PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC 2017 – Alpine Stage Racing at its Finest

The six-day mountain bike stage race PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC is taking place for the fourth time from 11 to 16 September 2017. Once again, the course will cover beautiful single trails in the heart of the Valais’ well proven and still stunning Alpine landscape. However, this year’s edition again holds various exciting new features to look forward to.

New route through Switzerland’s most stunning mountains

The SWISS EPIC 2017 sets off from the traditional Valais mountain village of Grächen, on through the spa destination of Leukerbad to world-famous Zermatt. This is the first time this combination of stopover locations is being used, offering a largely new and attractive course once again. Naturally, the focus is still on flowing single trails with breathtaking panoramic views. The “flow day” introduced in 2016, which covers more metres of descent than ascent, will feature again in the upcoming edition – but this time as stage 3. Both formats, the SWISS EPIC and SWISS EPIC FLOW, will stay similar in terms of overall length and difficulty, perhaps slightly less demanding than the year before.

EPIC 2 DAY – now also in FLOW format

The shorter race format EPIC 2 DAY, which sees teams join the race for the last two stages, can now also be booked in FLOW format with certain neutralised uphill sections travelled using shuttles or cableways. This FLOW weekend covers a distance of around 80 km with roughly 2,200 m of ascent and almost 5,000 m of descent, opening SWISS EPIC up also to less ambitious and rather downhillfocussed mountain bikers.

Both, the FLOW and EPIC format of PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC’s shorter 2-day version, for all those who do not have the time, fitness level or budget to ride six days, should prove particularly popular this year. EPIC 2 DAY participants still get the real stage-race experience with the transfer from Leukerbad to Zermatt in stage 4, and the incredible backdrop of the final stage’s circuit at the foot of the Matterhorn is also sure to be a special highlight.

New and more affordable all-inclusive packages

Team starting positions for the SWISS EPIC will continue to be sold only as part of an all-inclusive package, which includes race entry, various standards of accommodation, meals, luggage transportation, massages, bike washing services and much more.  The EPIC 2 DAY packages are now also available in the cheaper BUDGET and CAMPER versions. This means PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC can now be experienced from only CHF 345 per person.

About the Swiss Epic:

PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC is a six-day mountain bike stage race in the Valais, Switzerland, held for the first time in 2014. The stage race with HC classification by the UCI takes place every year in September and attracts riders from all continents. In the longest race format, SWISS EPIC, they will complete a distance of around 350 kilometres with an elevation gain of 12,000 metres. On the SWISS EPIC FLOW course, some of the ascents are climbed using a shuttle. In the short format EPIC 2 DAY riders participate in the last two stages. The focus of PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC lies on experiencing a mountain bike adventure on flowing single trails in an alpine surrounding with breathtaking panoramic views, Swissness, and enjoying the international bike community.

Learn more about the Swiss Epic here.