I raced in Basel last year as my comeback race after COVID and finished a surprising third place. With a strong field this year and HC points on the line anything could happen. The course in Basel is a strange one. It is pan flat for 80% of the track with one steep hill and flowy descent at the far point of the course before the fast run home beside the river.
It makes for a very tactical race and early on I missed the first split and my bottle which was essential on a scorching hot 36 degree day. I kept my head in the game and lap by lap felt more and more settled in the race. With two laps to go I was right back in it but there was still a large group of ten riders or so in contention for the win. I was third up the hill on the last lap and we opened up a small gap of a few metres which was soon closed down. I decided I would try to be first into the last single-track and that move paid off as I was able to create a small gap out of the last corner and hang on down the finish straight to take the win!