After the XCO World Championship in Andorra/Vallnord I have a new project coming up: the SWISS EPIC.
This stage race consists of a prologue and 5 stages:
- Prologue 13km/840hm
- Stage 1 95km/3100m elevation gain
- Stage 2 63km/3000m elevation gain
- Stage 3 93km/3100m elevation gain
- Stage 4 88km/3300m elevation gain
- Stage 5 60km/2400m elevation gain
A total of 360 km and 12.500 vertical meters in six days! My team partner is Sally Bigham from the Topeak-Ergon team. I'm a "guest driver" in this team, so to speak, and I'm very happy and grateful to my team BH-SR Suntour-KMC to have this opportunity! The Swiss Epic has UCI SHC status and is therefore very attractive for me, among other things, to get important points in the UCI ranking.
Since this pairing with Sally only came about at very short notice, it will be a real challenge for both of us. On the one hand the race itself and on the other hand how the two of us will work together as a team. Sally is a professional marathon and stage racer and I come from cross country. What an interesting pairing. I am very excited about it. I think we can both benefit from each other's strengths. Sally brings the necessary experience and perseverance - I the toughness!
We both have to compete in the same jerseys, it's stipulated in the regulations. Not an easy task to meet the expectations of our teams sponsors. The jerseys are ready on Friday, and on Saturday I'm on my way to the starting point in Verbier.
Arriving early in the evening, Sally and I really meet for the first time. We get along well right from the start. Talk a lot over a long dinner. It's clear to both of us that this project will be a good test of how we work together. We are both very motivated. Top 2-3 is a clear goal, but we didn't put any pressure on ourselves. With Annika Langwad and Arianne Kleinhans (winners Cape Epic 2014/2015 & Swiss Epic 2015) we definitely have two very strong competitors.
On Sunday we start in light drizzle to ride the prologue course by bike. Sally on her fully and I on my hardtail! The course has it all. Already demanding altitude at the beginning. The last downhill is a bike park route. A very technical and beautiful prologue course! We are prepared and the anticipation for the Swiss Epic is increasing.
Around noon the sky suddenly opens up, the rain clouds disappear within minutes and finally we have an incredibly beautiful panorama in front of us. Welcome to Verbier. We spend our afternoon in our very stylishly furnished hotel room. As so often, time flies. In the meantime, the entire Ergon-Topeak team has arrived and I can finally get to know everyone! Men Team Team Manager Physio Mechanic and Physio Mechanic Cook Man!
In the evening there is a short briefing. Dinner. Sleep.
Prologue – 13km/840hm Verbier – Verbier
Monday morning starts quietly. Sally and I don't start until 12:18. We enjoy our breakfast before getting ready for the upcoming prologue.
On the launch pad comes the nervousness. Right at the beginning it goes into the first ascent. I feel full of power after a very quiet week of training! Sally has more trouble keeping up the pace. I have to hold back and try to control the speed on the climbs and drive a safe line on the downhills. We end up in 2nd place and have a good starting position for the upcoming stages. For me it was a new experience to look at my partner in the race. It was almost predictable that I would be the stronger in the prologue and I will certainly benefit in the coming stages from not having been at the limit yet! Because Sally will be the stronger over the length!
The afternoon is dedicated to relaxation and massage. The upcoming stages start at 8am!
The alarm clock rings at 5:30 a.m. get up and have breakfast. After a short warm-up, it's almost in the dark before you get to the starting line. kickoff. Here we go!
1st stage – 95km/3100m Verbier-Leukerbad
First stage with Sally. We'll find a good rhythm soon. I feel very strong on the mountain, but I have a lot of respect for the last few kilometers in order not to collapse. Annika and Arianne can set themselves apart from us right from the start. Just an unbelievably high tempo that the two hit. But on the second mountain we approach the pairing and try to take a small lead downhill. But we are similarly strong and so we are too many kilometers together. Today will be an exciting duel! We don't give each other anything.
But then Arianne suffers a flat foot downhill. Our chance! keep up the pace. The last 10km climb to the finish. Baaam! The man with the hammer will be here faster than I would like! Eaten too little and the hunger branch is merciless! I can no longer keep up with Sally's pace. I try everything, but the low blood sugar can no longer be saved even with a gel. I fight and I suffer. Annika and Arianne come closer. We were caught a kilometer from the finish and I have nothing left to counter the attack. Stage win missed by a few seconds! I'm so exhausted that I drive straight from the finish line to the team tent. No departure today. First something to eat. I got the first lesson right at the first stage. Enough learned for the remaining four stages! Shower & Relaxation! Massage!
On the short walk through Leukerbad to the award ceremony, I get a sense of the surroundings for the first time. Beautiful little Swiss village surrounded by an impressive mountain panorama!
Dinner. Sleep. I sleep like a rock!
2nd stage - 63km/3000hm Leukerbad-Leukerbad
It's very windy this morning. Thunderstorm is announced. The morning gives us a dramatic natural spectacle. The clouds are moving fast and the wind is alternately warm and cold. I hope the weather holds! Begin.
