Näf will not start the marathon world championships

Ralph Naef (Multivan Merida Biking Team)

Ralph Naef (Multivan Merida Biking Team) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)

Normally, Switzerland's Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida) would have been one of the hot contenders for the win at the upcoming mountain bike marathon world championships. One year ago, he won the European championship title on the same course. But Näf has decided not to start in order to give himself more time to prepare for the upcoming World Cup races in Canada and the United States during the first two weekends of July. Näf has been trying to heal his injured back.