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.

Vera Looser

Vera Looser in action on the final stage of the 2025 SPAR Swiss Epic. Photo by Nick Muzik.

“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.

UCI Men's Start

The UCI Men race off the start line for the final time in the 2025 event. Photo by Michael Chiaretta.

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.”

Torpado Kenda FSA

Fabian Rabensteiner and Casey South rode a controlled stage. Photo by Nick Muzik.

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.

Scott Racing

Scott Racing 2 enjoyed a solid five days and finished with a fifth place overall to show for it. Photo by Sam Clark.

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.

CIOVITA

All the CIOVITA jersey winners. Photo by Marius Holler.

2025 SPAR Swiss Epic Results:

UCI Men | Stage 5:

  1. Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Samuele Porro (2:27:12)
  2. KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes: Nicolas & Lorenzo Samparisi (2:28:05 | +53)
  3. Torpado Kenda FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (2:28:10 | +58)
  4. Metallurgica Veneta: Nicola Taffarel & Diego Arias (2:28:26 | +1:14)
  5. Scott Racing 2: Andrin Beeli & Davide Foccoli (2:28:44 | +1:32)

UCI Women | Stage 5:

  1. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM: Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda (3:07:35)
  2. Torpado Kenda FSA: Katazina Sosna Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:08:14 | +39)
  3. Buff Megamo: Rosa van Doorn & Janina Wüst (3:09:56 | +2:21)
  4. Bulls Swiss: Alessia Nay & Kim Ames (3:20:19 | +12:44)
  5. Cannondale ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (3:20:52 | +13:17)

UCI Men’s General Classification Standings after Stage 5:

  1. Torpado Kenda FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (12:44:20)
  2. Klimatiza Orbea: Marc Stutzmann & Samuele Porro (12:49:41 | +5:21)
  3. KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes: Nicolas & Lorenzo Samparisi (12:51:25| +7:05)
  4. Metallurgica Veneta: Nicola Taffarel & Diego Arias (12:53:30 | +9:10)
  5. Scott Racing 2: Andrin Beeli & Davide Foccoli (12:57:29 | +13:09)

UCI Women’s General Classification Standings after Stage 5:

  1. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM: Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda (15:49:27)
  2. Buff Megamo: Rosa Van Doorn & Janina Wüst (16:03:09 | +13:42)
  3. Bulls Swiss: Alessia Nay & Kim Ames (16:26:09 | +36:42)
  4. Torpado Kenda FSA: Katazina Sosna Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (17:07:45 | +1:18:18)
  5. 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.

Alexis Skarda

Photo by Marius Holler.