Does it get any better than finishing the world’s most gruelling mountain bike stage race with the love of your life as your riding partner and winning the stage? For one lucky rider it did, after he asked his partner to marry him at the finish line and she said yes. This year, they continue the mountain bike love story as Ecuadorian couple, Felipe Egues Espinosa and Ana Isabel Idrovo, have chosen the Swiss Epic as their honeymoon destination.

A love of sport brought the pair together having met at a triathlon four years ago. According to Felipe, they were inseparable since and competed together in a number of team events in their home country of Ecuador. “I found my partner for mountain biking and life,” said Felipe.

Felipe and Ana Isabel then set themselves the challenge of taking on the Absa Cape Epic in 2016. “Our first experience was like a dream. We enjoyed it so much and just being in South Africa was amazing. We achieved a modest 18th place, but our goal was always to become finishers, so we were very happy,” said Felipe.

After their first experience, competing at the Absa Cape Epic only once was never going to be enough for the adventurous couple. “Once you go to the Absa Cape Epic it’s like a bug that bites and your only thought is when will I go back. In 2018 we were lucky to be at the start line again.”

At their second attempt Felipe and Ana Isabel had a stronger performance finishing in 5th place in their category and winning the final stage. Unbeknown to Ana Isabel, however, their day was about to become even more special.

“I decided before the trip to propose to Ana Isabel. I rode the entire final stage with the ring in my bike pocket and I was so nervous. I knew that at the end of the stage my single life was going to be over! I did not realise we had won the stage, so I just asked the question. I was so happy she said yes and then we noticed we had won the stage; it was easily the best day of my life,” said Felipe.

After making it official and having enjoyed the race so much, they decided that their honeymoon would be at the Swiss Epic in 2019.

“The Swiss Epic is an ideal race for us as we live at almost 8000 feet above sea level and we have a lot of climbing in our country. We have also never been to Switzerland before, so we are very excited,” said Felipe.

This year’s edition is the biggest in the event’s history featuring close to 300 teams from around the world with representation from every continent among the more than 500 riders. The race takes place in the picturesque Graubünden region with riders experiencing the best of Davos, St. Moritz and Lenzerheide over five days of intense riding, traversing 350km of climbs and descents, including 12 000 metres of climbing.

The pair also don’t expect their Epic Series adventure to end in Switzerland as they have already set their sights on becoming Epic Legends. After their Switzerland journey they expect to travel to New Zealand to take on The Pioneer and earn legend status.

We can be sure this MTB couple will enjoy many happy trails together.

The 2019 Swiss Epic takes place in the Graubünden region of Switzerland, from 20 – 24 August and is an Absa Cape Epic qualifier event as part of the Epic Series.