{"id":64400,"date":"2023-08-19T17:56:22","date_gmt":"2023-08-19T15:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=64400"},"modified":"2023-08-23T08:52:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T06:52:39","slug":"cayon-northwave-and-elysator-efficient-infinity-insure-win-the-2023-spar-swiss-epic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/cayon-northwave-and-elysator-efficient-infinity-insure-win-the-2023-spar-swiss-epic\/","title":{"rendered":"Canyon Northwave and Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure Win the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The grand finale of the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic saw the leading UCI Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s teams wrap up their titles with stage victories. Canyon Northwave added a third win to their haul from the race through Graub\u00fcnden, while Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure made it four from a possible five on the last day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Kim le Court (left) and Vera Looser (right) celebrate winning the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic. Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stage 5 brought the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic to its conclusion in Davos \u2013 on Saturday, 19 August. Canyon Northwave, in the yellow CIOVITA UCI Men\u2019s leaders\u2019 jerseys, and Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure, in the orange CIOVITA UCI Women\u2019s leaders\u2019 jerseys, won the stage and sealed their respective category titles. Martin Sto\u0161ek and Marc Stutzmann again used the climbs to prove that they were the strongest men\u2019s team in the race, while Kim le Court battled through the aches and pains of the previous day\u2019s crash to dominate alongside Vera Looser again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the second time in the race the course was shortened slightly, with the final stage taking in 59 kilometres of racing with 1 750 metres of climbing, rather than the initially slated 66 kilometres with over 2 000 metres of elevation gain. Stage 5 did however still feature some of Davos Klosters\u2019 most famous trails, highlighting why the region is known as a singletrack paradise. These includes a section of the longest singletrack in Switzerland, the Alps Epic Trail, as well as the Junkerboden and the Ischalp Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Marc Stutzmann (left) and Martin Sto\u0161ek (right) cross the final finish line in Davos to round out their third stage victory and the overall SPAR Swiss Epic title. Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These singletracks provided a fitting finale for the race, but did not make the difference between the top UCI men\u2019s teams on the day. Once again, the climbs were where the stage was decided. Initially, on the climb to the Alps Epic Trail a group of the top teams were contesting the stage together. Canyon Northwave and Wilier Pirelli, as had been the case all week, were present at the front; as were Bulls, BUFF MEGAMO and Team Laax. Torpado Factory Racing were also in contention through the half-way mark, as they fought for another top stage result after shipping nearly an hour on the general classification on the first two stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Marc Stutzmann was the revelation of the race, capping a superb August in which he placed fourth in the UCI World Marathon Championships and won the Swiss Marathon Championships title. Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bulls and BUFF MEGAMO were locked in a battle for third place overall, and were marking each other as much as they were making the racing for stage honours. Again, when the climbs became steep and long, no team was able to match Sto\u0161ek and Stutzmann. Daniel Geismayr and Wout Alleman, along with Casey South and Jakob Dorigoni were best able to limit the advantage the men in yellow were able to establish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Vera Looser (left) and Kim le Court (right) of Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure won four stages on their way to the overall SPAR Swiss Epic title. Photo by Sam Clark \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it looked like the Torpado Factory Racing might be able to bridge back across to the leaders on the Ischalp Trail, within the final 10 kilometres. Sadly, for South and Dorigoni, a puncture put them out of the pursuit of Canyon Northwave and relegated them to eighth on the stage. Ahead the smoother and risk-free riding of Sto\u0161ek and Stutzmann allowed them to race through the final kilometres without incident and seal a well-earned stage and overall victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t come into the race expecting this,\u201d Stutzmann allowed. \u201cI didn\u2019t know how my legs would respond so soon after the Swiss national championships, so I\u2019m just really happy with how the SPAR Swiss Epic played out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Kyle Mitchell celebrates becoming an Epic Legend, having competed the Absa Cape Epic, 4Islands Croatia and now the SPAR Swiss Epic. Photo by Nick Muzik \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew we had a good chance when Marc placed fourth at the World Marathon Championships,\u201d Sto\u0161ek, who had won the silver medal in Scottland two weeks before the race, added. \u201cIt can be hard to find motivation late in the season, especially after good performances at the World Championships, but when Marc and I both did so well I said to him \u2018hold that form\u2019 and I thought we could achieve a good result here at the SPAR Swiss Epic. We\u2019re very happy with the race and the overall victory!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canyon Northwave\u2019s final accumulated time for the five stages was 14 hours, 32 minutes and 34 seconds. Wilier Pirelli crossed the line second on the stage, sealing second position overall. Geismayr and Alleman\u2019s SPAR Swiss Epic included two stage victories and three second places. They ended the race 7 minutes and 38 seconds down on Sto\u0161ek and Stutzmann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the battle for third, Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil Cortinat prevailed. They completed not only the podium on the day but also the general classification podium places, relegating BUFF MEGAMO\u2019s Hans Becking and Peeter Pruus to fourth. Team Laax\u2019s Fadri Barandun and Konny Looser were fifth on both the stage and the overall standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Dylan Jones waves farewell to an alpine cow and the Swiss Alps. Photo by Nick Muzik \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the UCI Women, the final stage began with uncertainty. How Le Court\u2019s body would perform after an uncomfortable night\u2019s sleep was the primary question, and one which had Katazina Sosna, Irina L\u00fctzelschwab, Monica Calderon and Tessa Kortekaas circling in anticipation. \u201cWhen I got onto the bike this morning, I realised my legs were fine,\u201d Le Court revealed. \u201cMy body was sore and my coccyx was painful when I sat, but my legs were good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe plan was for me to sit behind Kim and we would ease into the stage,\u201d Looser elaborated. \u201cBut on the first climb already she went to the front of the group and I knew I was going to be in for another hard ride today!