Konny Looser and Oliver Zurbrügg overcame the odds to win the first stage of the Swiss Epic, which took place between Grächen to Leukerbad today.
The BiXS team completed the 92km stage in 4:31:50, despite battling a flat tyre. The pair are now the favourites after yesterday’s winning team are out of the running as Andri Frischknecht withdrew with a hand injury. Christoph Soukup and Michael Stünzi finished second, despite their own technical troubles. Daniel Geismayr and Jocken Käss finsihed third, with Käss battling stomach troubles.
A dominant win by Esther Süss and Jennie Stenerhag placed them first overall as Ariane Lüthi and Alice Pirard finished 15 minutes behind. Lisette Rosenbeck and Maj Schneider Thomsen were third.
Konny Looser and Oliver Zurbrügg won the first stage of the Swiss Epic. Photo: facebook.com/SwissEpic/photos/
Stage one results
Men
1. Konny Looser, Oliver Zurbrügg (BiXS Pro Team) 4:31:50
2. Christoph Soukup, Michael Stünzi (Team Texpa-Simplon) 4:36:36
3. Daniel Geismayr, Jocken Käss (Centurion Vaude) 4:37:35
4. Dario Thoma, Casey South (Suso Bike Trek/jb BRUNEX Felt Team) 4:39:14
5. Nick Baumann, Tobias Neuhaus (Fischer Head Team) 4:43:06
Women
1. Esther Süss, Jennie Stenerhag (Team Meerendal CBC) 5:26:00
2. Ariane Lüthi, Alice Pirard (Spur – Wallonie) 5:41:09
3. Lisette Rosenbeck, Maj Schneider Thomsen (DMK Trek n’ AMK BikeZone) 5:49:21
4. Cornelia Hug, Florence Darbellay (Scott Womens – R’adys) 5:54:14
5. Tamara Burkhardt, Franziska Krebs (In Bocca al Lupo) 6:10:58
Mixed
1. Paul Bühler, Sabina Compassi (Dani Schinder Meerendal) 6:28:59
2. Bendicht Küpfer, Viviane Spielmann (CrazyVeloShop SCOTT / TG-Hütten) 6:38:27
3. Sam Humphrey, Dani Humphrey (The Specialists) 7:31:17
4. Jose Peña, Emma Anderson (The Wheels) 7:34:39
5. Vital Vranken, Inge Asselman (Invident Malmedy Team) 7:35:38
General classification
Men
1. Konny Looser, Oliver Zurbrügg (BiXS Pro Team) 5:27:01
2. Daniel Geismayr, Jocken Käss (Centurion Vaude) 5:29:55
3. Christoph Soukup, Michael Stünzi (Team Texpa-Simplon) 5:30:43
4. Nick Baumann, Tobias Neuhaus (Fischer Head Team) 5:38:20
5. Léo L’Homme, Arnaud Hertling (Team VTT BMC Fribourg) 5:41:19
Women
1. Esther Süss, Jennie Stenerhag (Team Meerendal CBC) 6:33:33
2. riane Lüthi, Alice Pirard (Spur – Wallonie) 6:46:47
3. Cornelia Hug, Florence Darbellay (Scott Womens – R’adys) 7:03:20
4. Lisette Rosenbeck, Maj Schneider Thomsen (DMK Trek n’ AMK BikeZone) 7:09:37
5. Tamara Burkhardt, Franziska Krebs (In Bocca al Lupo) 7:25:44
Mixed
1. Paul Bühler, Sabina Compassi (Dani Schinder Meerendal) 7:46:45
2. Bendicht Küpfer, Viviane Spielmann (CrazyVeloShop SCOTT / TG-Hütten) 7:51:03
3. Sam Humphrey, Dani Humphrey (The Specialists) 8:54:21
4. Jose Peña, Emma Anderson (The Wheels) 9:01:06
5. Vital Vranken, Inge Asselman (Invident Malmedy Team) 9:06:59
