Cycling: After yesterday's circuit in Leukerbad, the Perskindol Swiss Epic mountain bike race continued today. The third day's stage led over 61 kilometers and 3000 meters in altitude from Leukerbad to Grächen. The Stöckli-BiXS team with Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger once again clinched the day's victory today. Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans, Team Specialized II, stay ahead in the women's category.
The third stage of the six-day Perskindol Swiss Epic mountain bike race ran over 61 kilometers and 3000 meters in altitude from Leukerbad to Grächen. It began with a playful descent into the Rhone Valley, followed by a long ascent to the idyllic Moosalp. The panoramic view from there of the surrounding four-thousanders - including the Dom, 4545 meters, the highest mountain located entirely in Switzerland - is breathtaking.
The demanding descent from the Moosalp was long and led across flower meadows and cow pastures, then in many hairpin bends over exposed steep slopes into the Mattertal. After another climb, the goal was reached at over 1600 meters in the picturesque and very original Valais mountain village of Grächen.
Team Stöckli-BiXS defends its overall lead. Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger, who were hardly mentioned as favorites beforehand, ignited the turbo again in the final ascent, drove to the top and again took the day's victory with 3h 31min. They relegated Team Centurion Vaude with Daniel Geismayr and Jochen Käss, who had been in the lead for a long time, to second place on the day. Lukas Flückiger and Ralph Näf, BMC Mountainbike Racing Team, took third place today.
In the women's category, Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans from Team Specialized II again confidently defended their lead with 4h 38min, followed again by Esther Süss and Elferink Hielke, Team Wheeler iXS, and Team Mountain Heroes with Andrea Kuster and Kristin Aamodt.
In the Mixed category, Michael Broderick and Mary Mcconneloug were ahead today, in the Masters Reto Wysseier and Adrian Ruhstaller. In the Swiss Epic Flow race format, all previous leaders defended their lead.
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Tomorrow's 4th stage of Perskindol Swiss Epic is a circuit from Grächen to Grächen, over 74 kilometers and 3333 meters in altitude. First target arrivals are expected around noon.