A class race with a dramatic episode for men: favourite Nino Schurter (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing), Olympic champion in 2016 and the most successful Swiss of all time, came straight from altitude training camp to Echallens to test his Olympic form - and win his 10th Swiss championship title. But halfway through the race, the Graubünden native was slowed down due to flat tires and lost a lot of time as a result.

Although Schurter was no longer able to intervene in the fight for the title, he fought his way back to third place with great effort.

Colombo in the lead from round 2

The story of the race was written by his team-mate Filippo Colombo, who was already in the lead at the time of Schurter's retirement. The 26-year-old from Ticino knew that he had to ensure clear conditions early on in the strong field. He had broken out in the second round to avoid further position battles. From there, he decided the race and never gave it up until the finish line. “I'm super satisfied, I really wanted the title,” says Colombo, who won a Swiss cross-country championship title for the first time with the elite.

His most persistent pursuer, Joel Roth (BIXS Performance Race Team), consistently applied tremendous pressure from behind, but Colombo was in a class of his own that day.

Among the U23 riders, U23 European Champion Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) convincingly won the coveted shirt with the Swiss cross — ahead of Maxime L'Homme (Team BMC) and Luke Wiedmann (Thömus maxon).

Linda Indergand with first XCO Swiss Champion title

The women's race was also shaped by winner's emotions: Uri Linda Indergand (31), Olympic rider from Tokyo 2021 and team world champion 2023, also celebrated her first and long-awaited elite Swiss championship title in cross country. “I'm overwhelmed,” she said at the finish line, happy about the shirt with the Swiss Cross.

An initial compact five-pack with Indergand, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing), Jolanda Neff (TREK Factory Racing) and Seraina Leugger (BIXS Performance Race Team) became a leading trio from the third round, as Neff and Leugger had to let go.

In a tactical race with many changes of position right up to the near end, Indergand was able to use her experience and technical skills to her advantage. After setting the pace earlier, she confidently set herself ahead before the long home straight. Sina Frei, the Tokyo 2021 silver medalist, crossed the finish line three seconds behind. Nicole Koller, Friday's XCC champion, secured another podium finish.

Jolanda Neff not yet in swing

Jolanda Neff, the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2021, didn't really get into her stride, as she did in Friday's XCC race. The rider from eastern Switzerland has recently been struggling with health problems and finished sixth, one and a half minutes behind the leader. Neff has been selected for the Games in Paris alongside Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), who decided against defending her title in Echallens in favor of her preparations for the Olympics.

The U23 race was also characterized by a high level of excitement: Lea Huber (TREK Future Racing), Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) and Elina Benoit all crossed the finish line within just one second.

Nicolas Halter and Lara Liehner among the juniors

Nicolas Halter (KA Boom Krapf) was the favorite in the junior category, ahead of his teammate Sven Sommer and Noel Toth (RC & Bikecenter Steffisburg). Lara Liehner (Thömus Akros - Youngstars) won the junior title ahead of Sirin Städler (also Thömus Akros Youngstars) and Muriel Furrer (BIXS Performance Bike Team).

The Swiss Champion Awards in the U17 categories went to 15-year-old Rickenbacher Anja Grossmann from Specialized XC Junior Team Switzerland and Marwam Karim Barhoumi (Pédale Bulloise), also 15 years old. Last year's winner and favorite Grossmann won by a large margin over her teammates Shana Huber and Elia Marthe (VC Fribourg). Barhoumi also won confidently ahead of Levin Näf (RN Racing Service Course) and Ron Hürlimann from the Ägeri Cycling Race Team.

31-year-old Sebastian Zimmer (Drift Racing Collective) won the Masters.