Germany’s Robert Mennen (28) and the Czech Republic’s Kristian Hynek (33) of team Topeak–Ergon Racing are eager to race against the top riders in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. These two riders are a force to be reckoned with and would like to finish on the podium at the end of the legendary eight-day Absa Cape Epic.
After Mennen’s previous partner, Alban Lakata, severed his Achilles tendon in a skiing accident in Europe, Mennen partnered up with first-time rider, Kristian Hynek. Lakata and Mennen’s bad luck follows on from 2013 when a duiker (a small antelope) ran onto the course, causing Mennen to crash and break his collarbone, ending their chances for the 2013 event.
Both Mennen and new partner Hynek boast an impressive list of victories behind their names. Last year Mennen finished first in the German Cross-country Marathon. He took second place at the Craft Bike Transalp (with Alban Lakata), and first place in both the Vaude Trans Schwarzwald and Andalucía Bike Race. He finished in fifth place in the 2012 Absa Cape Epic, which was his first time riding with Alban Lakata. Hynek finished fourth in the World Cross-country Marathon Championships last year, first in the Red Bull Dolomitenmann, and third in the European Championship. He placed first in the UCI Marathon Series Dolomity Superbike as well as the Czech National Cross-country Marathon Championship.
Weighing in at 74kg and with a height of 1.83m, Hynek started mountain biking at the age of 15, but only started competing professionally at the age of 21. He says of the event: “The Absa Cape Epic is the biggest and most prestigious event of its type in the world and it has been on my list for a long time.” Mennen is 1.80m and weighs 70kg. Says Mennen: “I started mountain biking in 1998. To me, the Absa Cape Epic is an adventure and the best organised race in a beautiful landscape with great media coverage and a big starter field.”
Hynek is confident that they will fight for an overall podium finish as well as a stage win. “With mountain bike racing and especially team stage racing there is a lot of luck involved. I believe that everything will go well. We just finished the Andalucía Bike Race which was a general test for us and I think everything is going as planned towards being well prepared for this year’s Cape Epic.” Mennen adds: “It’s hard to say. Kristian Hynek is new to the Cape Epic and also new as my team partner, but he’s a really strong guy. It’s a long race and a lot can happen. We hope to win a stage and also to finish on the podium.”
According to Hynek, important ingredients to complete the Absa Cape Epic successfully include “being in excellent shape, team support and a lot of luck.” Mennen and Hynek have been training hard during the training camps. “We competed in the Andalucía Bike Race in Spain to prepare for the Cape Epic. This was a test run and we got to know each other under racing conditions.”
Mennen adds that he is looking forward to this year’s race. “I’m looking forward to Stage 2 because last year the race was finished for me after Stage 1. I’m also looking forward to ride over the finish line on the last day.” Hynek is looking forward to the experience, and to discover new landscapes and meet new people.
Hynek rides a Canyon LUX 29er. “For such a race, it’s probably the fastest bike I’ve ever ridden,” he says. Mennen continues: “In my first Cape Epic, I rode the Canyon Grand Canyon CF SLX 29. It was the 29er Hard tail Prototype by Canyon. At the Cape Epic you need a 29er full suspension bike. I love the Canyon LUX 29er. It´s lightweight, the geometry is what we searched for and the suspension is perfect for marathon racing.”
Mennen hopes to defend his title in the German Marathon Championships and to also do well in the upcoming World Marathon Championships in Pietermaritzburg.
Woohoo...... The CANYON boys are back!!!!!!!!!!