In five daily stages, the Swiss Epic Graubünden 2019 rides from Davos to St. Moritz, on to Lenzerheide and back to Davos. The route is challenging and packed with numerous highlights. It demands a lot from the participants, but also offers an experience like no other mountain bike race in the Alps.

Stage 1

It rides the riders from Davos to St. Moritz. Right at the start, the riders enjoy the legendary "Alps Epic Trail" Davos, the romantic and wild Zügen Gorge and the world-famous Landwasser railroad viaduct. This is followed by a varied ascent to the Albula Pass, the highest point of the day. From there, a new, seven-kilometer trail rides to La Punt in the Engadin. Against the stiff Maloja wind, the route leads through the plain near Samedan to a final short climb in the forest to the finish at Lake St. Moritz.

Stage 2

The circuit around St. Moritz makes the hearts of the participants beat faster in the second stage - in the truest sense of the word. The stage begins rather quietly and soon rewards the riders with the breathtaking panorama of Piz Palü and Piz Bernina. From Samedan, the route then climbs noticeably - after more than 800 meters in altitude, the highest point is reached at the idyllic natural reservoir Lej Alv. The reward is a unique descent on the World Cup trail - exactly where World Cup ski races are held in winter. The subsequent Fopettas Trail in the pine forest above St. Moritz offers yet more varied terrain and plenty of riding pleasure.

Stage 3

The transition stage from St. Moritz to Lenzerheide is the queen stage of the Swiss Epic 2019. After the varied climb up to the Albula Pass, the highest point of the stage is reached early on. Hard work is famously rewarded at the Swiss Epic in Graubünden, as the athletes can then enjoy the seemingly endless trail to Bergün and Filisur. The route climbs through the sparse forest to the plateau between Lenz and Lenzerheide, before crossing parts of the 2018 World Championship XC course, where Nino Schurter from the Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team rode to his seventh world title in front of 24,000 frenetic spectators. Stage 3 is simply a real royal stage.

Stage 4

As the host of the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the Lenzerheide region offers unique trails and a panorama that will put a smile on every mountain biker's face. The circular stage on day four includes two climbs on opposite sides of the valley - first up to the beautifully situated Charmoin middle station and a little later to the picturesque Alp Stätz. As a reward, the route continues through the FLOWline bike park, where maximum riding fun is guaranteed. This is followed by a high-altitude trail against an impressive backdrop, before the fourth stage ends with a fast descent down to the crystal-clear Heidsee lake.

Stage 5

The final stage from Lenzerheide to Davos also gets off to a spectacular start: the riders discover an untouched single trail through a sparse spruce forest at the foot of the spectacular Lenzerhorn. The view extends deep down into the valley to the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The teams have to manage their energy reserves skillfully, as the ascents ahead are tough. The route rides along rugged rocky landscapes and a turquoise-colored mountain river to the Rinerhorn area. A gently sloping, flowing single trail leads to the final scenic highlight, the picturesque Sertig valley. From here, pure joy reigns: the finish in Davos is imminent, where the finishers are crowned conquerors of the Swiss Alps.

The Swiss Epic Graubünden will take place for the first time from August 20 to 24, 2019, but has been sold out since mid-February. 250 teams of two are registered. They will only be classified if both team members reach the finish line. The race is part of the global Epic Series and an official qualifying race for the legendary Absa Cape Epic in South Africa in 2020.

www.swiss-epic.com