The Queen Stage of the 2025 Andorra Epic played to the climbing strengths of Marc Stutzmann and Sebastian Gesche. Having started Saturday, 5 July, with a 14 second advantage over their nearest rivals, the Klimatiza Orbea team added another 59 seconds to their general classification buffer over Buff Megamo. In the UCI Women’s race, Buff Megamo continued their dominance from Stage 2, adding a further 11 minutes to their lead.
Rosa van Doorn and Janina Wüst won their second stage in a row to extend their general classification lead to nearly 14 minutes. Photo by Gabri Amoros/Andorra Epic.
Klimatiza Orbea and the Buff Megamo women extended their general classification leads with stellar rides on Stage 3 of the 2025 Andorra Epic. Rosa van Doorn and Janina Wüst dominated the 63-kilometre-long Queen Stage and now lead Efficient Safari Essence by nearly 14 minutes. While in the UCI Men’s race, Marc Stutzmann and Sebastian Gesche proved themselves the strongest climbers in the race, opening a 1:45 advantage during the stage before Jose Dias and Pablo Rodriguez Guede fought back to limit their losses to 59 seconds on the day.
The Queen Stage included 2 390 meters of climbing, taking in the highest point of the 2025 race. The teams will be transported to Canillo, to the east of La Massana, for a start at 1 500 meters above sea level. The first 32 kilometres of the day were relentlessly uphill past El Tarter, Vall d’Incies, Soldeu, and Cubil Lake to Tossa de Llosada. It was here that Klimatiza Orbea gained their stage-winning advantage. After cresting the climb, the downhill on the Mont Magic singletrack, back through Canillio, and on the long grind over Coll de l’Estall, the men in yellow held the gap to the chasers. The final descent through the Pal/Arinsal Bike Park provided both Singer KTM Racing and Buff Megamo with the opportunity to gain back time, though.
Klimatiza Orbea proved themselves the strongest climbers in the race. Photo by Gabri Amoros/Andorra Epic.
“Today’s stage was really tough,” Stutzmann confessed. “We expected it to be tough, and it certainly wasn’t easy for us. But it wasn’t easy for our rivals either. We were able to keep opening the gap through the stage, especially on the climbs. Then on the last descent, they were able to catch us a bit, but we were focusing on descending safely and not taking any risks.”
Singer KTM Racing was the team to gain the most on Stutzmann and Gesche on the Beixalis Flow T-Section descent. Simon Stiebjahn and Martin Frey closed to within 8 seconds of the race leaders by the La Massana finish line. Dias and Rodriguez Guede crossed the line 51 seconds later in third, on the day.
Buff Megamo limited their time lose to just 59 seconds. Photo by Oriol Batista/Andorra Epic.
“We feel good after today, and we are expecting good things again for tomorrow. So, we are very happy with how the Andorra Epic has played out thus far,” Stutzmann concluded.
Klimatiza Orbea’s general classification advantage is 1 minute and 13 seconds over Buff Megamo going into the final stage. Singer KTM Race are third, at 2:45. TRINITY Racing’s Daniel English and Birk Ronnestad hold fourth, but are just 40 seconds ahead of Riccardo Chiarini and Peeter Pruus in fifth.
The Buff Megamo women dominated the Queen Stage. Photo by Gabri Amoros/Andorra Epic.
In the UCI Women’s race, the Buff Megamo women doubled up from their Stage 2 dominance with a powerful performance on Stage 3. Having bested Efficient Safari Essence by over 6 minutes on the previous day, they utilized the high-altitude trails to add another 11 minutes and 7 seconds to their general classification lead. Van Doorn and Wüst now hold a commanding 13 minutes and 54 seconds advantage over Vera Looser and Danielle du Toit.
“The stage was amazing today,” Wüst praised. “The downhills were really nice, we were smiling all the way down. I particularly enjoyed the downhill because the altitude hit me quite hard on the climbs. Having raced the Andorra Epic two years ago, I knew what to expect today, so we paced ourselves well.”
Vera Looser and Danielle du Toit were second on Stage 3. Photo by Carles Iturbe/Andorra Epic.
“We have a good lead going into the final stage, but in mountain biking, nothing is safe until you cross the finish line. Tomorrow is another day and we’ll have to concentrate all stage before we can celebrate anything,” the Swiss rider cautioned.