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once on the front the Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure gradually but inexorably rode away from the Torpado Bulls and CANNONDALE VAS ARABAY WOMEN. Initially Monica Calderon and Tessa Kortekaas were best able to follow, but a couple of crashes on the descent from the \u00c4bir\u00fcgg, the highest point of the stage, knocked the wind out of Calderon\u2019s pursuit. Sosna and L\u00fctzelschwab passed the Colombian\/Dutch pairing to claim the second place on the stage and wrap up second overall in the UCI Women\u2019s race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Kim le Court had to dig deep and battle through the pain just to complete the final two stages of the race, after a crash early in Stage 4. Photo by Nick Muzik \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Looser and Le Court\u2019s ride secured their spot in SPAR Swiss Epic lore. Not only did the Namibian\/Mauritian squad add the race through Graub\u00fcnden\u2019s title to their Absa Cape Epic and FNB Wines2Whales crowns, but they won the hearts of mountain biking fans around the globe in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYesterday was a survival game. To be honest, I don\u2019t know how I made it to the finish,\u201d Le Court confessed. \u201cToday I was really motivated to finish and push through the pain. It was sore. It was really, really sore. But we wanted it so badly and I\u2019m really, really happy. It shows that if you want something you can work for it, but you have to push through\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
European Marathon Champion, Wout Alleman had to make do with two stage victories and second place overall alongside his Wilier Pirelli teammate Daniel Geismayr. Photo by Nick Muzik \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure team\u2019s winning time was 18 hours, 30 minutes and 35 seconds. This was 42 minutes and 7 seconds faster than their nearest rivals, Sosna and L\u00fctzelschwab of Torpado Bulls. CANNONDALE VAS ARABAY WOMEN\u2019s Calderon and Kortekaas completed the podium, ahead of Chrystelle Baumann and Sandra Stadelmann, of Next Ride, and The Triskelions, Amy Henchoz and Jane Barr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic drawing to a close the Epic Series attention shifts to the Cape to Cape three-day stage race in Western Australia and South Africa\u2019s FNB Wines2Whales. These Classic status events are the ideal stepping stone for teams preparing for the longer and tougher Legend status races or the Pinnacle of the Epic Series, the Absa Cape Epic. Riders inspired by the performances of Le Court, and the rest of the UCI fields, who would now like to conquer the Alps themselves, can bookmark 21 to 24 August already as the 2024 SPAR Swiss Epic\u2019s race dates. For more information mountain biking fans can visit www.epic-series.com\/swissepic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Singletrack paradise Davos Klosters thrilled with the tracks and trails of the grand finale of the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic. Photo by Nick Muzik \/ SPAR Swiss Epic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2023 SPAR Swiss Epic Results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 5 | UCI Men:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Canyon Northwave: Martin Sto\u0161ek & Marc Stutzmann (2:28:22)         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Wilier Pirelli: Daniel Geismayr & Wout Alleman (2:29:30 | +1:08)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Bulls: Simon Schneller & Axel Roudil Cortinat (2:29:40 | +1:18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. BUFF MEGAMO: Hans Becking & Peeter Pruus (2:30:27 | +2:05)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Team Laax: Fadri Barandun & Konny Looser (2:33:03 | +4:41)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 5 | UCI Women:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure<\/a>: Vera Looser & Kim le Court (3:08:02)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Torpado | Bulls: Katazina Sosna & Irina L\u00fctzelschwab (3:14:35 | +6:33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. CANNONDALE VAS ARABAY WOMEN: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (3:19:07 | +11:05)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Next Ride: Chrystelle Baumann & Sandra Stadelmann (3:28:09 | +20:07)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Triskelions: Amy Henchoz & Jane Barr (3:45:51 | +37:49)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UCI Men\u2019s General Classification after Stage 5:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Canyon Northwave: Martin Sto\u0161ek & Marc Stutzmann (14:32:34)       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Wilier Pirelli: Daniel Geismayr & Wout Alleman (14:40:12 | +7:38)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Bulls: Simon Schneller & Axel Roudil Cortinat (14:58:39 | +26:05)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. BUFF MEGAMO: Hans Becking & Peeter Pruus (15:00:59 | +28:28)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Team Laax: Fadri Barandun & Konny Looser (15:06:54 | +34:20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UCI Women\u2019s General Classification after Stage 5:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure: Vera Looser & Kim le Court (18:30:35)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Torpado | Bulls: Katazina Sosna & Irina L\u00fctzelschwab (19:12:42 | +42:07)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. CANNONDALE VAS ARABAY WOMEN: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (20:14:02| +1:43:27)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Next Ride: Chrystelle Baumann & Sandra Stadelmann (21:12:28 | +2:41:53)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Triskelions: Amy Henchoz & Jane Barr (21:26:04| +2:55:29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the full results from the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic click here<\/a>.     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The grand finale of the 2023 SPAR Swiss Epic saw the leading UCI Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s teams wrap up their titles with stage victories. Canyon Northwave added a third win to their haul from the race through Graub\u00fcnden, while Elysator Efficient Infinity Insure made it four from a possible five on the last day. Stage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":64403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[527],"featured_location":[338],"class_list":["post-64400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-swiss-epic","featured_location-bottom-row"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64400"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64433,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64400\/revisions\/64433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64400"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=64400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}