SUPPORT TEAM
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CENTURION VAUDE
24
2019
CENTURION VAUDE 2
2019
280-2
280-2
DANIEL
GEISMAYR
JOCHEN
KÄSS
Age: 29
Epics completed: 5
Stage wins: 3 Age: 37
Epics completed: 6
Stage wins: 3
BEST RESULT
3rd (2017)
2018 XCM Austrian champion BEST RESULT
2nd (2011)
2017 Swiss Epic winner
TRISTAN
DE LANGE
VINZENT
DORN
Age: 21
Epics completed: 0 Age: 20
Epics completed: 0
BEST RESULT
2018 XCO Namibian
champion BEST RESULT
3rd 2018 XCO German
Championships
K
eeping it interesting, the 2019 edition is marked by the contrast of established team combos with some new
and surprising pairings. Centurion Vaude’s confi guration is somewhere in-between. Geismayr and Käss have
only ridden the Absa Cape Epic once together, despite being on the same trade team for seven years. Proving
their quality, they teamed up to win the 2017 Swiss Epic. Another change from previous years: they’re backed up by
two young newbies. The bookmakers may give those facts some weight when predicting a result. But as consummate
professionals, these two are at the top of their game and can be relied upon to deliver a high placing and possibly a
couple of stage wins to top it off . Ever consistent, Käss hasn’t shown much sign of coming off his physical peak, even
at 37. At 29, Daniel Geismayr is in his prime and will be looking to add more top results to his palmarès. Tactically,
they’ll know not to chase the XCO bandits blindly, and to keep their composure in the early part of the week when the
race ignites. They’ll aim to keep their powder dry, stay in contention and keep something left in the tank to pounce on
opportunities as the weekend approaches.
2019
280-2
NICOLA
ROHRBACH
KONNY
LOOSER
Age: 32
Epics completed: 3
Stage wins: 4 Age: 30
Epics completed: 5
Stage wins: 0
BEST RESULT
2nd (2016) BEST RESULT
11th (2012)
2017 XCM Swiss champion
50 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
L
ooking back to Looser’s debut in 2011, partnered
with Urs Huber, the youthful Swiss rode out of his
skin to match Huber’s pace all week – until a fateful
crash on Groenlandberg wrecked his frame and the team’s
4th place on GC. Since then he hasn’t been seen inside the
top 10 after Huber moved to the Bulls, never quite getting
the team formula right. Given his performance at the race,
and that he claimed the Swiss marathon title in 2017, there’s
no doubt he has the ability to perform far better than his
results stats show, given the right partner.
The right partner could well be fellow Swiss Nicola
Rohrbach. He’s proved there’s no shortage of fi repower
in his legs, with two podium places and a stage win in his
three-year history at the race. Rohrbach has also proved
that he doesn’t need to partner with Daniel Geismayr
to post a top result, getting second in 2016 riding with
Matthias Pfrommer. Both in their athletic prime, this dark
horse team will be closely followed by fans, their new
sponsors and, of course, their rivals.
“I’ve chosen Konny as my new Epic
partner because he is a good all-round
rider and I think we can both benefit
from each other” – Nicola
• SUPPLIED
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SILVERBACK SBC