Hynek (CZE) & Stosek (CZE) claim first stage win - Langvad (DEN) & Batten (USA) extend overall lead after Stage 2

Stage 2 of the 2020 Swiss Epic was backloaded with climbing. Today’s route featured 2.600 metres of elevation gain, in the 75 kilometres which separate Laax from Arosa. The day’s beauty offset that challenge, however, as the teams raced along the edge of the Rhine Gorge, Switzerland’s answer to the Grand Canyon. Thereafter the Domleschg Valley and the climb of the Schanfigg valley to Tschiertschen continued to provide breath-taking views. A fast and exciting descent allowed for a white-knuckle run in to Arosa, from the highest point of the stage; Rot Tritt, a 2.007-metre peak just 5 kilometres from the finish.
Annika Langvad (DEN) and Haley Batten (USA) made it two from two on the stage 2 and extended their overall lead! Future Cycling Northwave’s Kristian Hynek (CZE) and Martin Stošek (CZE) claimed their first stage win while Nino Schurter (SUI) and Lars Forster (SUI) kept the lead in the general classification.

The Swiss Epic is a demanding 5-day stage race with a truly challenging new route each year. This year the route features 320 kilometres of racing, including 12.250 metres of climbing. It’s a unique test of endurance, resolve and skill with the staggering beauty of the snow-capped skyline set as the perfect backdrop to the physical and mental demands of mountain biking. Two-person teams of top professionals - among them the world’s best mountain bikers like Nino Schurter (SUI), Lars Forster (SUI), Karl Platt (GER), Annika Langvad (DEN), Alice Pirard (BEL) and Ariane Lüthi (SUI) - and ambitious amateurs alike, face the seemingly endless trails in Laax, Arosa and Davos!

RESULTS // UCI Women // Stage 2
1. Specialized - Racing 50-1 Annika LANGVAD (DEN) // 50-2 Haley BATTEN (USA) - 4:11:17 -
2. Centurion-Vaude Radon 53-1 Stefanie DOHRN (GER) // 53-2 Elisabeth BRANDAU (GER) - 4:13:38 +2:21
3. Maloja Pushbikers MTB 56-1 Linda INDERGAND (SUI) // 56-2 Karla STEPANOVA (CZE) - 4:19:24 +8:07

RESULTS // UCI Men // Stage 2
1. Future Cycling Northwave 9-1 Kristian HYNEK (CZE) // 9-2 Martin STOŠEK (CZE) - 3:17:03 -
2. SCOTT-SRAM 1-1 Nino SCHURTER (SUI) // 1-2 Lars FORSTER (SUI) - 3:17:39 +36
3. Centurion Vaude 7-1 Daniel GEISMAYR (AUT) // 7-2 Ben ZWIEHOFF (GER) - 3:17:47 +44

General Classification // UCI Women // Stage 2
1. Specialized - Racing l 50-1 Annika LANGVAD (DEN) // 50-2 Haley BATTEN (USA) - 8:00:14 -
2. Centurion-Vaude Radon 53-1 Stefanie DOHRN (GER) // 53-2 Elisabeth BRANDAU (GER) - 8:15:37 +15:23
3. Andermatt Spur 52-1 Ariane LÜTHI (SUI) // 52-2 Alice PIRARD (BEL) - 8:18:55 +18:41

General Classification // UCI Men // Stage 2
1. SCOTT-SRAM 1-1 Nino SCHURTER (SUI) // 1-2 Lars FORSTER (SUI) - 6:18:48 -
2. Centurion Vaude 7-1 Daniel GEISMAYR (AUT) // 7-2 Ben ZWIEHOFF (GER) - 6:20:21 +1:33
3. Trek-Pirelli 1 2-1 Fabian RABENSTEINER (ITA) // 2-2 Samuele PORRO (ITA) - 6:24:20 +5:32