Race Report | Day 6 of Perskindol Swiss Epic 2016
Today, in the last stage of the PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC, it was the same scene as last year: The top two teams from BiXS-STÖCKLI and CENTURION VAUDE delivered, over the 60 kilometer course, an exciting head to head battle for the overall win. The defending champions, Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger, Team BiXS-STÖCKLI, took control of the race and finally lead the SWISS EPIC Men’s category into Zermatt taking first place for the second year in a row. In the women’s category, Adelheid Morath and Sally Bigham from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team, obtained the coveted PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC championship belt. The second edition of the six-day mountain bike stage race thus came to a successful close on Saturday with beautiful sunny skies, after a total of 400 kilometers, including 15,000 meters of climbing at the base of the Matterhorn.
Saturday’s final stage of the PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC six-day mountain bike stage race from Grächen to Zermatt spanned across 60 kilometers, with 2,400 meters of climbing, once again progressing on flowing single trails through high alpine scenery, surrounded by impressive 4,000-meter mountains and glaciers. With a top-quality starting field on hand, the standard for the final stage was once again extremely high and was challenging and arduous, even for the elite riders.
An exciting battle for the overall victory
The situation in the last stage of the SWISS EPIC Men’s category was basically the same as last year: Team BiXS-STÖCKLI were, after yesterday’s stage, only 34 seconds behind the CENTURION VAUDE team. After an action packed two way battle, the reigning champions, Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger of Team BiXS-STÖCKLI took today’s win with 3h 09min, as well as the overall title. They ended the day almost 3 minutes ahead of Jochen Käss and Daniel Geismayr of Team CENTURION VAUDE who came in second, just 2 minutes behind in the overall standings. Third place overall went to the Topeak Ergon Racing Team of Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek.
22, Geismayr, Daniel, Centurion Vaude, RV Dornbirn, AUT
„I’m overly happy that it worked out like this“, said the winner Lukas Buchli, who is retiring at the end of the season. „We attacked on the first climb and gained pretty good control of the race from then. Last year we knew that we were the strongest team in the category. This year it wasn’t so: We never had the overall lead all week – but possibly the biggest will to win. Being able to end my pro carrier like this is the best thing ever!“ Team partner Mathias Flückiger also commented: „As a Cross-Country biker I’m not used to such long stages, so this race was very hard for me. I’m happy we could turn the race around today!“
Favourites left behind
In the Women’s category the overall title started to become evident after the second stage. Adelheid Morath and Sally Bigham from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team, with every daily win, kept building their lead on the favourites Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans of Team Specialized RECM. In the end they walked away with the golden PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC title belt with a 50 min lead. In third place were Hielke Elferink and Anne Terpstra, Team Rent a Plant – Habitat.
In the Mixed category Anita Bucher and Hans Flück, Giant Team Obwalden, took gold. In the Masters category the overall win was set in stone from the beginning by Team DANi SCHNIDER RADSPORT with Dani Schnider and Oliver Imfeld.
In the SWISS EPIC FLOW format, the winner in the Men’s category was Team world of mtb with Sönke Wegner and Daniel Eiermann. The title in the Mixed category went to Anita Gehrig and Balz Weber of Team Ride Flow Trail. In the Women’s category Team SCOTT’s Chicken Club with Sarah Merminod and Daniela Michel finally managed to walk away with the win.
You can find the complete rankings at: http://services.datasport.com/2015/mtb/swissEpic/
Words & Fotos: Swiss Epic
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