The dramatic new route of the eleventh edition of the Absa Cape Epic, which takes place from 23 to 30 March next year (2014), will offer participants from around the world an awesome trail that showcases the best that the Western Cape has to offer. Both local and international mountain biking enthusiasts will be taking on the demanding eight day mountain bike adventure of 718km with 14 850m of climbing.
The route will lead 1 200 cyclists through vast distances of virgin territory, previously untouched by the race. With its challenging and exhilarating landscapes, the stage locations of Robertson, Greyton and Oak Valley Wine Estate await riders before they finish at the Lourensford Wine Estate as has been tradition since 2007.
Prologue
Meerendal Wine Estate (23km with 700m of climbing)
Riders pass through a farm during the Prologue of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic
Photo by Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The 2014 race will start at Meerendal Wine Estate, on the doorstep of Cape Town. Riders will tackle the purpose built network of trails through protected Renosterveld bush. With some surprising new twists there are always the dependable views of Cape Town, Robben Island and Table Mountain to keep the spirits high to finish strong.
Stage 1
Robertson to Robertson (108km with 2 450m of climbing)
Stage 1, referred to as one of the hardest of the race begins at Arabella Wines, just outside the town of Robertson. The stage will begin with a fast section through vineyards, followed by climbing and is certain to test riders’ endurance.
Stage 2
Robertson to Robertson (101km with 1 550m of climbing)
This stage will explore the opposite side of the Robertson Wine Valley with some breathtaking riding through the Klein Karoo and northern Riviersonderend Mountains. Once again, the day will start off fast before heading into flowing singletrack before water point 1. This mix of terrain will continue until riders hit Main Road in the charming town of McGregor, where the warm hospitality of the Langeberg Region is sure to lift the spirits. The route will then head deep into the unspoiled expanses of this rugged and striking landscape of sandstone and underlying shale formations. “Neil’s Folly” is bound to give riders’ legs a beating before returning to the lush Breede River Valley. A short, but steep climb will follow, before rolling into the finish, and the last night at Arabella Wines.
Riders make their way through the Breede Rivier Vallei during stage 2 of the 2012 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Robertson Primary School in Robertson, South Africa on the 27 March 2012
Photo by Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Stage 3
Robertson to Greyton (134km with 1 800m of climbing)
With 134km from start to finish, this will be the longest day of the 2014 race, transitioning from the red dust of the Klein Karoo of Robertson to the lush farmlands of Greyton. This year sees a brand new race village at The Oaks Estate, just outside Greyton.
Stage 4
Greyton to Greyton (88km with 1 850m of climbing)
During Stage 4 riders will tackle some rolling hills and district roads while the trails of The Cape Country Meander will offer some twisting and rocky singletrack. The route sees a mix of superb singletrack sections, descending and climbing as well as visiting the historical highlight of the day, the mission town of Genadendal.
Stage 5
Greyton to Elgin (110km with 2 900m climbing)
The lead bunch heads towards Oak Valley on Stage 5. Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Known as the Queen Stage, the most amount of climbing will happen on Stage 5. Riders will endure the UFO climb as well as several more short, sharp hills, and near the end, a rugged false flat grind, flanking the majestic and well-known Groenlandberg, before riders will drop down to the familiar race village at Oak Valley Wine Estate.
Karl Platt, also a four-times winner of the Absa Cape Epic, reckons every year is hard. “We’re returning to familiar terrain from past years. Because mountain biking has changed in South Africa, I’m really looking forward to seeing the new style of self-made trails in and around these towns. They are really famous for awesome and breathtaking mountain biking.” With regards to the stages, he reckons they will all be difficult. “The long distance stages are especially difficult to amateurs. One of the key stages will be the stage to Oak Valley with the monster of Groenlandberg. I can remember that terrain very well, maybe because of all the impressions from past years and the pain. Not to sound arrogant, we’ll target every stage for a win. It’s more about the GC (General Classification) than the wins though.” He jokingly adds that there are no easy stages during the Absa Cape Epic. “I promise.”
Karl Platt and Urs Huber of Team Bulls chase the leaders during stage 3 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic
Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
For four-times Absa Cape Epic winner Christoph Sauser, says the new route will suit him, as he is a good all-rounder. “This will be my tenth Absa Cape Epic. I look forward to Robertson as I have good memories from last year. I have less fond memories of Greyton as we lost an Absa Cape Epic due to Burry‘s famous crash there, where we broke the front wheel. I personally was hoping we go back to Wellington and especially Stellenbosch, as it’s my second home! Stage 5 will be very difficult as we’ll be tired and we have the UFO and Groenlandberg to climb, which are never easy after 5 days of racing already. We’re targeting an overall win, so every stage has the same importance. We always decide what to do in a situation and don’t follow a master plan.”
Stage 6
Elgin to Elgin (85km with 1 800m of climbing)
Stage 6 will be the stage of rewards. With hundreds of kilometers banked, riders will enjoy a sampling of the great singletrack still to come. They will be richly rewarded as they rail the manicured singletrack of Lebanon, Thandi, Paul Cluver and Oak Valley Wine Estate.
Stage 7 – Final stage
Elgin to Lourensford Wine Estate (69km with 1 800m of climbing)
The finish venue at Lourensford Wine Estate. Photo: Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The final stage of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic will draw to a close at Lourensford Wine Estate. The first team to the hotspot will earn R10 000 and as for the rest, they will get to enjoy the many vistas of the day, including False Bay and Cape Town where their journey began eight days ago. Some flowing singletrack will offer a final reward, before being reunited with loved ones at Lourensford Wine Estate.
Says Kevin Vermaak, founder and director of the Absa Cape Epic: “We aim to offer participants from around the world an awesome experience that showcases the best that our beautiful country has to offer. We want different routes, with suitable technical and challenging riding, that take the riders to new towns whilst at the same time giving the riders the most beautiful and remote scenery, and with wild animals to boot. Without the incredible support of Cape Nature Conservation, this would not be possible as they give us access to their reserves.
“The Absa Cape Epic is an iconic endurance event. Finishing the Absa Cape Epic is and will always be an enormous physical and mental challenge, and riders will need as much dedicated training and preparation to earn the title ‘Absa Cape Epic Finisher’,” Vermaak concludes.