The dramatic new route of the eleventh edition of the Absa Cape Epic, which takes place from 23 to 30 March next year (2014), will again offer participants from around the world an awesome trail that showcases the best that the Western Cape has to offer. Both local and international mountain biking enthusiasts will be taking on the demanding eight day mountain bike adventure of 718km with 14 850m of climbing.
The route, which changes significantly each year, will lead 1 200 cyclists through vast distances of virgin territory, previously untouched by the race. With its challenging and exhilarating landscapes, the stage locations of Robertson, Greyton and Oak Valley Wine Estate await the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world, before riders again finish at the Lourensford Wine Estate as has been tradition since 2007.
The Prologue:
The 2014 will kick off the at Meerendal Wine Estate on the doorstep of Cape Town with 23km distance and 700m climbing.
Stage 1:
In 2014 Stage 1 will start at Arabella Wines just outside of Robertson and feature 108km and 2450 climbing.
Stage 2:
Stage 2 explores the opposite side of the Robertson Wine Valley with 101km distance and 1550 climbing.
Stage 3:
Stage 3 features a distance of 134km and 1800m climbing from the red dust of the Klein Karoo of Robertson to the lush farmlands of Greyton.
Stage 4:
Stage 4 will feature a distance of 88km and 1850m of climbing in and around Greyton.
Stage 5:
During Stage 5 the Riders will travel from Greyton to Elgin with a distance of 110km and 2900m climbing.
Stage 6:
Stage 6 is the stage of rewards and a fitting climax to the #AbsaCapeEpic week featuring 85km distance and 1800m climbing in and around the Elgin valley.
Stage 7:
The final stage of the 2014 #AbsaCapeEpic draws to a close at Lourensford Wine Estate with 69km distance and 1800m climbing.
Overall:
Riders total 718km distance and 14850m climbing
Kevin Vermaak, founder and director of the Absa Cape Epic said, “We aim to offer participants from around the world an awesome experience that showcases the best that our beautiful country has to offer. We want different routes, with suitable technical and challenging riding, that take the riders to new towns whilst at the same time giving the riders the most beautiful and remote scenery, and with wild animals to boot. Without the incredible support of Cape Nature Conservation, this would not be possible as they give us access to their reserves.
“The Absa Cape Epic is an iconic endurance event. Finishing the Absa Cape Epic is and will always be an enormous physical and mental challenge, and riders will need as much dedicated training and preparation to earn the title ‘Absa Cape Epic Finisher’,” Vermaak concludes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiKT-8sKLf4
Cudos to scuzzy for being quick on the draw by posting the route before we could even see it at the official route launch this morning!
Follow the Absa Cape Epic at www.cape-epic.com, the mobi site, on Twitter and Facebook.
The route looks pretty hectic once again. Hats off to those who are signed on to ride, and those who have done it.
Not on my bucket list at the moment. Way out of my price range, and even though some hubbers have told me that they've done it, I don't believe my 10 hour weeks will cut it. Perhaps one day when I have can afford to spend a significant amount of time on my bike every day.
I was wondering; what must the vibe be like in the race village halfway through the Epic, when you've just suffered through 4 extreme days and you know there's still much more of that to come. It could potentially be a very somber place. At the shorter stage races there is always a lekker vibe in the race village, I'm assuming this isn't neccesarily the case at the Epic. Just a question out of interest.