The 2020 Season is on its way!

SCOTT-SRAM is back at it with a revised racing schedule. The SCOTT supported Swiss Epic stage race in August will give us the race action we have been missing and indicate who is up for the challenge for a compressed World Cup season in September and World Champs in October.

Graubünden, Switzerland. The SCOTT-SRAM athletes and cross-country racing fans can finally look forward to a late-season start in 2020. From July onward, the race season will pick up speed with the sport gradually recovering from the Covid-19 outbreak and consequently adapted racing schedules. The Swiss Epic on home soil in Graubünden, Switzerland, the first international race of the season for the team, will be a true highlight ahead of a compressed 2020 season. How has time away from racing affect the riders’ training and preparation for the season? We can soon find out. With SCOTT Sports partnering with Swiss Epic for 4 years as the official bike partner, the 5-day stage-race further gains prestige and importance for SCOTT-SRAM. Followed by 4 scheduled World Cup races in September and October, the athletes are heading straight into a season final with World Championships in Leogang, Austria in mid-October.

The World Cycling Federation (UCI) has announced a revised schedule with racing planned from July onward. With four instead of six World Cup races and the World Championships, SCOTT SRAM looks forward to competing and the challenge of a compressed schedule from September onward. The Swiss Cup in Leukerbad (July 19) and Swiss National Championship in Gränichen (July 26) will mark the start for SCOTT-SRAM 2020 season for Nino Schurter, Lars Forster and Andri Frischknecht.

2020 Swiss Epic

The Swiss Epic (August 18-22) will be the first international competition and will undoubtedly be a great ramp up towards racing for the World Cup season. SCOTT-SRAM is going into it in full force with the roster that was ready to line up at the unfortunately canceled Cape Epic earlier this year. Led by 2019 Cape Epic Champions, Nino Schurter and Lars Forster, but further flanked by the Swiss Epic 2018 winners Andri Frischknecht and Matthias Stirnemann, SCOTT-SRAM will aim high and look to claim it’s place on the scoreboard as proven contenders in stage racing.

2019 Cape Epic Champions – Nino Schurter & Lars Forster

The one that knows the route of the Swiss Epic best is World Champion, Nino Schurter. Starting in Laax, heading to Arosa and finishing in Davos is all home turf for the Olympic Champion who lives in this region. Racing along with World Cup winner Lars Forster, the 2019 Cape Epic winners hope to prove their skills at home.

Schurter and Forster – 2019 Cape Epic Champions team up for Swiss Epic
Imagery: RainedUpon Media

“After everything the world has gone through this year so far, I’m grateful to still have a race schedule to look forward to. Defending my World Cup and World Champion title is a top priority, but starting the international season with the Swiss Epic really spices up the program. Racing on home-soil on some of my home trails is going to be really special for me. I am very excited to replace the missed Cape Epic with the Swiss Epic aside Lars Forster.”

N1NO Schurter
Olympic Champion & 8x World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

“I’m hungry for racing and happy to lineup up again soon. The Swiss Epic will be a great opportunity to test my form before heading into the World Cup season. Teaming up with Nino and racing on familiar terrain in my home country is something I very much look forward to.”

Lars Forster
2019 Cape Epic Champion
2019 World Cup Winner Snowshoe
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Andri Frischknecht & Matthias Stirnemann

After winning the 2018 Swiss Epic, Andri Frischknecht and Matthias Stirnemann will line up with some experience under their belts for racing in the alps. “Winning the 2018 Swiss Epic with Matthias Stirnemann was one of my career highlights. It’s going to be tough and beautiful at the same time,” says Andri. The amount of climbing and descending ahead, the Swiss Epic differs from Cape Epic profoundly as team tactics play less a big role. However, the two teams together will be a strong force taking every chance offered to support each other.

“Winning the 2018 Swiss Epic with Matthias Stirnemann was one of my career highlights. Due to the restructuring of the season, it allows us to compete again in this amazing event. It’s going to be tough and beautiful at the same time. Having my buddy Matthias on my side again will guarantee a great week of racing.”

Andri Frischknecht
2018 Swiss Epic Winner
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Swiss Epic Champions 2018 Frischknecht/Stirnemann
Photography: EGO Promotion

Kate Courtney

Based in California, United States, racing schedule for Kate looks a bit different prior to a reunion with the rest of the team for the world cup season. With a potential US National Championships in August on the horizon, but not fixed yet, defending her 2019 World Cup Champion title remains a top priority for the 2020 season. While Kate has maintained an optimistic mindset during the crisis, just like the rest of the team, she very much looks forward to getting back to racing!

Kate Courtney fully focussed on a tight racing schedule coming up in 2020
Imagery: Susie Theis

“They say distance makes the heart grow fonder – and I have to say after this extended break I have never been more excited to get back on the start line or to reunite with my team on the World Cup circuit! While this has of course been a difficult time in many ways, I have been able to use this time to work on my weaknesses and get in some huge blocks of training. In many ways, I will be coming into this condensed season very well prepared and motivated to make those few race opportunities count.”

Kate Courtney
2019 World Cup Champion
2018 World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

SCOTT Partners Up with Swiss Epic

From 2020 to 2023, SCOTT is pleased to be the race’s official bike partner. For future editions, SCOTT will provide products and rider support throughout the race. As a brand known for its engagement in mountain bike racing, SCOTT will contribute to the Swiss Epic’s exceptional rider experience. Having a long heritage in mountain bike racing, the brand has been a supporter of the Swiss Epic since the very first race back in 2014 and also sponsors the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa.

“Stage racing belongs without a doubt to the ultimate adventures that mountain biking has to offer. SCOTT has a strong heritage in racing, it’s in the DNA of our brand, that’s why we help support mountain bikers to pursue their ultimate dreams. With both the Swiss Epic and the Cape Epic, we proudly support some of the world’s most iconic MTB events,” says Jochen Haar, Head of Bike Marketing at SCOTT.