World Cup record victory in Lenzerheide: Schurter was already in tears the evening before

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It is a mountain bike fairy tale that Nino Schurter (37) writes with his 34th World Cup victory in Lenzerheide. “The perfect fairytale!”, the Churer cheers with emotion about the historic home victory. But a fairy tale that he almost ruins himself just before the finish. “I fell about 200 meters from the finish. But a spectator immediately informed me that my lead is big enough.”

The 2016 Olympic champion gets up quickly, the last meters become a triumphant ride for 32,000 fans. With the 34th World Cup victory, Schurter is now also the sole record holder in this category, Graubünden previously shared the milestone with retired Frenchman Julien Absalon (42).

Another fall away from the TV cameras

A crash by Schurter on course for victory just before the finish in Lenzerheide? That sounds familiar to us. A year ago there was a scandal when he collided with compatriot Mathias Flückiger (34) in a passage not monitored by TV cameras and missed the 34th victory.

Despite new TV drone coverage of the track: this time Schurter tumbles off his bike without being filmed, but without consequences. Halfway through the race, Flückiger was stuck on the rear wheel for a short time, but then the Berner could no longer keep up with the pace due to his thumb ligament injury and finished eleventh.

Schurter wins solo. “Last year I came very close. This time I was able to take home the win safely. I don’t win that often anymore, but this time everything worked out,” says the ten-time world champion.

With daughter Lisa on stage

And with Scott team boss Thomas Frischknecht, all dams break. It is the Swiss cycling legend who pushes the bike away from Schurter after the podium ceremony and says with emotion: “We have worked closely together for 20 years. I was there for his first World Cup victory. Maybe it just had to happen after what happened here last year .”

The first win? It has been more than 13 years or an incredible 4795 days since a young man from Graubünden first triumphed in the World Cup in England’s Dalby Forest. 34 wins later, the Churer crowned himself record king at home. His parents, countless friends and acquaintances are there live when he finally gilds his unprecedented career.

Daughter Lisa (7) is of course also in the middle of the business. Shortly after crossing the finish line, she hugs her father. When Schurter enters the podium alone to put on the leader’s jersey, Lisa is there too.

Schurter’s wave to the crowd is also a farewell to his beloved competition in Lenzerheide, where he also became world champion in 2018. The World Cup will not come to Graubünden for the time being because Crans-Montana will be the Swiss station next year as the main rehearsal for the 2025 World Cup.

The night before, Schurter truly realized that it was humanly possible that this would be his last performance on the Rothorn. A year after the crash scandal, one last chance to win the number 34 in the home race – dinner with the team becomes emotional. “I cried when I realized that.”

Source : Blick