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<\/a>The Swiss Maestro and reigning World Champion talks race hopes. Credit: Ewald Sadie.<\/span><\/p>\nLike defending champion Nino Schurter. Nino has been using the town as his training base for years already. \u201cI\u2019ve been coming here for 10 years now. Christoph (Sauser) showed us how beautiful Stellenbosch is and I train here in the European winter months \u2013 I love the place,\u201d said Schurter.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s expecting the course to play a big part in the day\u2019s racing and describes the 4.4km track as \u2018dusty\u2019 and appreciably \u2018slippery\u2019. \u201cIt\u2019s a really tough course with steep uphills and difficult descents. I raced it a few weeks ago in the South African Cup \u2013 it was very dry and the surface pretty slippery but it\u2019s a fun course,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He might be coming off a perfect season, but teammate Matthias Stirnemann proved he\u2019s not invincible and beat the Olympic gold medalist in a South African Cup race a few weeks ago. Nino\u2019s biggest challenge will come from a string of in-form competitors \u2013 in particular the imposing form of the Czech Express, Jaroslav Kulhavy. After an erratic 2017 season, Kulhavy will be looking to test his form ahead of this year\u2019s Absa Cape Epic and maybe even upset Schurter in the process. \u201cI hope I can beat Nino. I\u2019ll at least try because it was a bit boring last year with Nino winning everything,\u201d laughed Kulhavy. \u201cWe\u2019ll see on the day, but I\u2019ll try my best for success.\u201d<\/p>\n
BH-SR Suntour KMC\u2019s Jordan Sarrou is another podium hopeful. He was confident ahead of race day and made his intentions pretty clear. \u201cI want to beat Nino and I\u2019ll try my best. The Epic World Cup is very early in the season, but I\u2019ve prepared well and have raced well up until now. I think I\u2019m ready,\u201d said Sarrou.<\/p>\n Sarrou forms part of a three-prong French attack comprising Cannondale Factory Racing\u2019s Maxime Marotte and Bianchi Countervail\u2019s St\u00e9phaneTempier. The past few World Cup races have seen the French offensive develop into a highly competitive force and Maxime Marotte believes it\u2019s the strong level of local competition back home that has spawned this renaissance. \u201cWe have a strong level in France at the moment and Julien (Absalon) is still racing too. The younger generation is in a good space at the moment and moving up through the ranks. We have a strong local championship,\u201d quipped Marotte.<\/p>\n<\/a>Team Cannondale Factory Racing chat on race hopes. Credit: Ewald Sadie.<\/span><\/p>\n