mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Laax, Arosa and Davos are not only well-known names in Switzerland: The three top Grisons destinations are world-famous for their mountains, trails and hospitality. The 5-day Swiss Epic stage race in Graubünden offers a unique combination of spectacular circuits and challenging transition stages. Incidentally, the top ten teams will win starting places for the Absa Cape Epic: the Swiss Epic in Graubünden is the only European qualifying race for the legendary stage race in South Africa.

With 333 kilometers and 12,850 vertical meters in five days, the route length may seem quite short on paper. But the intensity is high: the teams will not be able to take it easy on any of the stages. The stages ride through mountain forests, across alpine meadows and up into high alpine, rocky terrain of unique natural beauty. Steep climbs alternate with rough nature trails, perfectly laid out tracks with plenty of flow and rolling gravel paths across high plateaus. The reward is often kilometers of descents back into the valleys and the incomparable view of the Grisons Alpine panorama around Laax, Arosa and Davos.

Stage 1, Laax - Laax, 64 km / 2,600 m altitude

mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">On the first day in Laax, the teams barely have time to warm up. The 20-kilometer ascent leads to the mountain stations of Crap Sogn Gion and Crap Masegn, where the world's best snowboarders compete for prestigious prizes in winter. A crisp climb brings the riders to the highest point of the stage at 2,456 meters above sea level. A natural trail rides below the Vorab glacier towards Alp Sogn Martin.
A short climb brings the teams to Segnesboden, where an even trail offers incredible views of the Tectonic Arena Sardona: The UNESCO World Heritage Site with the famous Martinsloch and the picturesque peaks of the Tschingelhörner.
The Runcatrail offers even more flow and fun. The fun descent leads down into a fairytale forest where Lake Cresta with its crystal-clear water and then the turquoise-colored Lake Cauma invite you to take a dip. However, wellness is only on the agenda after the stage, as short, crisp climbs ride from the two lakes to the finish of the 64-kilometre stage.

Stage 2, Laax - Arosa, 74 km / 2,700 m elevation gain

mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The first transition stage of the Swiss Epic 2020 takes the teams 74 kilometers from Laax to Arosa, in the Schanfiggtal valley. As Laax is at an altitude of 1,000 meters and Arosa at 1,800 meters, this stage is filled with climbing, with the lion's share of the 2,700 meters of elevation gain coming in the last 25 kilometers of the stage.
Immediately after the start, the route leads through the spectacular Rhine Gorge, rightly known as the "Grand Canyon of Switzerland", to Reichenau. The Rhine has dramatically carved its bed deep into the rock here over millions of years.
After this natural spectacle, riders follow enjoyable trails along the Hinterrhein, a tributary of the mighty Rhine, and on towards Chur, the capital of the canton of Graubünden. This is where the long ascent to Arosa begins.
In addition to the climbing, the riders will certainly remember the rides through charming Graubünden mountain villages. The picturesque village of Tschiertschen marks the last remaining ten kilometers to the highest point at 2,007 meters above sea level, which is only five kilometers from the finish in Arosa. To get there, the route runs along the Prätsch lakes, crossing the Maran Plateau before the teams ride down to the stage finish in Arosa.

Stage 3, Arosa - Arosa, 59 km / 2,500 m altitude

mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The third stage is the shortest, but also the most intense of the Swiss Epic 2020. 2,500 meters of ascent are spread over just 59 kilometers of stage length. As always in Graubünden, the climbing does not go unrewarded: the area around Arosa offers fantastic panoramic views and the finest single trails. On this day, those who still have some freshness for the climbs and enjoy fast descents will be successful.
Three loops are ridden to the north, north-east and south-west, starting and finishing in Arosa. The highlight is the passage over the Gredigs Fürggli, at 2,614 meters the highest point of the entire Swiss Epic 2020. The other highlights of the day are the Walser village of Medergen, the Arosa Bärenland, where three adult bears live, the downhill to the beautiful Älplisee and the ride along the Schwellisee. At the end of the day, the Hörnli Trail awaits with its many twists and turns - it is rightly considered one of the most beautiful flow trails in Europe.

Stage 4, Arosa - Davos, 76 km / 2,800 m altitude

mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The fourth day rides the participants from Arosa to Davos. The transition stage is clearly the queen stage of the Swiss Epic 2020 with 76 kilometers and 2,800 meters of altitude. As a farewell to Arosa, the stage rides past Bärenland once again. It continues up to an altitude of 2,000 meters and again along the legendary Hörnli Trail. This is followed by a downhill to Langwies at 1,380 meters. From here, the small gears are in demand, as the route to Davos leads over the 2,117-metre-high Duranna Pass along the picturesque Grüensee lake - a postcard landscape like no other. Another ascent leads via Klosters to Davos and towards Race Village, where a change of direction and a final climb into the Flüela Valley await. As a reward, a fast, flowing single trail awaits the teams as they hurtle down countless bends through the Flüela Valley to the finish line in Davos.

Stage 5, Davos - Davos, 60 km / 2,250 m altitude

mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The final stage of the Swiss Epic in Graubünden 2020 will be something of a review of the alpine landscapes that were ridden through in the previous four days. The route rides through the singletrail paradise of Davos. The "Panoramatrail" got its name for a reason: during the downhill towards Gotschnaboden, the view over the world-famous Alpine town and the mountain valley invites you to dream. However, the teams first have to earn the view on the almost 800 meters of altitude that have to be climbed to the highest point at 2,321 meters.
The rooty single trails ride the teams through the forest to the Wolfgang Pass and back to Davos. There, the route leaves the village again in a final loop and climbs along the Sertig valley to the so-called Hausfrauen Trail. A flowing ride through a fairytale forest awaits here. Now follows a final, crisp ascent to the Ischalp. Once you've reached it, you've made it: the descent to Davos is full of enjoyment, and the arrival at the finish line is pure triumph.

www.swiss-epic.com