Here at MarathonMTB.com we have a number of ’emotional favourite’ marathon racers. Riders who race hard and fast all season, and have done since we founded the site in 2010. Karl Platt of Team Bulls is one of those riders. And while Platt may have broken his hip just a few months ago we hear he’s back to his best and is feeling confident ahead of this year’s Absa Cape Epic and what could be a record sixth win.
Karl Platt of Germany (Bulls) celebrating their overall win of this years race as they cross the finish line, during the final stage (stage 7) of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Boschendal in Stellenbosch to Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, South Africa on the 20th March 2016
Photo by Emma Hill/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Platt will yet again line up with Swiss partner Urs Huber come 18 March at the Prologue on Table Mountain. The Bulls duo will be targeting another overall win as a combination – despite Platt sustaining a fracture to his hipbone and pelvis after a crash during training in November last year.
Karl Platt looking defeated. Are 5 Cape Epic wins not enough? Photo: Shaun Roy.
“I fractured my hip and pelvis in a training ride last year which put me out for a while, but it provided some much-needed rest. I’m starting to feel great again. I had a good Attakwas and despite not finishing higher up the list there was no pain and that is a good thing,” said Platt.
Karl Platt, proved once again why he is one of the best loved figures in the sport when he stopped to assist the injured Alan Hatherly. Photo by Zoon Cronje.
Joining them is the Bulls 2 combination of Tim Boehme and Simon Stiebjahn who are well-versed in the tough and demanding nature of the Cape Epic. This year however, they’ve been promoted from support duties and will be able to race for stage wins – the pair have after all finished on the podium with a bronze medal back in 2014.
And what about back-up and support? Well, the Bulls set-up has brought along another young team to assume that role, an outfit comprising Martin Frey and Simon Schneller who will compete under the Bulls 3 team name. As rookies, Platt says their primary role will be to support and assist both senior teams should anything go awry as well as to gain experience.
Bulls 1 will take charge, but Bulls 2 with Boehme and Stiebjahn can race as they feel.
“I hope they (Bulls 2) have a good race this year. It’s a different story and situation for Tim and Simon but they’re now able to ride and race as they feel. If they see a chance they are free to go for it. For support we’ve brought another young team, Bulls 3, and Martin (Frey) and Simon (Schneller) will ride as the dedicated back-up team for us.”
While much has been said about last year’s route favouring the high-revving cross-country specialists, Platt reckons it was more a case of the timing and structuring of the global race calendar than the course itself and feels this year might very well present a different dynamic altogether.
“I don’t think last year’s Absa Cape Epic was necessarily a cross-country rider’s race, no. I think because the World Cup series started later everybody was in a different phase of training and could give it a proper go. This year the Epic World Cup is just two weeks before the Absa Cape Epic and that will be a priority for many riders. We also had some bad luck with mechanicals and Urs (Huber) was ill on some stages but that’s the nature of the race.”
Team Bull’s Karl Platt and Urs Huber descends Spykers Hill on their way to victory during the Prologue of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, South Africa on the 13th March 2016
Photo by Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Asked about what winning a record sixth title would mean to him and the team, the German was confident about his aspirations. “Our goal is always to perform at our best. Sure, we’re aiming for the win but there are many factors that come into play, and for a result here, everything has to come together. I am now properly recovered from my injury and training flat-out. I’m confident that I will be ready and that everything will work out. My goal and the team’s goal will always be to win the Absa Cape Epic. I’ll be here for 2018 and 2019.”