HOW THE 2019 SWISS EPIC PLAYED OUT

Starting in Davos-Klosters, the 2019 edition started with the longest stage in the worst conditions. You can’t tame the alps!

The Trek Selle San Marco teams took a stranglehold on the race on day 1, with Kathrin Stirnemann and Corina Gantenbein leading the women’s. Dani Schnider and Oliver Imfeld lead Masters as they have since the first edition in 2014, and Barti Bucher and Hansjuerg Gerber lead Grand Masters. Imogen and I lead Mixed and we were just so happy to win a stage.

These positions remained until after Stage 4 at Lenzerheide, where Adelheid Morath and Bettina Janas moved into the women’s lead. And on the final stage Imogen and I lost our Mixed lead after Imogen crashed at high speed on the return to Davos Klosters. Our race was over, and deep down the hunger to win this race is still there.

There is no doubting the immense difficulty of finishing a race like the Swiss Epic. I finished alone and as I have also finished the Cape Epic (alone) and The Pioneer I earnt an Epic Legend medal. Right now the Epic Series offers a known quality of event for the three events in the global series, and the Swiss Epic is the one I would recommend first above all others. It’s not cheap, but you stay in comfort and race amongst true mountains and through alpine communities. If you’re looking for a racing experience that mixes travel, good food and good service – this is the race for you. I might even have to try it again with Imogen one year.