![\"ccs-62657-0-01345700-1548416932.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-01345700-1548416932.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Candice Lill and Amy McDougall. Photo credit: Nick Muzik.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI had an incredible experience with Amy [McDougall] last year winning the Absa African Women\u2019s Jersey\u201d Lill reflected. \u201cIt was an honour to be the first ever wearers of that jersey and we got the opportunity to speak about and promote the positive changes taking place in women\u2019s mountain bike racing. But I feel that 2019 is my year to step it up, set new goals and strive for the overall title\u201d the former Junior XCO World Championship bronze medallist explained of the competition which was created to inspire more African women to take up the Absa Cape Epic challenge.<\/p>\n
Having already enjoyed stage race success, against a stellar international field together, Lill and Morath have a base from which to work from. \u201cWe can definitely take some confidence from our win at the Wines2Whales\u201d Lill confirmed. \u201cBut that being said, the Absa Cape Epic is a completely different ball game; it\u2019s at a different time of year, across different terrain, longer distances, and against other racing pairs. What we can really take confidence from is our communication and how well we worked together as a team. Also having had the opportunity to race together, we could sit down afterwards and point out the areas where we could improve and work on weaknesses during the off season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strauss meanwhile has also raced with her new Absa Cape Epic partner, Stenerhag, once before. \u201cI think we work well together and have put in some solid work. I believe we are finding our grove as a team and will be a well-oiled machine by the time that start song sounds in March\u201d the South African XCO champion promised.<\/p>\n After a second and third place finish, alongside Annie Last, in the previous two editions of the race Strauss is ready to complete her Absa Cape Epic medal set. \u201cI\u2019m still missing that number one\u201d she laughed. Then turning her attention to what she has learnt form the last two races she said: \u201cIt will be my fifth Absa Cape Epic and a lot has been learned in the process. Most importantly to stay healthy. I would not wish gastro, which I got last year, on any normal human being; that\u2019s not even talking about mid stage race (Strauss contracted gastroenteritis during Stage 5 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic and rode the final two stages only being able to hold down dry toast). We are taking control of every part of the journey in 2019 and for that I need to say a massive thank you to my new teammate Jennie [stenerhag] who has been a great help in assisting with the admin involved to make everything run smoothly. It takes a village to succeed at the race and thankfully for us we have a great team behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n A significant part of that preparation process Stenerhag explained is the route scouting: \u201cI always want to be professional in every aspect and do everything I can to be as prepared as possible. We live close to the route so to check out the parts of the route which is available and open to the public is a given for me in my preparation. This time I am lucky to have my teammate also living in Stellenbosch, so we can easily see it together.\u201d<\/p>\n Two riders who will not be able to pre-ride much of the course are the Gauteng based Galileo Risk pairing. For Sarah Hill, who will be making her Absa Cape Epic debut the riding is as big a concern as everything which surrounds the race. \u201cLast year I really wanted to familiarize myself with the Absa Cape Epic scenery. Having a first-hand experience on the routine, nutrition, and exhaustion of the athletes was enlightening\u201d she explained as to why she volunteered to support friends who rode the 2018 race. \u201cIt really helped me prepare from a mental perspective, and for the last couple months my focus has been on the physical side of training! The Absa Cape Epic is a huge deal. 2019 is my first year to step out from just being an underdog, to participating and performing in these world class events. Starting my first Epic, is starting an awesome new chapter in my life… one where it becomes a part of my season every year. For a first timer, it’s a lot about survival. That’s where my teammate comes in handy!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have a position we would like to finish in, within the Elite Women’s field\u201d Hill continued. \u201cOf course we are unsure of everyone who will be there, and simply aiming for a position isn’t the full goal. We want to go out and truly perform to the best of our capabilities as a team. Racing so often against team dormakaba last year has shaped us into tough women. We are close friends with Sam [sanders] and Amy [McDougall] which means it is always a positive competition. There is so much respect between us, so when we race, we push each other way past our comfort zones. Not only to ultimately win in the Absa African Special Jersey competition, but to constantly keep each other aware that we will be racing the rest of the world at Absa Cape Epic\u201d the young South African confided.<\/p>\n<\/a>Mariske Strauss. Photo credit: Greg Beadle.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Jennie Stenerhag. Photo credit: Ewald Sadie.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n