The second stage of the six-day Perskindol Swiss Epic mountain bike race rides from Leukerbad to Leukerbad as a circuit over 69 kilometers and 2750 vertical meters. The route and its panorama are simply spectacular today. First an adventurous pushing passage on a path carved into the rock face on the Daubenhorn, then the Pfynwald in the Rhone Valley, one of the largest pine forests in the Alps, and finally the 134-metre-long Bhutan suspension bridge over the Illgraben. This is followed by the longest ascent of the entire race with an altitude difference of 1,500 meters, back to Leukerbad.

As on the first stage, the Swiss Epic Men category is once again extremely fast today. After just under three and a half hours, the Centurion-Vaude team with Daniel Geismayr (AUT) and Jochen Käss (GER) took the day's victory. Lukas Buchli and Mathias Flückiger from Team Stöckli-BiXS rode to second place - with a short delay at the end - and were able to defend their overall lead. Nino Schurter and Florian Vogel, Team SCOTT-Odlo, rode to third place on the day. In the Swiss Epic Women category, Annika Langvad (DEN) and Ariane Kleinhans (SUI) from Team Specialized II confidently defended their lead after 4:18 hours. Once again, Esther Süss (SUI) and Hielke Elferink (NED), Team Wheeler-iXS, and Team Mountain Heroes with Andrea Kuster (SUI) and Kristin Aamodt (NOR) follow in second place. Bärti Bucher and Milena Landtwing remain clearly in the lead in the Mixed category, as do Serge Robadey and Pierre Bourquenoud in the Masters.

All previous leaders in the Swiss Epic Flow race format also retain their positions.

Trails exceed expectations
Today's stage was again very well received by the participants. "That was probably one of the most beautiful trails we've ever ridden! And it just didn't stop, it went all the way down into the valley," say Benno Sprecher and Roni Amsutz from Team Brino, full of enthusiasm. This is confirmed by South Africans Oliver Munnik and David Leimann from the BicyclingSA media team: "The trails exceeded all expectations! Next year there will definitely be many more teams from South Africa!"The third stage of the Perskindol Swiss Epic rides from Leukerbad to Grächen. Although the number of kilometers is shorter at 61, the 3,000 meters of altitude make the stage tough again. The first finishers are expected around lunchtime.www.swissepic.com