Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM won a fourth stage of the SPAR Swiss Epic to wrap up their general
classification title in style, on the final day of the 2025 race. The UCI Men’s competition saw
Klimatiza Orbea secure a third stage victory, while Torpado Kenda FSA were able to soak up the
sensations of being crowned overall champions after five tough days of racing in the Swiss Alps.
Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda completed their SPAR Swiss Epic domination by adding a fourth
stage victory to their haul of wins from the 2025 race on Sunday, 17 August. The title is Looser’s
second in the event, adding to the 2023 crown she won alongside Kim le Court. Having finished
second at the Absa Cape Epic, 4Islands Epic, and Andorra Epic this year, the victory in
Graubünden is her first not only of the season in the Epic Series but also her first alongside
Skarda, in three starts dating back to the 2024 Absa Cape Epic.
In the UCI Men’s race, the final day around Davos presented the opportunity for Klimatiza Orbea
and Metallurgica Veneta to attack. Fabian Rabensteiner and Casey South had enough in reserve,
though, both on the time sheets and in their legs, to ensure that there was never any need to
stress. The overall race leaders crossed the final finish line in third on the day but comfortably
secured the yellow CIOVITA jerseys with a 5-minute and 22-second buffer to second.
Stage 5 was no free ride through Trails Paradise Davos. It included 2 000 metres of climbing in just
49 kilometres of racing. The first ascent of the day was the toughest, from the festivities on the
Kurpark lawns to the summit of the Panorama Trail. A technical descent followed, which allowed
those willing to take risks to seize the advantage. In the final 20 kilometres, the Wolfgang Climb
provided a last opportunity for stage hunters to attack before the Flüela Trail brought the twelfth
edition to a celebratory conclusion.
Having proven themselves the best climbers in the race,the Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM team rode
their tempo on the ascent to 2 321 metres above sea level. This earned Looser and Skarda a 63-
second lead over Torpado Kenda FSA by the summit. Over the remaining 39 kilometres, the
women in the orange CIOVITA jerseys had simply to keep it safe and control their tempo,
completing the task with classy maturity.
“It feels absolutely incredible,” Skarda allowed on the finish line. “Coming here, the travels were
rough [with a long flight from the United States of America and having luggage lost], so I didn’t
know what I’d be capable of. But to be here alongside Vera [Looser] and to be able to help her
break her run of second places… To win the SPAR Swiss Epic is incredible.”
“Finally! Let’s hope that this streak continues into next year,” Looser echoed.
The Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM team won four of the five stages, only missing out after taking a
wrong turn on Stage 2. “I’m happy that the race has shown that my form is good and going in the
right direction,” Looser stated, looking ahead to her next goal. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to pull off a
great race at the UCI Marathon World Championships in Valais in 3 weeks.”
Katazina Sosna Pinele and Giorgia Marchet were second behind the day’s winners, while Buff
Megamo finished third. Despite enduring a stage where they were below their level for the week,
Rosa van Doorn and Janina Wüst confirmed their second position on the general classification.
Alessia Nay and Kim Ames secured third overall with fourth on the stage for the Bulls Swiss team,
while Torpado Kenda FSA moved up to fourth on the final standings, bumping Cannondale ISB
Sport to fifth.
Like Looser and Skarda, in the UCI Men’s race, Klimatiza Orbea were the best climbers in their
category. Yet, unlike the women’s champions, misfortune early in the event cost Marc Stutzmann
and Samuele Porro dear. A cracked rear rim on Stage 1 lost them 7 minutes. Rabensteiner and
South may have benefitted five days earlier, but the Torpado Kenda FSA men had been faultless
throughout the stages that followed, too. They were able to hold Stutzmann and Porro when
needed and raced with the nous of experienced campaigners, never letting the weight of the
yellow jerseys affect their decision-making.
On the final stage, Stutzmann and Porro knew that it would not be possible to claw back over 6
minutes, so they settled for a more measured approach. “We started pacing on the first long
climb,” Porro explained. “We didn’t want to make a gap there, though, because the downhill was
dangerous with a lot of roots, stones, and mud.”
“Our goal today was to control the race,” Rabensteiner confirmed. Before explaining how the
stage unfolded: “On the first climb we had a good pace and Klimatiza [Orbea] attacked there, but
we were able to catch them on the top, on the flat before the descent. Then Metallurgica [Veneta]
attacked after the first feed zone and took more risks than us. The group brought them back [at
the 30-kilometre mark], then Klimatiza [Orbea] attacked again on the Wolfgang Climb. I said to
Casey that we didn’t have to chase them; we could stay relaxed and bring it home safely.”
