Race Report | Day 5 of Perskindol Swiss Epic 2016
Today’s elevation gain of 3,300 metres was the biggest of the entire race, with the fourth-stage Grächen–Grächen circuit covering a distance of 88 kilometres. Team BiXS STÖCKLI finished ahead of the pack today but CENTURION VAUDE were still able to hold on to the overall lead. In the women’s event, Adelheid Morath and Sally Bigham from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team maintained a healthy lead.
The fourth stage of the six-day PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC mountain bike race covered the 88-kilometre circuit from Grächen to Grächen. Today’s elevation gain of 3,300 metres was the biggest of the entire race, at the foot of glaciers and four-thousand metre peaks.
Team BiXS STÖCKLI on the attack
Today in the SWISS EPIC Men’s category the two top teams again delivered an exciting head to head battle. In the final climb Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger, Team BiXS STÖCKLI, were able to create a bit of space and take the win by 28 seconds with 4h 08min. That puts them back in contention with Jochen Käss and Daniel Geismayr, Team CENTURION VAUDE, who came in second and still hold on to the overall lead by just 37 seconds. Tomorrow we can look forward to the same showdown as last year in the final stage of the race to Zermatt. Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek of the Topeak Ergon Racing Team lost over 18 minutes because of a flat tire on the first descent, but still hold on to third place overall, however, 19 minutes behind. The third fastest today were Sepp Freiburghaus and Marc Stutzmann, Team Thömus / Grächen, with 4h 17min.
In the SWISS EPIC Women’s Adelheid Morath and Sally Bigham of the Topeak Ergon Racing Team crossed the line over 22 minutes ahead of Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans, Team Specialized RECM. That puts them 31 minutes in front in the overall rankings for tomorrow’s last stage.
In the Mixed category today’s winners were Anita Bucher and Hans Flück of Giant Team Obwalden with 5h 53min, but the British team of Melanie Alexander and Mark Spratt still has the overall lead. Dani Schnider and Oliver Imfeld won again today in the Masters category with a time of 5h 05min, and have the security of a 2 hour lead going into tomorrow’s stage.
12, Buchli, Lukas, Bixs-ixs Pro Team, , SUI
21, Käß, Jochen, Centurion Vaude, , GER
22, Geismayr, Daniel, Centurion Vaude, RV Dornbirn, AUT
In the SWISS EPIC FLOW format, Team world of mtb continue to build their lead in the Men’s category. In the Mixed category Team Lucky Star Sargans took the win, and in the Women’s category Team Fusion World were again the fastest across the finish line.
For a complete rundown of the rankings, please consult: http://services.datasport.com/2015/mtb/swissEpic/
Special Guest Christoph Sauser
A very Special Guest rode in today’s stage: The ex pro mountain biker Christoph Sauser, who had to quit last year’s race on the stage to Grächen, participated again today. He decided to take it a little easier today and just enjoy the trails. “I’m riding purely for fun today. PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC is a totally different race because the trails are on a different level. We’re able to ride the best trails in Switzerland and it’s great that an event like this exists here. Anyone who has the conditioning and technical skills will enjoy 6 days of pure mountain biking heaven.“
Unfortunately, co-organizer and mountain bike icon Thomas Frischknecht had to end his race before reaching the finish line: „I had to stop because of a cold. There was no point in continuing, in the end my health come’s first. My son Andri had to finish the stage on his own today, at least he could ride as fast as he wanted.“
Tomorrow will see the fifth and final stage of the PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC race. The SWISS EPIC Men category in particular promises an exciting day, covering a distance of 60 kilometres with an elevation gain of 2,400 metres from Grächen to Zermatt. People are expected to start crossing the finish line in the late morning.
Text & Bilder: Swiss Epic
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