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PARTICIPATING FOR THE 4TH TIME: FULL-BLOODED MOUNTAIN BIKER BÄRTI BUCHER ABOUT PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC

By Epic Series, 01/30/17, 1:42PM HST

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Bärti Bucher, SWISS-EPIC fan right from the beginning and founding father in the Swiss mountain bike community, will ride PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC already for the 4th time in 2017

Bärti Bucher, SWISS-EPIC fan right from the beginning and founding father in the Swiss mountain bike community, will ride PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC already for the 4th time in 2017. What is it that lets the full-blooded mountain biker participate year after year since the first event, or to be precise, even since the test ride in 2013? How does PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC differ from other stage races? And what are Bärti Bucher’s personal highlights? Read the answers to these questions in the interview.

 

 

PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC (PSE): Bärti, you’ve been at the start of the PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC three times already and you’ve signed up again in November for the 4th event. What motivates you to participate again and again?

Bärti Bucher (BB): I have been riding in races like the Transalp, Cape Epic, Cape Pioneer or Brazil Ride many times. But no race is more beautiful than PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC! The mountains, the trails, but also the host villages Zermatt, Leukerbad, Grächen or Verbier are simply unique.

PSE: How does PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC differ from other MTB stage races?
BB: The difference definitely is the difficulty of the trails. They are part of the natural landscape not built artificially. Therefore, the line can be chosen by myself and is not just given, which makes it much more exciting. The race is still small but fine. Or to put it differently: The entire event is like a delicacy among the countless bike races.

PSE: In your opinion, how has PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC developed since the first event in 2014?
BB: The organisers have kept their concept and basically don’t need to change anything. What has improved are the entire processes regarding logistics. Here it is noticeable that the entire crew has worked together for quite a while now. That makes a difference.

PSE: What have been your best experiences or highlights so far with PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC?
BB: The best moments are when I can ride a new trail on a route I haven’t known so far. That’s when my biker’s heart is leaping with joy!

PSE: To whom would you recommend the PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC?
BB: To every one having the technical skills and endurance to master the route. In addition, to all athletes who are simply fed up with always riding the same kind of races that are so boring that you could ride most of the route even without a suspension fork. PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC is a pearl among the bike races, but can also be seen simply as an event to enjoy. If you don’t particularly want to ride for a good ranking, just participate to have fun on the bike in the Valais for an entire week and get to know new routes and trails for upcoming adventures. I keep on returning to the Valais after the event to combine the trails with train, cable cars or buses.

PSE: What would you like to add on PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC?
BB: I would like to thank the entire organisation committee for the top organisation, above all trail scout Stefan Wolfisberg, who is riding for countless hours and days in the Valais, always looking for new trails and an even better route.

PSE: Bärti Bucher, thank you very much for this conversation! We’re looking forward to also having you at the start again in September 2017!