Like yesterday, the stage starts with a long mountain before it goes into a beautiful trail descent. Due to the rain during the night, the root and meadow passages are very slippery. Keep the brakes open and look for good lines. second mountain. Sally and I turn to Annika and Arianne. Now comes the revenge for yesterday. I feel strong and start the attack. Sally on my rear wheel. We quickly get a gap and keep the pace high. Incredibly strong gusts of wind on the steep, rough gravel road. The route turns into a very steep singletrack uphill before it goes into the technical downhill. On my hardtail, my whole body has to work so hard downhill that I don't have time to cool down!
We're trying not to take all the risks and are concentrating on choosing a good line. Just no defect now! next climb. flat out. I'm having a good day and I can get some revenge for my slump yesterday. Today we go downhill towards the finish. First stage win for us. But even more surprising is our lead! We slipped into the leader jersey. doping control. Meal at the team tent. Overjoyed we enjoy our afternoon in Leukerbad. No matter what happens, tomorrow we'll be going to Grächen in the yellow SwissEpic jersey! award ceremony. Massage. Eat. Sleep.
3rd stage – 93km/3100m altitude difference Leukerbad-Grächen
Grouped terrain awaits us today before the first technical downhill. In front of us is a 15km long flat section. This is not necessarily one of my favorite pieces. Sally sets the pace on the long flat straight with a headwind. My body doesn't feel really good. The many tempo work from yesterday are noticeable!
After the endless straight, the first long climb on tar road starts. This is almost as endless as the flat section. Today just isn't my day. The upcoming single trail is great like any downhill. Technically, a lot is demanded of us bikers. My muscles ache from fatigue and all the punches I have to take! When we are on the last long tar climb, the only motivation for me is to finish soon!
After 5:20 hours driving time, we reach the finish line as the first women's team! What a tough stage. The damp and wet cold made me really struggling over the last few kilometers.
After the doping control, we eat at the team tent before heading to the hotel for a hot shower. I take a long shower and go to bed first! We were lucky with the weather, because meanwhile it started to rain! After I'm feeling a little better, I start to enjoy the rest of the day. The small, idyllic Swiss town is mostly car-free and is served by electric taxis. However, the place is so small that we can easily reach everything on foot. It has stopped raining and the clouds are clearing. Finally we can see the surrounding 4-thousander mountains and admire the small village. award ceremony. We were able to extend our lead. Massage. Eat. Sleep.
4th stage - 88km/3300m altitude difference Grächen-Grächen
In the leader jersey our tactic is: All-Inn! Keep the starting gun and pace high from start to finish.
We are now a well-rehearsed team and we work very well together. We both feel good and support each other! The leather jersey is our goal! We both go to our limit. Go full throttle on the uphills and concentrate on choosing a safe and fast line on the downhills! Since every downhill requires different skills, this is a big challenge! Another stage win! WOW!!!
Eat and take a hot shower as soon as possible. The cold temperatures draw even more energy than is already needed! We relax a little with a hot cappuccino with Sally before we go to the award ceremony again. A short walk through the idyllic streets of Grächen. Massage. Dinner. Tomorrow last stage!
5th stage – 60km/2400m elevation gain Grächen-Zermatt
We're already more than 30 minutes ahead of the runners-up. Today we want to enjoy the stage and drive safely. The highlight of this stage should be the view of the Matterhorn. Hopefully the weather allows for this spectacle!
At about 4 degrees I start my short warm-up program on the roller. It's slowly getting light. The clouds and the morning fog are disappearing and the blue sky is already appearing. The starting shot is at 8 a.m.! My legs are on fire. Luckily today is the last stage.
The stage starts after a short and very steep ascent in a single trail. The first downhill is terrific. The trail meanders down over roots and stones and the first small ascent is also very technical over wet and slippery roots. Short flat section before the first long ascent. Then our highlight view of the Matterhorn. Sally and I forget all the pain for a moment and enjoy the view. With a smile on our face, we enjoy every eye contact that arises on the gravel path that meanders upwards. The climb is long. Arriving at the highest point, a beautiful single trail along a small mountain lake awaits us. The last aid station is behind us. 15km to destination.
The last downhill is almost the most demanding of the whole day. Roots and stones on a steep incline. Great stage. After the last ascent we have to cross a narrow suspension bridge. I now enjoy every kilometer. We're on target. Stage win and winner of the SWISS EPIC. One of the toughest stage races. Incredibly beautiful feeling. Broken and overjoyed, we hug each other. short interview doping control. In the deckchair I enjoy the mountain panorama and the view of the Matterhorn in Zermatt in the sunshine!
After a short refreshment and a long shower, it's off to the award ceremony. We finally get our leader's jersey pulled over and enjoy the champagne shower :-)!
In the evening a grandiose final party is organized. Very special ambience with delicious finger food, good music and evening entertainment! The win is celebrated and we can look back on a perfect week.
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