That is exactly what the Torpado Kenda FSA team did. Crossing the line third, 58 seconds behind
the day’s victors, to secure gold at the 2025 SPAR Swiss Epic. Stutzmann and Porro had to be
content with second place overall and three stage wins. “I like the Epic Series; we’ve had good
results in the series this year,” Stutzmann praised. “Samuele [Porro] and I were fourth at the Absa
Cape Epic, the team was fourth at 4Islands [with Sebastian Gesche and Roberto Bou Martin],
then Seb [Sebastian Gesche] and I won at the Andorra Epic. We rode our best here at the SPAR
Swiss Epic. We were unlucky to lose 7 minutes on the first stage, but we reacted well and I’m
happy with the three stage wins.”
The champions had no reason for mixed feelings. “It was an amazing day!” Rabensteiner beamed.
“It was particularly good to have good weather again after yesterday, and we really enjoyed it out
on the trails today.”
“It’s my first Swiss Championship, and to race on home soil in the national champion’s jersey is
very special,” South added, looking resplendent in the red jersey with the white cross of his
homeland across his chest. Like many in the race, his focus now shifts to the Marathon World
Championships, which also take place in Switzerland. He and Rabensteiner will, however, make
time to enjoy the SPAR Swiss Epic victory. “We’ve got time for a small celebration now,” South
smiled.
Torpado Kenda FSA were joined on the final general classification podium by Klimatiza Orbea and
KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes. Nicolas and Lorenzo Samparisi had earlier helped to shut
down the attack of Nicola Taffarel and Diego Arias to keep the Metallurgica Veneta combination
in fourth overall. Scott Racing 2’s Andrin Beeli and Davide Foccoli completed the top five after a
quietly consistent week.
The conclusion of the SPAR Swiss Epic brings the Epic Series’ European season to an end. The
next stop on the calendar is FNB Wines2Whales in South Africa. It is a classic status event
consisting of three three-day races and kicks off with UCI and age-group women’s racing in the
Chardonnay race, on 31 October. The event will showcase some of the Western Cape region’s
best trails and offer a more relaxed race village vibe, following shorter and less intense stages.
To find out more, visit www.epic-series.com. In the meantime, mountain biking fans can relive the
highlights from the SPAR Swiss Epic on the Epic Series YouTube Channel, or share in the
excitement from Graubünden by liking the SPAR Swiss Epic Facebook page and following
@swiss_epic on Instagram.
2025 SPAR Swiss Epic Results:
UCI Men | Stage 5:
- Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Samuele Porro (2:27:12)
- KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes: Nicolas & Lorenzo Samparisi (2:28:05 | +53)
- Torpado Kenda FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (2:28:10 | +58)
- Metallurgica Veneta: Nicola Taffarel & Diego Arias (2:28:26 | +1:14)
- Scott Racing 2: Andrin Beeli & Davide Foccoli (2:28:44 | +1:32)
UCI Women | Stage 5: - Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM: Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda (3:07:35)
- Torpado Kenda FSA: Katazina Sosna Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:08:14 | +39)
- Buff Megamo: Rosa van Doorn & Janina Wüst (3:09:56 | +2:21)
- Bulls Swiss: Alessia Nay & Kim Ames (3:20:19 | +12:44)
- Cannondale ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (3:20:52 | +13:17)
UCI Men’s General Classification Standings after Stage 5: - Torpado Kenda FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (12:44:20)
- Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Samuele Porro (12:49:41 | +5:21)
- KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes: Nicolas & Lorenzo Samparisi (12:51:25| +7:05)
- Metallurgica Veneta: Nicola Taffarel & Diego Arias (12:53:30 | +9:10)
- Scott Racing 2: Andrin Beeli & Davide Foccoli (12:57:29 | +13:09)
UCI Women’s General Classification Standings after Stage 5: - Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM: Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda (15:49:27)
- Buff Megamo: Rosa Van Doorn & Janina Wüst (16:03:09 | +13:42)
- Bulls Swiss: Alessia Nay & Kim Ames (16:26:09 | +36:42)
- Torpado Kenda FSA: Katazina Sosna Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (17:07:45 | +1:18:18)
- Cannondale ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (17:12:30 | +1:23:03)
To view the full results from the 2025 SPAR Swiss Epic, click here.
