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Two bikers posing in front of the Swiss Epic poster [Swiss Epic]

For the love of the mountains – Team Dans to tackle 37,000m of climbing in 2 weeks

By Epic Series, 08/23/19, 10:15AM HST

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Low fog hung over the mountains and spilled over the race village in Lenzerheide this morning as riders prepared for the penultimate stage of the 2019 Swiss Epic.

Two bikers posing by the Swiss Epic poster

Low fog hung over the mountains and spilled over the race village in Lenzerheide this morning as riders prepared for the penultimate stage of the 2019 Swiss Epic. A slightly shorter route of 48km around Lenzerheide would be no less challenging as riders faced 2,150m of cumulative climing to make it across the finish line of Stage 4.  

The Lenzerheide region is well known for its scenic and technical mountain biking trails having hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in 2018 as well as welcoming many mountain biking enthusiasts each year who come to enjoy the many trails on offer.

Riders took on a looped course on Stage 4 including two climbs on opposite sides of the valley, first sending them up Charmoin before heading towards the idyllic Alp Stätz.  For those whose legs were worn from the climb, the little bit of fun in the Bikepark FLOWline was a welcome interval.  It was onwards to the Alpweg – a high route with stunning scenery and panoramic trails opposite the Rothorn before approaching the fast descent to the Heidsee.

By the end of Stage 5 tomorrow, riders would have completed 347km and climbed nearly 12,000 meters – a truly epic mountain biking adventure for even the most experienced riders, and one that would have most riders put their legs up for at least a week after.  Not so for the firecracker Team Dans from the Philippines.  This duo of Benjamin Ramirez and Aldean Philip Lim will be heading straight from the Swiss Epic to a 300km, 6-day, self-navigating trail run stage race around Mont-Blanc with 25,000 meters of climbing.

“We decided to join the Swiss Epic because our main target was the PTL [Petite Trotte à Léon] and we saw our schedules allows us to compete in both,” Benjamin explains the thought process behind the unusual adventure. “We don’t know yet where to sleep maybe in a refugee center or below the trees,” he says.

“But we’re really doing this [the Swiss Epic] for the love of mountain biking,” says team mate Aldean.  We wanted to ride on different trails than in the Philippines.  In 2017 Benjamin did the Absa Cape Epic and last year we did the Pioneer together.  Maybe next year we’ll do the Cape Epic together, but now it was about the challenge and the different level of mountain biking,” Aldean adds.

“Swiss Epic is a totally different event and it’s really nice – the course, the technical sections, the climbs, the environment… it’s just on of the most perfect rides I’ve ever been to!” Benjamin beamed with Aldean nodding in agreement.

When asked about their favourite part of the experience so far, these two spirited riders laughingly chose the food as their highlight.  “I usually bring my pillow with me for the Pioneer & the Absa Cape Epic since we sleep in tents but for this event I didn’t need to bring it with me. Everything is prepared already… and the food … the food is reallygood!” Benjamin says.

Despite being on Stage 4, Team Dans seems to have boundless energy and have steadily become known as the “fun ones” to ride with in the race village.  “Everyone is so serious while they’re climbing up but we’re doing both climbing and singing.  It’s nice because we’re here to enjoy it,” Aldean says.

And for tomorrow’s final stage, do they have any goals?  “Like any other day, we just want to enjoy it.  We’re up there, we’re climbing, we’re listening to the music [from service stations] and we’re singing and all the other riders keep laughing at us,” Benjamin laughs.

Tomorrow’s Grand Finale will see riders transitioning back to Davos from Lenzerheide through pristine single trail at the foot of the Lenzerhorn and riding into the valley to the Landwasser Viaduct.  Several climbs will be in store as riders ready themselves for a spectacular path called “Zügenweg” with rough rocky landscapes and a turquoise mountain river before arriving at the breath-taking vistas at Äbirugg.  The way to the finish line is through the flowing trail into the Sertig Valley before crossing the line in Davos.

Tune in for the final day’s action tomorrow from 07:30am on www.swiss-epic.com.

Low fog hung over the mountains and spilled over the race village in Lenzerheide this morning as riders prepared for the penultimate stage of the 2019 Swiss Epic. A slightly shorter route of 48km around Lenzerheide would be no less challenging as riders faced 2,150m of cumulative climing to make it across the finish line of Stage 4.  

The Lenzerheide region is well known for its scenic and technical mountain biking trails having hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in 2018 as well as welcoming many mountain biking enthusiasts each year who come to enjoy the many trails on offer.

Riders took on a looped course on Stage 4 including two climbs on opposite sides of the valley, first sending them up Charmoin before heading towards the idyllic Alp Stätz.  For those whose legs were worn from the climb, the little bit of fun in the Bikepark FLOWline was a welcome interval.  It was onwards to the Alpweg – a high route with stunning scenery and panoramic trails opposite the Rothorn before approaching the fast descent to the Heidsee.

By the end of Stage 5 tomorrow, riders would have completed 347km and climbed nearly 12,000 meters – a truly epic mountain biking adventure for even the most experienced riders, and one that would have most riders put their legs up for at least a week after.  Not so for the firecracker Team Dans from the Philippines.  This duo of Benjamin Ramirez and Aldean Philip Lim will be heading straight from the Swiss Epic to a 300km, 6-day, self-navigating trail run stage race around Mont-Blanc with 25,000 meters of climbing.

“We decided to join the Swiss Epic because our main target was the PTL [Petite Trotte à Léon] and we saw our schedules allows us to compete in both,” Benjamin explains the thought process behind the unusual adventure. “We don’t know yet where to sleep maybe in a refugee center or below the trees,” he says.

“But we’re really doing this [the Swiss Epic] for the love of mountain biking,” says team mate Aldean.  We wanted to ride on different trails than in the Philippines.  In 2017 Benjamin did the Absa Cape Epic and last year we did the Pioneer together.  Maybe next year we’ll do the Cape Epic together, but now it was about the challenge and the different level of mountain biking,” Aldean adds.

“Swiss Epic is a totally different event and it’s really nice – the course, the technical sections, the climbs, the environment… it’s just on of the most perfect rides I’ve ever been to!” Benjamin beamed with Aldean nodding in agreement.

When asked about their favourite part of the experience so far, these two spirited riders laughingly chose the food as their highlight.  “I usually bring my pillow with me for the Pioneer & the Absa Cape Epic since we sleep in tents but for this event I didn’t need to bring it with me. Everything is prepared already… and the food … the food is reallygood!” Benjamin says.

Despite being on Stage 4, Team Dans seems to have boundless energy and have steadily become known as the “fun ones” to ride with in the race village.  “Everyone is so serious while they’re climbing up but we’re doing both climbing and singing.  It’s nice because we’re here to enjoy it,” Aldean says.

And for tomorrow’s final stage, do they have any goals?  “Like any other day, we just want to enjoy it.  We’re up there, we’re climbing, we’re listening to the music [from service stations] and we’re singing and all the other riders keep laughing at us,” Benjamin laughs.

Tomorrow’s Grand Finale will see riders transitioning back to Davos from Lenzerheide through pristine single trail at the foot of the Lenzerhorn and riding into the valley to the Landwasser Viaduct.  Several climbs will be in store as riders ready themselves for a spectacular path called “Zügenweg” with rough rocky landscapes and a turquoise mountain river before arriving at the breath-taking vistas at Äbirugg.  The way to the finish line is through the flowing trail into the Sertig Valley before crossing the line in Davos.

Tune in for the final day’s action tomorrow from 07:30am on www.swiss-epic.com.