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Swiss Epic 2015 - The Prologue

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BY: Mark Spratt

Published: 14th September, 2015


Swiss Epic – The Prologue, Done and Dusted.


And quite literally, as the forecast rain fell only lightly overnight and the dawn brought clear skies to Verbier. Mel and I were the first team away in the mixed pairs for the Epic category and the start ramp with digital countdown was the most professional start experience I’ve had. Despite an almost Froome-like collision with a pedestrian on the course in the first 100 metres we got off to a good start and settled into the first long climb. Tarmac led to firetrack which in turn led to rooty singletrack. Some more fireroad and then a twisty section of singletrack down through a meadow before a final climb leading into a more technical descent, this time through the forests. I’d pre-ridden this section and was able to call directions back to Mel allowing us to both ride it cleanly and smoothly. All too soon we were at the finish with today’s racing over. For us at least, for the racing would continue for another 2 hours as riders were set off at 30 second intervals, the highest ranked riders departing last.


The organisers had promised technical trails and judging by the prologue that’s what we’re going to get, though not without some punishing climbs. Real Mountain Biking then. But the race is also in part modelled on the Cape Epic and from what we’ve seen so far the professionalism and expert organisation of that event has been brought to Switzerland. Race entry, registration, bike checks, meals, signage and post-race bike cleaning, all has been handled with that fabled Swiss efficiency, but moreover with friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff on hand to keep it running like clockwork.


In only its second running, that the race has acquired UCI status is a reflection of the high standards the organisers bring to the event and one result has been to attract racers of the highest calibre. Racing in the Elite categories is close, with only 2.8 seconds separating the leading pair of Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek from Mathias Fluckiger and Lukas Buchli, in what is to be Buchli’s final marathon race as he looks forward to spending more time with his family and the opportunity to take coffee stops during his rides. In the Women’s category Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans have a 3m30 lead over Sally Bigham and Adelheid Morath and are going to be a tough pair to beat with the strong partnership they’ve forged through Marathon racing together. Racing the prologue as an individual, Cadel Evans’ time would have placed him just outside the top 10 proving that he’s still a competitive mountain biker 15 years after he switched to the road.


For our own part, Mel and I are in 4th in the mixed category which is headed up by the Australian pairing of Mike Blewitt and Imogen Smith. As in all categories the time gaps are small, so we’re ambitiously looking to take back spaces wherever we can over the coming 5 days of racing.


And if you’d like to follow us or any of the other racers you can do so via the GPS trackers each team is carrying via Tractalis at  http://tractalis.com/live/SwissEpic2015/html5/#gis/team whilst daily results are available courtesy of Datasport at http://services.datasport.com/2015/mtb/swissEpic/




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