The ABSA Cape Epic is the brute of the marathon stage race game. Plenty of events will claim to be the hardest, some claim the best trails, some claim the best event services – but there is no escaping the fact that the Cape Epic is the biggest of the bunch. As we have published […]
Absa Cape Epic 2023 Route: full analysis
The Absa Cape Epic route reveal is one of the most hotly awaited stories of the mountain bike stage racing calendar. With its well-deserved reputation as the hardest-fought and toughtest physical challenge on two wheels, we’ve been checking and rechecking our emails in anticipation of the 2023 route release – and here it is. By […]
Cape Epic Stage Seven 2022
The Absa Cape Epic 2022 final stage delivered a day that saw the event’s history books rewritten as Speed Company Racing overcame a two minute and 45 second deficit to claim the yellow Men’s category leader jerseys and the overall title at Val de Vie Estate. The CM.com Women’s category saw Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss race to […]
Cape Epic Stage 6 2022
The penultimate stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic took place in what many consider is a trail paradise, Stellenbosch. The route featured 76km and some 2700m of climbing, taking in Idas Valley, Banhoek, and Jonkershoek. NinetyOne-songo-Specialized are unstoppable The NinetyOne-songo-Specialized team of Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten won their third stage in the CM.com Women’s category […]
Cape Epic Stage Five 2022
Stage Five of the 2022 Cape Epic took riders to Stellenbosch, one of the homes of mountain biking in South Africa. But it wasn’t without challenge (hey, it’s the Epic) as the iconic Rusty Gate climb was tackled right from the gun! NinetyOne-songo-Specialized strengthen lead Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten (NinetyOne-songo-Specialized) won Stage 5 […]
Cape Epic Stage Four 2022
Stage Four of the 2022 Cape Epic could be seen as offering respite for some. And sure, for riders down the rankings, the shorter stage would offer less time in the saddle. But for those racing for the general classification, it meant another day of hard pressure on the pedals. BMC back to the front […]
Cape Epic Stage Three 2022
Stage Three of the 2022 Cape Epic offered little respite for the field of racers. With a high rate of attrition after the first three days, many wondered if more would fall today – and whether the general classification would see another mix up. Local heroes on form in CM.com Women’s race Candice Lill and […]
Cape Epic Stage Two 2022
Stage Two of the 2022 Cape Epic was a monster, with 123km and almost 2500m to be covered racing from Lourensford to Greyton. Throw in a block headwind, dust and rough trails and it’s enough for murmurs in the camp about this year being ‘the hardest ever.’ BMC MTB Racing soars on Stage 2 at […]
Cape Epic Stage One 2022
The first stage of the 2022 Cape Epic took it’s toll! Both men’s and women’s leads changed hands, and the harsh conditions knocked many in the field around. Unfortunately, this also included the team of Imogen Smith and Gina Ricardo (Wilson Asset Management). Gina has been ill since before the prologue, and had to abandon […]
Cape Epic Prologue 2022
The Cape Epic has begun with a searing prologue at Lourensford Wine Estate. The 24km loop with 700m climbing was made harder thanks to the high tempertures and dusty conditions. In this year’s event, our team rider Imogen Smith has joined Gina Ricardo for the Wilson Asset Management Team, racing in the UCI Pro Women […]