“The altitude catches you every time,” Du Toit noted. “It doesn’t get any easier, and today was a really long and hard day. But that said, while you’re suffering, if you take a moment to look around you, it’s absolutely stunning. From the massive mountains towering over you to the delicate little flowers next to the trails… It’s very special.”
Stage 3 started in Canillio. Photo by Carles Iturbe/Andorra Epic.
While the general classification victory is likely beyond the reach of the Efficient Safari Essence team, they are motivated to try for a stage win on Sunday. “I think tomorrow’s stage will suit us,” Looser speculated. “The singletracks are technical, and there’s more descending than climbing again. So, we’ll give it our best shot.”
Going into the final stage, the UCI Women’s overall standings look unlikely to change. Behind the women in first and second, the 1VISION team of Antonia Daubermann and Naama Noyman is in third place. Fortress Real Estate Investment and Scott BTB Sport hold fourth and fifth.
The Andorra Epic concludes with a 52-kilometre final stage on Sunday, 6 July. Starting in the Naturland Adventure Park the course climbs from the off past Bosc de la Rabassa to the Refugi Roca de Pimes, at 2 140 meters above sea level. From the highest point of the day 20 kilometres of descending await, including the last T-Section of the race on the Comabella trail. At the bottom of the singletrack the route begins a 12 kilometre climb along the La Valira valley past Sant Julia de Loria and the capital of the Principality Andorra la Vella. This gradual ascent could prove decisive in the UCI Men’s race, if Buff Megamo get away from Klimatiza Orbea on the Comabella descent.
To follow the final stage action as it unfolds, like the Andorra Epic Facebook page or follow @andorra_epic on Instagram. Daily highlights from the race can be viewed on the Epic Series YouTube Channel. To find out more, visit www.epic-series.com/andorra.
The UCI Women’s podium on Stage 3 of the 2025 Andorra Epic. Photo by Toni Grases/Andorra Epic.
2025 Andorra Epic Results:
UCI Men Stage 3:
- Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Sebastian Gesche (2:57:45)
- Singer KTM Racing: Simon Stiebjahn & Martin Frey (2:57:53 | +8)
- Buff Megamo 2: Jose Dias & Pablo Rodriguez Guede (2:58:44 | +59)
- Cannondale ISB Sport : Riccardo Chiarini & Peeter Pruus (3:02:57 | +5:12)
- Cyclis – Van den Plas: Robin Ferket & Wout Janssen (3:03:27 | +5:42)
UCI Women Stage 3:
- Buff Megamo : Rosa van Doorn & Janina Wüst (3:46:34)
- Efficient Safari Essences: Vera Looser & Danielle du Toit (3:57:41 | +11:07)
- 1VISION: Antonia Daubermann & Naama Noyman (4:01:27 | +14:53)
- Fortress Real Estate Investment: Ila Stow & Laura Stark (4:20:02 | +33:31)
- Scott BTB Sport: Cristina Morán Roza & Noemi Moreno Castañeda (4:31:12 | +44:38)
The UCI Men’s Stage 3 podium. Photo by Toni Grases/Andorra Epic.
UCI Men’s General Classification after Stage 3:
- Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Sebastian Gesche (7:02:34)
- Buff Megamo 2: Jose Dias & Pablo Rodriguez Guede (7:03:47 | +1:13)
- Singer KTM Racing: Simon Stiebjahn & Martin Frey (7:05:19 | +2:45)
- TRINITY Racing: Daniel English & Birk Ronnestad (7:13:13| +10:39)
- Cannondale ISB Sport: Riccardo Chiarini & Peeter Pruus (7:13:53 | +11:19)
UCI Women’s General Classification after Stage 3:
- Buff Megamo : Rosa van Doorn & Janina Wüst (9:02:48)
- Efficient Safari Essences: Vera Looser & Danielle du Toit (9:16:42 | +13:54)
- 1VISION: Antonia Daubermann & Naama Noyman (9:31:55| +29:07)
- Fortress Real Estate Investment: Ila Stow & Laura Stark (10:01:14 | +58:26)
- Scott BTB Sport: Cristina Morán Roza & Noemi Moreno Castañeda (10:17:47 | +1:14:59)
For the full results from the 2025 Andorra Epic, click here.
