Kaess, Kaufmann due some good karma at Cape Epic
Before the 2014 Absa Cape Epic four times winner Karl Platt of Germany told journalists that they should keep an eye on his countrymen Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess as potential race winners. If they did not take him seriously at the time they were certainly doing so after Stage 1, when the Team Centurion […]
An Epic adventure for a cycling legend
She might be the world’s most-decorated women’s mountain biker, but Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is playing down her chances of a win in her debut Absa Cape Epic. “‘Survive and enjoy’ is the motto for Kathrin Stirnemann (her partner in Team World Bicycle Relief) and I,” said Dahle Flesjå. “We are approaching it as a […]
Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell tackle Epic with two goals in mind
A video clip (below) from the 2014 Absa Cape Epic shows Team RECM’s Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell swooping down a hill, stopping alongside a stricken Frantisek Rabon and immediately setting about repairing a problem on the Specialized rider’s bike. Rabon was, of course, Christoph Sauser’s partner in 2014 and the South African pairing of […]
Esther Suss aims for the top at Epic
The formidable women’s field for the 2015 Absa Cape Epic includes several of the biggest names in mountain biking, and few have graced the sport quite like Esther Suss. The Swiss legend and former Marathon World Champion is 40 now but still at the top of her game. She has twice notched up wins at […]
A Glimpse Into The Future: Rourke Croeser and Travis Walker
Absa Cape Epic fans will get a glimpse of the future when two of South Africa’s rising stars take on the rugged eight-day stage race in 2015. Rourke Croeser and Travis Walker are both 23-years-old – an age when mountain bikers tend to be better at the shorter disciplines. They have though shown good form […]
Cape Epic: South Africa’s Podium Hope
The sharp improvement in the strength of the women’s field for the 2015 Absa Cape Epic will inevitably give rise to an intense battle for the podium positions. Can a South African woman get on to one of those steps when the race finishes at Meerendal on 22 March? The best bet might be an […]
Green light for Stransky after surgery
Former Springbok fly half Joel Stransky is recuperating at home after surgery to his broken collarbone and is determined to ride his 6th Epic race for team Liqui-Fruit. Stransky had a bad fall on Wednesday while training for the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race due to take place from 15 to 22 March. Stransky’s […]
Kevin Evans and Max Knox partner to tackle Epic for second time
The 2015 edition of the race takes place from 15 to 22 March, and will once again take 1 200 riders through some of the Western Cape’s most unspoilt territory. The Untamed African stage race begins with a prologue on Table Mountain, starting from the University of Cape Town, and finishes eight days later at […]
Video: Scott Factory Racing seeking Epic podium finish
In 2014 Philip Buys thrilled South African audiences buy winning two stages of the Absa Cape Epic with the then Cross Country World Champion Nino Schurter. On the final stage the South African/Swiss combination worked to help their Scott Factory Racing teammates Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns take the much sought-after win of the Grand […]
Meet the race favourites for the 2015 Absa Cape Epic: The Women
With the added incentive of the same prize money as the men, the Women’s Category is shaping up to be the most competitive ever. The favourites on the starting line will be 2014 winners Ariane Kleinhans and Anika Langvad of Team RECM Specialized. The Swiss/Danish duo won comfortably last year in spite of some serious […]
Meet the race favourites for the 2015 Absa Cape Epic: The Men
The 2015 Absa Cape Epic has attracted a stellar field, with an array of world champions and former winners. Photo: Nick Muzic / Cape Epic / Sportzpics The pre-race favourites will be Team Investec-Songo-Specialized’s Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy, two of the most decorated mountain bikers ever and winners in 2013, the only previous Absa […]
Olympian Buys heads up new South African MTB Team
London Olympian, Philip Buys, widely regarded as South Africa’s most complete mountain bike racer, will lead a new 14-rider mountain bike racing team into 2015 – and beyond. SCOTT Factory Racing powered by LCB will focus primarily on the Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) discipline with World Championships and Olympic Games success as its long-term goal. Scott […]