17 Ago Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team at Swiss Epic
The Italian-Colombian duo, Taffarel and Arias, finished just shy of the podium after five days of battle in the Swiss Alps. Five stages, a fatal breakdown, and a final, lion-like attack: the team confirmed its position among the top international teams with a solid and combative performance.
Five days, 340 km of asphalt and dirt roads, 12,000 meters of elevation gain, scorched under the August sun. The 2025 Swiss Epic concluded with a prestigious fourth-place finish for Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team.
The cuple of Nicola Taffarel and Diego Arias, doggedly chasing fourth place from the first pedal stroke to the last, demonstrated consistency and determination in a top-level competition against world-class teams in the Engadine mountains.
Stage 1 – Davos-La Punt: A Protagonist Debut
Amid the larch forests and pastures of Davos, Taffarel and Arias immediately held their own against the big names. A fourth-place finish, just one second shy of the podium, sent a clear message: Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team is no mere extra in this competition.
Stage 2 – La Punt: A Podium Escape
61 kilometers and 1,950 meters of elevation gain in the thin air of the high mountains. Taffarel and Arias confirmed their performance: fourth again, but this time the podium vanished in the final, decisive meters.
Stage 3 – Bernina Pass – La Punt: The Mechanical Curse
The 55-kilometer time trial turned into the most bitter day. After posting the best times at the first intermediate point, a technical problem hindered Taffarel for three interminable minutes, jeopardizing his podium hopes.
Stage 4 – La Punt – Davos: A Reaction of Pride
After a tough day, the fightback arrives. The two Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team riders regain ground and confidence. They still finish fourth, but with the pride of a comeback. “We’re not here to settle,” they promised, and they kept their word.
Stage 5 – Davos, the final assault
“Today we attack!” was the mantra at the start. On the decisive day, Taffarel-Arias launched an attack to close the gap on their rivals, taking the lead alone at halfway, 50 seconds ahead of the group of the three top teams. However, they were caught with 10 kilometers to go, finishing fourth for the fourth time, having missed out on the podium once again.