The 2015 Perskindol Swiss Epic has come and gone, with new category winners, hard fought battles, countless corners shredded, carved and railed, and much food and drink consumed. Let’s not mince words here – the Swiss Epic is a premium stage race that offers one of the best mountain biking, and racing, experiences out there. […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – the final push to Zermatt
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While the Grand Tours might be lucky enough to have final stages as processions, in the world of mountain bike stage racing, there’s often quite a lot of racing left to do, and positions to decide. The 2015 Perskindol Swiss Epic was no exception, and across the Epic and the Flow race, many categories were […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Four
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Nothing hurts quite the same as watching a race from the sidelines. But the truth is that watching a race on the 5th day from the sidelines is a pretty sombre affair anyway. Despite the excellent trails, and the great accommodation and food, there were a lot of tired people in the start block today. […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Three – back across the valley
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The 4th day of a six day stage race, is well and truly the hump day. Starting in Leukerbad, the Perskindol Swiss Epic was set to descend down to the Rhone Valley, travel upstream towards Visp, and then ascend towards Grachen, via Visperterminen along a seemingly never ending climb, followed by a never ending descent […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Two, Tour of Leukerbad
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Whenever we get in a group of fast riders, challenging us, I always tell Mike that we have to ‘ride the wave, as long as we can’. We were feeling a little battle-worn when we finally turned out the lights last night. We’d had a very tough day: things had gone wrong, we’d both dipped […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage One, the Queen stage
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Today the real racing started with a climb up to the iconic Croix de Coeur pass from Verbier, similar to the first ascent of the famous Grand Raid marathon race, but taken on some smaller and steeper roads. Mike and I enjoyed a call up to the front row, although we had to be beckoned […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Prologue
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Stage races come and stage races go. Each promises something different: the Croc Trophy takes you to the wildest Australian outback. Transalp over the most magnificent passes. The Cape Epic offers the ultimate physical challenge. The Perskindol Swiss Epic has a lot going for it, but its point of difference, I’ve quickly realised, is quality. Everything, […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic Rider Diary – the bike
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The Perskindol Swiss Epic Official Race Book recommends that each competitor ride a full-suspension mountain bike with at least 120mm of front and rear travel and a dropper seatpost. I did an extra check and can confirm that this is not just for the Flow category (which is the ‘enduro’-style side of the race). Nope, […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic Rider Diary – getting prepped
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I’ve been working in media for a while now, and I’ve learned that there’s a time for every kind of writing. There’s a time to explore ideas. There’s a time to discuss events. Then there’s a time to go deep inside and treat yourself in a bit of self-indulgent introspection. That time has come! That’s […]
Swiss Epic for singles
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
The Swiss Epic have announced that they have opened race registration for single riders for the 2015 event. Although the race is a pairs race, there is now an option for riders who want to try the event, or who just don’t want to find a partner, to race it as a solo entrant. There […]