In 2021 the Swiss Epic took teams on a 347-kilometre route of world-class mountain biking through Graubünden’s deep valleys, over its highest peaks, and along its famed trails as the route traversed its way from St. Moritz to Valposchaivo and on to Davos.

The women’s race saw three-time Absa Cape Epic champion Ariane Lüthi pair up with, multiple South African marathon champion, Robyn De Groot. For the five days, the Swiss/South African combination proved to have the perfect balance of technical skill, exemplary endurance, and the willpower to withstand the attacks from their counterparts as they claimed the Swiss Epic leader jerseys on Stage 1 in 03:58:55. From then on it was a masterclass of stage racing, in the Swiss Alps, as Lüthi and De Groot combined their years of experience to not only hold onto their lead and leader jerseys, they extended the time gap each day.

Their partnership was then extended to the 2021 Absa Cape Epic, where they put on another impeccable show and raced to third overall, in so doing, adding yet another podium finish to each of their palmarès.

With the Absa Cape Epic now on the horizon, many have speculated over if three-time winner Lüthi would pair up with De Groot once again, given their past successes. However that is not the case as Lüthi, who is registered to race her 11th Absa Cape Epic, has secured a new partner for the Race That Measures All, Amy Wakefield.

“I needed to look for a new partner since Robyn de Groot didn’t find enough funding to continue her racing career at the time,” Lüthi clarified. “Though I’ve heard a rumour that Robyn’s break might not be that long… It was an obvious choice to ask Amy [Wakefield] as I really enjoyed racing with her before. The time we spent together, I laughed at least as much as I suffered while racing. She has a wealth of experience in stage racing and knows how to race as a pair, which is important, especially in the Epic Series races. I am very excited to team up with her again and follow her fast lines through the trails.”
 

It has been confirmed that Robyn De Groot will be racing the 2022 Absa Cape Epic with Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, meaning that Lüthi will be racing against her long-time rival turned partner turned rival again from 20-27 March and fans can be sure that the racing will be fierce as Lüthi and De Groot are not the only Swiss Epic champions set to tackle the Untamed African MTB Race in the women’s category.

American Haley Batten claimed the 2020 Swiss Epic alongside the queen of stage racing, Annika Langvad. Batten will not be racing the Absa Cape Epic with the event’s 5-time winner as she too has a new partner, Sofia Gomez Villafane, who raced her first Absa Cape Epic in 2021.

“Riding the Swiss Epic with Annika in 2020 was an unforgettable experience,” Batten recalled. “That event was such a new challenge for me at the time, and to overcome each demanding stage with Annika’s help was such a great opportunity. Each day I gained something new from Annika’s depth of experience, and I definitely became a better rider because of it. Thinking back on those memories and experiences has helped me prepare and build confidence for the Absa Cape Epic. Annika and I have remained great friends, and I know that she will continue to support me as Sofia and I take on the Absa Cape Epic in 2022.”
 

Experience at the Pinnacle of the Epic Series is, without a doubt, advantageous, and that experience sits firmly with Lüthi and Wakefield, who have 12 finishes between them. De Groot, meanwhile, has five Absa Cape Epic finishes to her name, including two-second places and two thirds, while Batten and Gomez Villafane have but a single finish to call on.

But as has been proven in every edition of the Absa Cape Epic, anything and everything can happen.

Tune in to the Live Broadcast of the 18th Absa Cape Epic from 20-27 March on cape-epic.com  to see if a Swiss Epic winner can add an additional Epic Series title to their name.