The World’s premier mountain bike stage race the ABSA Cape Epic today announced the teams that are expected to battle it out for victory when the 2015 race kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15.
As always, the event has drawn the best-of-the-best across mens, womens and masters racing categories. Returning champions make up the favourites across the categories, with last year’s womens winners Ariane Kleinhans and Anika Langvad (Team RECM Specialized) to lead a very strong field.
Carrying the favourites tag in the mens race will be Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy, who combined for victory at the event in 2013.
The Contenders
To be fair though, assigning the “favourites” tag for this year’s race is a mugs game, with classy fields across all categories.
Kleinhans and Langvad will be challenged by Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå’s debut at the race. Remarkably, the Norwegian, who has won just about everything there is to win in mountain biking, has yet to turn a pedal at the South African race. That will changes when she pairs with Switzerland’s Kathrin Stirnemann.
One of the strongest combinations will be Sally Bigham and Blaža Klemenčič in Team Sellaronda/Topeak-Ergon. Bigham has won the Absa Cape Epic twice, while marathon specialist Klemenčič represented the Slovenia at the past two Olympics.
Sauser and Kulhavy deserve their place in the favourites list, but will face a tough week if they’re to repeat their 2013 win.
Like Sauser, Karl Platt is a 4-time winner of the Cape Epic. He’ll race alongside Swiss strongman Urs Huber in Team Bulls again this year. The duo were in sparkling form throughout in the 2014 race until Platt crashed, injuring his knee, forcing his withdraw. Both Platt and Sauser will carry extra motivation as they battle to become the first rider to win five times.
Topeak Ergon’s Kristian Hynek and Alban Lakata form another strong pairing. Hynek won in 2014 with German Robert Mennen. However, his pairing with the powerful Austrian Lakata is likely to see the two in the hunt for stage wins.
Another pair of potential winners is the Meerendal Centurion-Vaude pairing of Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess. They were leading the race in 2014 when a mechanical ruled them out on Stage 2. Kaufmann and Kaess are regarded by their rivals as strong contenders for the race overall.
Returning again are the spirited Multivan Merida team of José Hermida and Rudi van Houts. The popular Spanish/Dutch duo are talented riders who haven’t had luck swing their way in previous years. Regardless of their performance on course, Hermida is expected to provide ample entertainment with his always hilarious post stage comments.
The 2015 ABSA Cape Epic Route
