After storming to his debut time trial title at the Swiss championships a few days ago, Mauro Schmid once again showed that he is fine form, successfully defending his road race title to keep the red and white jersey within Team Jayco AlUla for another season.
With hot conditions for the men’s 178.9km road race around Fischingen, Schmid used the heat to his advantage. Knowing that warm temperatures is one of his strengths, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race winner tried relentlessly to get away on the main climb of the day.
Despite multiple attempts, the 25-year-old was unable to drop his main rival Marc Hirschi, and coming into the final the 2024 Swiss champion had the challenge of a four-up sprint finish.
Racing confidently, Schmid managed to find a gap and power away from his compatriots to win his second consecutive Swiss road race title.
Mauro Schmid – Swiss Champion
“It is super special to keep the jersey, I was already really excited to have the jersey in the TT. Now having both jerseys in the same year and also to defended the road race title from last year, it is pretty special. I wasn’t really expecting it but I think I didn’t really put a lot of pressure on myself today and that definitely helped to play it a little bit.
During the race I had a really good feeling, especially in the second half. I managed the heat quite well and had super good legs on the climb. In the end I couldn’t really get a gap so I tried multiple times on the climb but I never really managed to drop Hirschi. He always stayed in the wheel, and I knew how fast he would be in the sprint. I still had good legs, but I was not super confident for the sprint.
As soon as the sprints started, I felt like I still had something left. It was perfect timing in the sprint, I had to get through the middle and there was a moment where I was thinking ‘ohh if I need to stop now then it’s pretty much over’ but then I got through the gap and in the last 100 metres I knew that I pretty much had it.
In the end I was confident because this year especially in the heat I’m always super good. I realised in the middle of the race that some guys started to struggle a little bit when I actually was feeling that I’m getting better and better, so then my confidence was quite high for the last two laps. I am happy to have defend this title, it means a lot.”
2025 Swiss Road Race Championship results:
1. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) 4:25:29
2. Marc Hirschi ST
3. Valentin Darbellay +01
Photo: Sprint Cycling
