PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC 2018 - Finale - Best of Stage 5
Matthias Stirnemann and Andri Friscknecht win PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC 2018
It was do or die on the descent. With Team USA Red up ahead, Scott-SRAM and Team BiXS set off after them, chasing a second stage win. Looser and Stauffer had more at stake – second overall was under threat with the charging Swenson and Blevins. “We went all-in to save second on GC – if we had a flat we would get third anyway, but if we did not go all-in, we would also get third,” said Looser, current Swiss marathon champion. Despite the determined efforts of Scott-SRAM and Team BiXS, Swenson and Blevins held on to their slender lead on the descent, taking the last right hand bend in style. A minute and a half back, Matthias Stirnemann and Andri Frischknecht arrived in the race village, knowing they’d done enough to win the overall title.
Smith Pendrel claim victory in women’s race
Catharine Pendrel and Haley Smith crossed the line over 6 minutes ahead of Terpstra and Benko. Team BikeFreak-Magazine – Merida-Scott’s Alice Pirard and Cornelia Hug managed to score their first podium of the week. Kathrin Stirnemann and Alessandra Keller secured third place in the overall rankings.
Results Stage 5
Men
1. Christopher Blevins / Keegan Swenson (USA – Team USA Red) – 2:47.44,6
2. Matthias Stirnemann / Andri Frischknecht (SUI – Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) +1.31,8
3. Hansueli Stauffer / Konny Looser (SUI – BiXS Pro Team) +2.33,9
Women
1. Haley Smith / Catharine Pendrel (CAN – Team Canada) – 3:33.48,6
2. Barbara Benko / Anne Terpstra (HUN / NED – GHOST FACTORY RACING) +6.05,8
3. Alice Pirard / Cornelia Hug (BEL / SUI – BikeFreak-Magazine – Merida-Scott) +10.40,6
Over-all classification
Men
1. Matthias Stirnemann / Andri Frischknecht (SUI – Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) 16:56.25,8
2. Hansueli Stauffer / Konny Looser (SUI – BiXS Pro Team) +16.09,2
3. Christopher Blevins / Keegan Swenson (USA – Team USA Red) +18.47,4
Women
1. Haley Smith / Catharine Pendrel (CAN – Team Canada) 21:03.47,8
2. Barbara Benko / Anne Terpstra (HUN / NED – GHOST FACTORY RACING) +42.48,7
3. Kathrin Stirnemann / Alessandra Keller (SUI – Thömus / RN Racing Team) +45.19,7
