BMC Switzerland, maker of well-respected bikes in the pro road peloton, partners with the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic (TSEpic) mountain bike stage race. TSEpic is the fastest growing mountain bike stage race in North America.  With a strong partnership between BMC Switzerland and TSEpic, the 2013 race is assured to be the best, yet.          

According to Karim Pine, GM of BMC Switzerland in the USA, "The TSEpic is a great partner for BMC because it represents the same kind of innovative, out-of-the-box thinking that drives BMC product development."  Matt Heitmann, BMC Switzerland's USA Director of Marketing, chimes in, "Like BMC, the TSEpic is breaking new ground and its directors, Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams, bring the same kind of passion and quality to events that BMC brings to its mountain bikes. On many levels, from social media to community building, the TSEpic is a forward-thinking event, and such a great platform for BMC to demonstrate its mountain bike excellence."    
BMC Switzerland’s reputation for being one of the most technologically advanced brands in the world comes from their road bike designs.  Even though the company was originally founded to build mountain bikes and didn’t even have road bikes in their line-up just over a decade ago.

BMC now returns to the dirt by building mountain designs that use the same laser focus that led to road success.  Not only will a partnership with TSEpic be visible through BMC’s position as the official bike of the race and under the riders of the newly expanded TSEpic Team, but also through initiatives that will benefit participants of the TSEpic and for mountain bike trails and mountain bikers in the event’s home state.   

Located near State College, Pennsylvania, the TSEpic has garnered widespread acclaim and gains rapid popularity due to camaraderie and the world-class Pennsylvania trails.  The race is one of few events where riders of all stripes rub shoulders for seven straight days with some of the best mountain bike racers on the continent. With the burgeoning reputation and a place at the top of mountain bike enthusiasts’ bucket lists across North America, the TSEpic, along with the associated TSEpic Team, match perfectly with BMC Switzerland’s objectives to expand reach in the mountain biking world.        

“We’re very excited and honored to have BMC choose to partner with us,” says TSEpic’s co-promoter, Mike Kuhn.  “The opportunity to work with BMC, such an incredibly well respected company and an undisputed leader in the industry, is a dream come true.  BMC’s recognition of and willingness to do much more than just sponsor Trans-Sylvania, but to become a true partner in our efforts to add more for our participants and to grow the efforts of our Outdoor Experience Organization, is very invigorating.  Plus, the opportunity to have the team aboard the 29er teamelite and fourstrokes and the enduro focused trailfox is...well, somebody pinch me and make sure I’m awake!”  

Over the last several months, BMC has signed world-class riders to their mountain bike squad to represent the red and black from Switzerland at the highest levels of the sport in 2013.  Athletes include multiple World Cup Overall Champion and 2-time Olympic Champion, Julien Absalon (FRA); Lukas Flückiger (SUI); Ralph Näf (SUI); and the USA’s own, Stephen Ettinger.  

The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic will take place May 26 - June 1, 2013 and includes categories for Solo, Duo, Experience and Epic Team participants.  For more information, please visit TSEpic.com.  To view highlights and participants’ reflections on the 2012 TSEpic experience, see: TSEpic - Summer Camp for Mountain Bikers.  

More information regarding BMC bikes and the official bikes of the TSEpic can be found at BMC-Racing.com.