Maltese mountain bikers Stephen Grima and Patrick Scicluna have secured a top 10 finish at the Swiss Epic, placing 10th from a field of 61 teams in the Grand Masters category.
Racing as Team Gaudos, the pair completed five demanding stages through the Swiss Alps, facing relentless climbs, technical descents and challenging weather conditions.
Five tough stages in the Swiss Alps
The Swiss Epic presented a particularly demanding test for the Maltese riders, especially given the limited opportunities for high altitude training in Malta.
For Scicluna, it was his first Epic Series race, although he already had experience in multi-stage competition. He said he matched well with teammate Grima as they tackled the different challenges throughout the event.
“The trails and scenery were amazing, though the uphills were brutal, the descents tough, and the weather made conditions significantly harder,” Scicluna said.
He singled out the second stage, a 24 kilometre time trial over gravel and forest roots, as his toughest. The fourth stage proved more suited to him, covering 55 kilometres and 2,350 metres of climbing.
Grima continues ambitious 2026 campaign
The result marks another milestone in a packed year for Grima, who is now two thirds of the way through an ambitious 25 race programme for 2026.
His season has already taken him to the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa, 4 Islands, the Andorra Epic Pyrenees and now the Swiss Epic.
Grima’s programme for the year is set to total around 1,800 kilometres and 45,000 metres of climbing across 25 stages, working with five different teammates along the way.
His next challenge is scheduled to take him back to South Africa for the Wines2Whales race in Overberg between 6 and 15 November.
