The Absa Cape Epic launched its 20th edition at a glittering function in Cape Town on Thursday night. The route for this landmark edition is (as always) overflowing with untamed challenges, packing in 16 850m of climbing over eight days and 613km.
It’s a Winelands-centred race, starting with a prologue on the famed slopes of Lourensford, before taking riders to Tulbagh and the Saronsberg Wine Estate. Tulbagh always requires plenty of vasbyt (as riders at the route launch were quick to highlight) and will serve up the relentlessly technical trails of the Witzenberg on stage 2.
From Tulbagh, there’s a transition stage to the CPUT Campus in Wellington – and then the mighty Queen stage: 3000m ascent over 88km. Riders are going to need a head for heights and plenty of technical nous to conquer the famed Cliff Hanger of Imbuko Big Five legend.
A loop on the Wild Boar Trails on Stage 5 offers a little reprieve with some flat-out fun, before a bus transfer to the University of Stellenbosch for the final two stages.
Stage 6 boasts plenty of uphill (and down) through some of the country’s most famous wine farms, then the world-renowned MTB'ing playground that is the Jonkershoek Valley will serve up the grand finale.
We can’t wait for the action that brings both the world’s best pro riders and scores of enthusiastic amateurs to the Cape’s epic trails. Some stars to look out for include SA road-racing legend Daryl Impey, pairing up with top chef David Higgs to ride for charity, and rugby and cricketing legends such as Marius Hurter and Gary Kirsten.
