The Swiss Epic is an annual mountain bike stage race held in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland. It has been accredited as hors catégorie (beyond categorisation) by the Union Cycliste Internationale. It is part of the global Epic Series and was once inspired by the pinnacle event of it, the Cape Epic.
Alongside the Cape Epic and The Pioneer in New Zealand, the Swiss Epic is considered a Legend Race. Legend races are the top category of the global Epic Series, and any rider resolute enough to complete three Epic Series races, including the pinnacle event, the Absa Cape Epic, gets awarded with Epic Legend status. This status is immortalised in the form of an Epic Legend medal.
History The Swiss Epic was founded in 2014. Joko Vogel, Dany Gehrig, and Thomas Frischknecht had the idea of a multi-day stage race in Switzerland whereby the Cape Epic in South Africa has been used a model.
In 2014, two months after the first edition, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) granted the hors catégorie.
In 2018, the parliament of the Canton of Grisons signed a five-year contract with the Swiss Epic that they spend 300.000 CHF each year. Therefore, the race was relocated from the Canton of Valais to the Canton of Grisons. The Swiss Epic is considered the European equivalent of the Cape Epic.
Editions YearDateStartFinishAltitude (m)Distance (km)Teams201415. – 20. SeptemberVerbierZermatt15.000400101201514. – 19. SeptemberVerbierZermatt15.000400133201612. – 17. SeptemberZermattVerbier12.500360119201711. – 16. SeptemberGrächenZermatt12.00035082201811. – 15. SeptemberBettmeralpZermatt12.550331168201920. – 24. AugustDavosDavos12.000350 287202018. – 22. AugustLaaxDavos12.250320207202117. – 21. AugustSt. MoritzDavos12.000350400
Winners
Men's winners YearTeamWinnersTimeTeams2014Stöckli-BiXS -1- -1- -1-19:05:45,9902015BiXS STÖCKLI -2- -2- -2-20:11:13,7762016BMC16:39:54,0522017CENTURION VAUDE17:58:13,0382018SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING16:56:25,8502019Trek Selle San Marco A16:00:06,0862020SCOTT-SRAM15:13:4466
Women's winners YearTeamWinnersTimeTeams2014Specialized II24:26:14,582015Topeak Ergon Racing Team -1-25:34:57,752016Stöckli Pro20:32:15,082017Team Meerendal CBC22:25:49,082018Team Canada21:03:47,882019KS TREK – Sportograf -2-20:36:27,5102020Specialized – Racing -2-19:08:0912
Masters winners YearTeamWinnersTimeTeams2014SCOTT ROAD24:40:46,7772015DANi SCHNIDER RADSPORT -1- -1- -1-20:14:51,0322016DANi -2- -2- -2-20:32:15,082017DANi SCHNIDER RADSPORT -3- -3- -3-20:45:44,0292018DANi SCHNIDER RADSPORT -4- -4- -4-20:12:51,5502019DANi SCHNIDER RADSPORT -5- -5- -5-18:51:52,6892020Auer Velos/Stoll Bikes18:29:2352
Grand Masters winners YearTeamWinnersTimeTeams2018BiXS / Bikeholiday.ch -1- -1- -1-20:51:23,7152019BiXS Bikeholiday -2- -2- -2-20:00:03,4392020CST PostNL Bafang MTB Racing Team -2-19:21:2430
Mixed winners YearTeamWinnersTimeTeams2014BiXS – Wheeler24:19:15,8262015Giant Team Obwalden28:52:44,2202016R'ADYS SCOTT21:47:04,0152017CrazyVeloShop SCOTT /TG-Hütten25:55:11,072018Fitness Maréchal22:06:37,1152019Team VeloCity21:30:39,6292020Velosolutions #pumpforpeace20:27:1120
References
External links