Snow Epic welcomes fatbikers to Swiss Alps

Fatbike riders from around the world have converged on Engelberg, Switzerland for the Snow Epic. Organized by the same group that present the ABSA Cape Epic in South Africa, the Swiss mountain weekend is meant to be a celebration of winter riding and fatbikes.

Five races take place over three days, in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Each race will be designed to showcase a unique aspect of the terrain and conditions in the area at the foot of Titlis mountain. The first race of the festival took place on a mix of groomed forest trails and icy tracks across open fields.

Even with the benefit of a fat bike on ice and snow, the pace of racing pushed some riders beyond their limits, crashing on treacherous sections of the course.

Swiss women finished 1-2 in the first race. Esther Süss – a two-time ABSA Cape Epic winner – won the women’s 30 km race in a total time of one hour, 16 minutes, 50.9 seconds. Second place went to Alba Wunderlin who finished just over two minutes back. American Amber Stull rounded out the podium.

Spaniard Tomi Misser handily won the men’s race in just over an hour. The battle for the rest of the podium was close, with Bart Brentjens of the Netherlands claiming second place, five seconds up on Norwegian Rune Hoydahl.

Two Canadians have travelled to Switzerland to race in the Snow Epic. Matt Lapointe of Thunder Bay, Ont., finished 37th in the first race, while Jean Francois Clermont of Laval, Que., crossed the line in 65th position.

According to Lapointe’s bio on the Snow Epic website, he first started fatbiking in 2012 and rides his fatbike year round on any surface. Lapointe decided to use the Snow Epic as a way to mark his 35th birthday.

The Snow Epic carries on through the weekend.