecht, Andri, Scott-SRAM, , SUI 3, Colombo, Filippo, BMC MTB, VC Monte Tamaro, SUI 7, Indergand, Reto, Giant Factory Off-Road Team, , SUI 2205, Spena, Fabio, Bikebox, Bike Club Spiez, SUI 13, Ryf, Joris, Joris Ryf / JR Racing, , SUI 6, Albin, Vital, Thömus Maxon, , SUI

So I finished the race on the disappointing 15th place. Too bad! My legs were really great, the preparations were perfect and the conditions would have suited me. Despite the disappointing result, my disappointment after the race was limited, because I made the decision with the tires myself and I knew that it was my own mistake. The Swiss Championship series is not over for me yet. Next weekend I will start for the first time at the Enduro Swiss Championship in Laax. I am looking forward to this new challenge and I am curious how I can keep up with the Enduro riders. So after Laax I will already compete in my fourth Swiss Championship this year. After that, the only thing missing is the eBike Swiss Championships, which will probably take place again on September 11 in Disentis.

//Joris

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