SCOTT-SRAM Team Performance as good as it gets

The warm-up of the past month leading into the World Cup is looking promising. SCOTT-SRAM is dominating the cross-country scene like no other team. Win after win. Now it’s Go time for the World Cup!

Solothurn, Switzerland. The Swiss Bike Days was the successful end of a build up time leading into the World Cup starting in Albstadt next weekend. Four riders at the start line- all four riders in top 4 at the finish. This is as good as it gets!

Kate Courtney showed she is just as tough as the conditions at Bike Days in Switzerland.

The weather conditions with hail, wind and rain were tough. But the SCOTT-SRAM athletes put their head into the game and showed a superb performance nevertheless. World Champion Kate Courtney showed both a strong head and strong legs to win her first European race of this season. This win ahead of European and World Cup Champion Jolanda Neff, who’s the top favourite for next weeks World Cup start is coming in perfect timing. Things look promising for the 23 year old American who is highly keen stepping soon on a World Cup podium for the first time in her career.

With a big smile at the finish she comments: “This was a very important step leading into the World Cup season. I’m not really used to such conditions and despite not all things went to perfection in todays race, I was still able to take home the win. I was very strong on the climbs and feel ready for the things to come.”

“This was a very important step leading into the World Cup season. I’m not really used to such conditions and despite not all things went to perfection in todays race, I was still able to take home the win. I was very strong on the climbs and feel ready for the things to come.”

Kate Courtney
World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

In the mens race the SCOTT-SRAM Team was even more dominant. Right away in the first lap a trio of champions made the break. World Champion Nino Schurter, European Champion Lars Forster and Swiss Champion Matthias Flückiger. The three were chased by SCOTT-SRAM’s Andri Frischknecht and New Zealand’s Anton Cooper.

With Schurter and Forster in front, the heat is on at the start of the Swiss Cup at Bike Days.

Due to a mechanical problem Forster dropped back from the lead to his team mate Frischknecht. N1NO played it smart with team tactics not pulling in front. This left Matthias Flückiger doing all the work to make sure Forster /Frischknecht would not close the 30 second gap.

left: the chasing duo Frischknecht and Forster
right: N1NO on the attack in the finale

N1NO overtook Matthias Flückiger shortly before the finish line to ride to his first XCO win of this season. Lars Forster won the battle for 3rd while Frischi jun. finished off the incredible team performance in 4th.

The World Champion comments his win as follow: “This was the third race in a row in the mud. To be honest, not my preferred conditions. Now even more I’m delighted about this great win giving me proof I’m ready for the World Cup to start. Respect to the performance of the whole team, but also to the one of Matthias Flückiger. He had a tough day against us.”

“This was the third race in a row in the mud. To be honest, not my preferred conditions. Now even more I’m delighted about this great win giving me proof I’m ready for the World Cup to start. Respect to the performance of the whole team, but also to the one of Matthias Flückiger. He had a tough day against us.”

N1NO Schurter
World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team

One to watch at the World Cup opener is European Champion Lars Forster. Winning at Cape Epic, the Swiss Cup in Buchs and the Internazionali d’Italia in San Marino, he stepped on top of the podium in his first three races. His dominant campaign in the spring races is well registered. Lars himself knows he has no one to fear in the upcoming races.

The motivated Swiss is saying: “I had strong early seasons before. This year, besides feeling strong, I’m matured a lot more and thanks to my new team I feel very comfortable in the situation I am at the moment. I can’t wait until we finally hit the World Cup season.”

Another one who can’t wait until the big show starts is Andri Frischknecht. “Unlike last year my build up for the World Cup season went nearly perfect. Now it’s go time.”