At first glance out of the window, everything is still dry in Leukerbad. But just one breakfast later, the streets are wet: as forecast, it is raining. But it's not worth getting into rain gear, the rain is already subsiding. Today there is another mass start on the program, which Anita and I particularly like - NOT. We ride the first few kilometers with the Lucky Star riders Tanja and Nicolas, but soon set off alone on the trails. The same descent awaits us that we rode down into the Rhone Valley yesterday - the "Yeltsin". We've been calling it that for years. Derived from Jeizinen, from where you reach the trail. :D

Of course, Yeltsin doesn't disappoint us today either and we head towards the Rhone valley again, laughing. Anita decides to take a quick soil sample. It's easy to do in the deep dust. Apart from a few lost seconds and small scratches on the wallpaper, the fall has no consequences. What comes after the "Yeltsin" no longer has much to do with flow. Scrubbing 20 kilometers along the Rhone is just part of it. Fortunately, we are not alone in thinking that this is no fun. What's more, the wind, which is obviously keeping the rain at bay, is also blowing hard in our faces.

Anita doesn't let a fall spoil her mood.

Now it's time to ride high: for us by shuttle and chairlift, while the Epic riders push up 2,000 vertical meters in one go via Visperterminen to Giw. I pull off my helmet in front of everyone who braves this "Saucheib" of an ascent. At the top in Giw, we flow riders take up the race again and mingle with the Epic riders. Steep at first, then increasingly pleasant, the trail winds along the slope through the incredibly beautiful landscape. We also have a wonderful view of the Rhone valley below. After about half an hour up and down, the long descent finally begins. It's a great descent, but I almost wish I had my enduro bike instead of my Twentyniner trail bike. Arriving at the bottom with slightly hard forearms, Anita says to me in awe: "Now imagine how many people ride down here on a hardtail." Well, as an old cross-country racer, I can imagine and I'm glad I no longer have to tackle such descents on a hardtail.

Conveniently take the chairlift to Giw.

After the long descent, we switch to the main road for a short stretch and should then cross the river bank via the railroad line. However, we now find ourselves in front of a closed railroad barrier. "Great" I think to myself and Anita says it. But other Epic participants are also affected by this and, as announced by the organization, such things are part of it. On the subsequent ascent to Stalden, I notice that Anita is starting to struggle a little. Then there are rhythm breakers like a fallen tree. Anita fights on bravely. However, as playing mountain goat is not her favorite discipline, her mood slowly deteriorates along with her tiredness. I seem to be talking too much on the next trail. "Hey, please just shut up! I just want to get this section over with," she tells me in no uncertain terms. I don't think much of it and quietly enjoy the beautiful, flat trail.

Soon afterwards, we reach the next big refreshment post and our checkpoint. I'm definitely not sad about the rest, because the last few kilometers have drained my reserves and Anita is also grinning with satisfaction again. Even more so when she has her legs loosened up by one of the Perskindol masseurs shortly afterwards - after all, the Swiss Epic also offers something like that.

Ladies first - I'll pass on the soothing massage.

Around 15 minutes later, we pedal on towards the shuttle to Grächen. We still have to pedal uphill for a few minutes, albeit at a leisurely pace. Suddenly, two participants look intently at the retaining wall at the side of the road. A small adder seems to be in the wrong place and is probably looking for a safer spot. I am fascinated by this beautifully marked reptile, but Anita is less impressed - she doesn't like snakes ;)

Cute, but for me rather not as a pet. ;)

I leave the little snake alone again and shortly afterwards get on the shuttle bus unbitten. Adders are poisonous snakes, but hardly dangerous. I still didn't want to risk a visit to the doctor.
The shuttle bus takes us to the stage town of Grächen, but it's not the end of the day for us yet. It starts to rain and we are sent to the gondola lift up to Hannigalp. I'm actually tired and don't need to go down again. But after our last start of the day, the tiredness quickly evaporates. Anita follows me on my rear wheel through the rain to the first trail. As usual, we get in quickly and I can already see the bare roots glistening. "Shit, they're already really wet," I think to myself and just shout: "Just don't brake!" We just let our bikes do the work and slow down a little after this first root section. "That was almost a bit too fast," Anita calls out to me in a gentle reminder.
We speed down to Grächen at a more moderate pace - without a crash or damage, but with another stage win, which I would never have expected on this day.

The fourth and penultimate stage with start and finish in Grächen is likely to be another tough one, but it will be worth the effort. Because once again, we are predicted to have fantastic trails and wonderful views of the breathtaking 4,000-metre peaks.