Philipp Zenklusen and Balz Weber chase off the start ramp for the prologue right on time at 2.10 pm. After a short start, the two former pros slow down considerably. The risk of wasting too much energy here is too great. After all, the climb winds its way up over 900 meters of altitude to Les Ruinettes. Despite slowing down, the two riders struggle a little to find the right rhythm. They lack the necessary race hardness.

After a good half of the ascent, the route changes from an asphalt road to a beautiful singletrail that climbs the remaining meters in altitude. Philipp and Balz now have to earn their excitement about the upcoming off-road ride with aching muscles, as the ascent feels nastier than the day before on the tour.

On reaching the highest point, it's time to recover and gather strength on the flat section. In the style of a pairs time trial, the ride team rewinds towards the fun part - the long descent back to Verbier. The upper section rides through a section of the Verbier Bike Park and therefore also over some jumps. Philipp takes a somewhat cautious approach to this first section. However, the numerous berms, waves and jumps quickly get him into the flow and it doesn't take long before he lets out his first cry of joy.

The two of them speed down the second section through the forest, completely unleashed. Jumps, root carpets, a few ledges and flying over jumps again into the next banked bends, the biker's heart is in for a real treat. Philipp and Balz soon catch up with the first teams that overtook them on the climb. Just after an overtaking maneuver, it is too much of a good thing and Balz lies down on the dusty track. "Nothing's wrong," are his reassuring words to Philipp and the two of them immediately resume their ride, down the last fun bends to the finish - the start is done and with 34th place even better than expected!

On the first stage on Tuesday, the Ride-Swiss-Epic team will face three times as many vertical meters as in the prologue. There it will soon become clear how well Philipp and Balz can keep up and whether the upcoming beauty of the 92-kilometre stage will make up for their exertions.