For the 2025 edition of the ABSA Cape Epic, Outride has joined Matt Beers and Keegan Swenson as teammates under Team Outride-Toyota-Songo.
The ABSA Cape Epic 2025 is a multi-day stage race that puts all contenders and equipment to the ultimate test. It is considered one of the most challenging races in the world, with rugged South African terrain and strenuous back-to-back race days, attracting elite athletes worldwide.
Teams from all over the world participate in the Cape Epic, each with impressive cycling accolades. These diverse riders bring a wealth of experience and accomplishments to the competition.
Outride is a public non-profit committed to empowering all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive health benefits of cycling while also breaking down barriers so that all kids have access to bicycles and safe places to ride. “I’m stoked to represent Outride and the work they do to get more kids on bikes. Cycling has been such a huge part of my life, so being able to race for a cause that shares that passion is an honor. We’re here to win, but it’s awesome to know we’re riding for something bigger than just ourselves out there,” says Keegan Swenson.
Matt Beers, a 3x winner of the Cape Epic, and Keegan Swenson, highly accomplished gravel and marathon MTB athlete, are teaming up to form a powerful partnership. Here’s what they have to say about racing as teammates, rather than competitors for the first time ever. “It’s always a privilege to defend a title. To be teaming up with Keegan is something | didn’t think would ever happen. We are really good mates and we’ve always talked about doing it together. So to have it be a reality is pretty rad,” says Matt Beers.
“| couldn’t ask for a better partner than Matt for this year’s Cape Epic. We’re good friends and to race together as a team at Cape Epic, a race he’s won three times, is an opportunity | couldn’t be more stoked about. Matt’s a big horse, and that power combined with his experience is going to be huge. It’s my best chance yet to win this iconic race, and I’m stoked to make that happen and give Matt his fourth win,” says Keegan Swenson.
To prepare, they have both applied learnings from their previous race experience at Cape Epic, and have also made some big adjustments in training and lead-up for the race. Having won this race 3 times, Matt has his preparation quite locked in and made minor changes. Also being local to the area is an advantage with being acclimated to the weather and terrain.
Preparation for Matt is “mainly the same as last year. A little more focus on a few things | feel |
could improve on, and also trying to race a little less leading up to the race.”
Keegan’s approach has also been hyper focused and he has applied takeaways from previous Cape Epic racing. “Having raced Cape Epic twice before, | know every stage starts with more or less a 90-minute XCO race, then you just have to keep doing that for 2-3 more hours, haha! It’s a bit different than typical efforts in the Life Time Grand Prix, so this year | spent two weeks down in Argentina training in the heat and away from distractions. After that, | put in one of the most focused blocks of high-intensity work I’ve done in recent years.”
Each rider will race their own sponsor equipped bikes, and afterward, the bikes will be raffled off, with proceeds benefiting Outride (more information to follow at a later date).
Matt Beers will be racing on a Specialized Epic 8, equipped with Roval wheels, RockShox Flight Attendant, and SRAM Transmission. Tyre choice will be determined day by day within the Specialized tyre line-up.
Keegan will be racing on a Santa Cruz Blur, equipped with Reserve 28|XC wheels, RockShox Flight Attendant, and SRAM Transmission. Tyre choice will also be determined day by day within the Maxxis tyre line-up.
