Everyone has their own motivation for undertaking the challenge for the Swiss Epic. There are however some common themes, which provide the riders’ rationale. 

The Swiss Epic is more than a mountain bike stage race. Racing dominates the minds of the few at the sharp end of the field. For the many who ride the trails through the Alps of Graubünden rather than race them, the reasons to ride are more personal and complex. There are some common themes which link many of the riders’ rationales, however.

Unsurprisingly the desire to return, to relive great memories and take part in an event which proved thrilling before is a popular reason. “I’m a repeat offender” joked Germany’s, Andreas Frey. “And I’m looking forward to the Swiss Epic once again!” Iceland’s Sigurdur Gylfason has the same motivation. “I rode the Swiss Epic in 2019 and now I want to go again” he succinctly stated.

For some first-time Swiss Epic riders, the inception for the idea of taking part was seeded in Africa. Andrew Graham and Will Bicheno are two such men. The duo from the United Kingdom appear to revel in the challenges, and Type Two fun, as Graham points out: “We rode the 2019 Absa Cape Epic and said never, ever again. But then, oh wait, there’s an Epic in Switzerland…” Laughing at themselves and looking back fondly on the challenges of mountain bike stage racing, they decided to take a crack at the Swiss Epic. “We are totally hooked on the format of team stage racing,” Graham said. “We, therefore, have to try the Swiss Epic in 2020.”

Beat Goetz is of a similar mindset, though he is part of a larger group of riders hooked on stage racing. Though he had to travel halfway around the world to realise he wanted to take part in a race on his doorstep. “I worked for two and a half years in Singapore, but I’m back in Switzerland now” he explained. “I joined the Swiss Club Riders Singapore and trained for the Absa Cape Epic in 2019. I successfully finished that and it was a smashing, exciting event! Now the Swiss Club Riders Singapore are set to take on the 2020 Swiss Epic. Which I’ll be riding with my Swiss partner. I’m really looking forward to it!”

Goetz’s clubmate, Heinz Iten, is influential in the Swiss Club Riders Singapore’s decision to undertake the Epic Series challenge. He is only one race away from becoming an Epic Legend himself. The goal of completing all three of the Epic Series’ flagship events is a common one among the 2020 Swiss Epic field. “I’ve finished three Absa Cape Epics and one Pioneer. There is still one event missing…” Iten smiled.

For Erno van Dongen, of the Netherlands, the Epic Series takes on a Tolkienesque quality. Though that may be from his time spent in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. “We are going to do the trilogy” Van Dongen colourfully described his quest to become an Epic Legend. “I want to finish The Pioneer, fuelled by Nutri-Grain, the Absa Cape Epic and the Swiss Epic because we only live once.

Swiss local, Thomas Kocher’s reason for riding is also on the “only live once” lines. “I gained 35 kilograms after a snowboarding accident” Kocher lamented. “After 5 years of being heavily overweight, I decided to change my lifestyle again and lost 30 kilograms. Now I’m ready to ride the Swiss Epic and celebrate my health.”

Keith Greenwood has an even more pertinent reason to celebrate life. “My wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in March 2019” he recounted. “Hopefully her treatment will be completed successfully by April/May 2020 and life can get back to normal, or whatever that new normal will be. This has highlighted to me how precious life actually is and you should make the most of it at all times. I have decided that in 2020 I will take on some big events and raise funds for Breast Cancer Research and I have some good friends who are happy to help with this, including my Swiss Epic partner Alan Maxwell.”

These are just a handful of the reasons for riding the 2020 Swiss Epic. What’s your reason to tackle the ultimate Alpine challenge? No matter which one it is, we can’t wait to welcome you from 18-22 August in Switzerland’s Graubünden Canton for the 2020 Swiss Epic.