On Saturday, the final stage of the six-day PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC mountain bike race from Grächen to Zermatt covered 60 kilometers and 2400 vertical meters with a lot of flow through high alpine scenery, surrounded by impressive 4000-meter peaks and glaciers. With the top-class field of starters, the standard on the final stage was once again very high and also demanding and tough for the elite.

Exciting duel for the overall victory
The starting position in the men's category before the final stage was amazingly similar to last year: Team BiXS-Stöckli was 34 seconds behind Centurion Vaude after yesterday. After a thrilling duel, the defending champions Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger from Team BiXS-Stöckli took the day's victory in 3h 09min - and thus the overall victory once again. They were ultimately able to distance themselves from Jochen Käss and Daniel Geismayr by almost 3 minutes in the final stage, relegating them to second place in the overall standings with a good 2-minute difference. Third place overall went to the Topeak Ergon Racing Team with Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek.

"I'm over the moon that it worked out," said winner Lukas Buchli, who will retire at the end of the season. "We attacked on the first climb and were able to control the race pretty well from then on. Last year we knew that we were actually the strongest team in the field. That wasn't the case this year: We never had the overall lead during the whole week - but probably the biggest belief in our victory. To be able to end my professional career like this is the best thing ever!" Team partner Mathias Flückiger adds: "As a cross-country rider, I'm not really used to such long stages, so the race was very tough for me. I'm all the happier that we were able to turn the tide today!"

Favorites distanced
In the women's race, the overall victory was clear from the second stage. Adelheid Morath and Sally Bigham from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team clearly took every stage win from then on and extended their lead over the favourites Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans from Team Specialized RECM. In the end, they won the golden winner's belt with a 50-minute lead. Hielke Elferink and Anne Terpstra, Team Rent a Plant - Habitat, rode to 3rd place. In the mixed category, Anita Bucher and Hans Flück, Giant Team Obwalden, took gold. In the Masters category, overall victory went to the team of Dani Schnider and Oliver Imfeld, who were completely superior from the start.

The men's flow race format was won by the world of mtb team with Sönke Wegner and Daniel Eiermann. The mixed category was won by Anita Gehrig and Balz Weber from Team Ride Flow Trail. In the women's category, Team SCOTT's Chicken Club with Sarah Merminod and Daniela Michel narrowly took the title.

Ranking lists:
http://services.datasport.com/2015/mtb/swissEpic/