St. Moritz, August 20, 2019: The two Italian “Trek Selle San Marco” pro teams dominated the first stage of the Swiss Epic from Davos to St. Moritz. Corina Gantenbein and Kathrin Stirnemann ensure a Swiss women's stage victory. The wet weather made the route an endurance test for the almost 600 mountain bikers who started.
The Italian teams Michele Casagrande/Fabian Rabensteiner and Samuele Porro/Damiano Ferraro dominated the first Swiss Epic stage from Davos to St. Moritz. In the climb to the Albula Pass, the two teams of two were in a class of their own and built up a lead of more than six minutes over the two Swiss teams Casey South/Noah Blöchlinger and Konny Looser/Oliver Zurbrügg.
There was a Swiss victory for the women: Corina Gantenbein/Kathrin Stirnemann (Shimano S-Phyre) took the lead in the difficult descent from the 2312 meter high Albula Pass to La Punt and won 37 seconds ahead of Swiss Ariane Lüthi and her New Zealand partner Samara Sheppard.
“The hardest album of my career”
574 bikers from 42 nations started in Davos in the morning. The rain of the night continued during the day and presented the teams with a difficult task. The trails on the 86-kilometer route were softened and sometimes very slippery.
For safety reasons, the race between Schmelzboden and Wiesen therefore had to switch to a road tunnel.
“That was the hardest album pass of my career,” said multiple world champion Thomas Frischknecht at the finish line. “On the flow trails, every downhill climb was a feat of strength. Instead of simply driving through, you really had to balance yourself up through the clayey soil.”
The second stage on Wednesday is 69 kilometers and 2250 meters in altitude difference from St. Moritz via Pontresina, Samedan and the Corviglia area back to St. Moritz. The start is at 07:30 a.m.; the race can be won via www.swiss-epic.com be followed live.
Results: Swiss Epic in Graubünden, 1st stage
Davos - Albula Pass - St. Moritz (86 km)
UCI Men
- Trek Selle San Marco A: Michele Casagrande (ITA) & Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA) - 3:52:20.6
- Trek Selle San Marco: Samuele Porro (ITA) & Damiano Ferraro (ITA) - 3:52:20.9 | +0.3
- jb BRUNEX/Fischer BMC: Casey South (SUI) & Noah Blöchlinger (SUI) - 3:58:21.7 | +6,01.1
- BiXS Pro Team: Konny Looser (SUI) & Oliver Zurbrügg (SUI) - 3:59:05.7 | +6.45.1
- Devonbosch Stellenbosch: Frans Claes (BEL) & Sören Nissen (LUX) - 4:00:47.5 | +8.26.9
UCI Women
- Shimano S-Phyre: Corina Gantenbein (SUI) & Kathrin Stirnemann (SUI) - 4:59:23.1
- Wielka Orkiestra Swiatecznej Pomocy: Ariane Lüthi (SUI) & Samara Sheppard (NZL) - 5:00:00.4 | +37.3
- Centurion Vaude 2: Alice Pirard (BEL) & Stefanie Dohrn (GER) - 5:00:01.4 | +38.3
- Team ÅBRO/Fairtree: Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) & Katie Lennard (RSA) - 5:13:31.0 | +14,07,9
- KS TREK - Sportographer: Adelheid Morath (GER) & Bettina Janas (GER) - 5:16:38.8 | +17.15.7