Going some ways to easing his defeat in the Ghent six day race last weekend, Belgium's world madison champion Kenny De Ketele paired with former world points champion, Peter Schep of The Netherlands to win the Sixday Nights of Zurich, held over four nights on the indoor track at Oerlikon and finishing in the small hours of Sunday morning.
The Low Countries duo finished on the same lap but with a superior points total to the solid German team of Roger Kluge and evergreen Danilo Hondo.
In third spot was defending champion, Franco Marvulli - who lives just four kilometres from the stadium.
Last year he was partnered by Belgian winter track star and winner of the recent Ghent six day, Iljo Keisse.
But this year he was paired with rapid countryman, Tristan Marguet - who recently won the scratch race at the Glasgow World Cup.
The two Swiss continued their dominance from Ghent of the timed events - winning every flying lap and one kilometre time trial and had a superior points score to their rivals, but were undone by De Ketele/Schep's tactics in the finale. The northern pairing profited from the Swiss duo's rivalry with their countryman, Silvan Dillier.
Dillier was on the podium at Ghent and is one of the coming men in the 'races to nowhere' – but, paired with Ghent winner and Australian world omnium champion Glenn O'Shea, he was out of the placings in Zurich.
De Ketele was understandably delighted with the result; speaking to VeloNation just minutes after the podium ceremony.
“Coming into the last chase we knew it would be very difficult to win because we had to take a lap; the Swiss had a better points score that us. But we could see that Marvulli/Marguet and Dillier/O'Shea were attacking each other; and we believed this could be to our advantage.
“Inside the last 100 laps Dillier/O'Shea went for a lap and Marvulli/Marguet countered - both teams had to work very hard. We responded with the Germans and attacked again, straight over the top to take a second lap, giving us two lap gains to the Swiss teams' one.
“It's the first time I've ever ridden a full race with Peter Schep - although I did ride with him for two days at Ghent, once. But if the organisers want to pair me with him all the time, I'll be very happy!
“He's such a smooth, relaxed rider; but he has the same style of racing as me, he likes to attack when he sees the others are finding it hard. Maybe that's not the best for winning points but we're good at taking laps! But it's not just Peter's style of riding which I admire, he's also a very sympatico person. The only fault with Peter is that he's perhaps too modest about his own abilities.'
When asked about the next part of his winter programme, De Ketele explained; “On Tuesday I fly to Australia to ride criteriums and the Australian open madison championships; plus I'll be training in Adelaide. But it's really a bit of a combination of racing trip and holiday!”
A surprising name on the start sheet was that of BMC's British roadman-sprinter, Adam Blythe.
Swiss based BMC wanted a presence in the race and Blythe, with his a background as an U23 European team pursuit champion and former winner of the Ghent U23 six day, fitted the bill with Peter Kennaugh.
Paired with six day regular and Putte Kapellen winner, Wim Stroetinga, Blythe didn't disgrace himself on the tight 200 metre temporary track - even winning the Derny paced event on the final evening.
The six day circus cools it's heels now for one month, before the Six Days of Rotterdam in early January.
Click on the first photo below to see a full gallery of images from the race