![\"ccs-62657-0-16770500-1480765793.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-16770500-1480765793.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Christoph Sauser, a portrait. Photo by: Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\nSauser will be representing his songo.info charity and sponsor Investec Asset Management. He and Kulhav\u00fd will be racing as team Investec-songo-Specialized. The pair teamed up successfully before having won the Cape Epic in 2013 as Burry Stander-songo and in 2015 in the colours of Investec-songo-Specialized. Their bid for the Cape Epic title will be undertaken on Specialized S-Works Epic mountain bikes, bikes which have come to be synonymous with the world\u2019s toughest mountain bike stage race. For Sauser the challenge which drew him out of retirement is to once again stand on the top step of the Absa Cape Epic podium.<\/p>\n
In 2016 Sauser took up a coaching and mentoring role with the Specialized XCO Racing team, in addition to working with the Specialized engineers on product development. He offered his wealth of experience to mountain biking\u2019s rising stars U23 World Champion Sam Gaze and multiple junior champion Simon Andreassen, as well as to three-time Cape Epic winner and current XCO World Champion, Annika Langvad. But his famous competitive streak was not satisfied by sharing in the victories of his prot\u00e9g\u00e9es and after a highly competitive showing alongside Gaze at the FNB Wines2Whales, Sauser is confident he can compete at the highest level.<\/p>\n Sauser explains: \u201cSince my retirement I have kept on riding my bikes, because it remains my passion. I never did intervals, just much more riding my trail bikes. During the past weeks after I signed up for a South African stage race, and raced it with U23 World Champion Sam Gaze, I realized that I quickly gained deep shape during my training and I was happy with my numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n Sauser\u2019s bid for a sixth Cape Epic title will be built on training blocks in Switzerland and from his second home in Stellenbosch, where he says he is looking forward to re-joining his old training group. He will also be racing extensively between now and March with the Pennypinchers Origin of Trails, the Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge, the Tankwa Trek, the BestMed Tour of Good Hope and the MTO Songo Champions Race all on his schedule.<\/p>\n For mountain biking fans and Sauser alike the Attakwas Extreme and the Tankwa Trek will be key indicators of his progress, as both events are expecting to attract a world-class field, given their new UCI status. Along with Sauser\u2019s perennial rival, Karl Platt, the events are likely to see the full Team Bulls roster and Alban Lakata\u2019s Topeak Ergon team take part.<\/p>\n Assisting Sauser by providing mechanical and pace making support will be the NAD Pro MTB team of Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck. Bell provided support for Sauser in both the 2014 and 2015 Cape Epics and had the following to say about riding as Sauser\u2019s back-up team in the 2017 Cape Epic: \u201cNew Africa Developments is extremely proud that its cycling team (Team NAD Pro MTB) has been selected by Specialized Racing to join forces with race favourites Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhav\u00fd for the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. A tough stage race like the \u2018Epic\u2019 is very much a team sport and to have any hope of winning the team needs to not only ensure it has four riders in peak physical condition but also outstanding technical expertise. We believe Team NAD Pro MTB brings both these critical attributes to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n For their part Sauser and Kulhav\u00fd are excited to have Bell and Combrinck in their corner again, as the Swiss rider elaborated: \u201cWe could not have asked for a better backup team in Nico and Gawie. They are one of the most experienced teams; super reliable with big engines! Their commitment towards us is huge and it will be our best insurance to perform in the face of the adversity which the Cape Epic inevitably produces.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>1. Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhav\u00fd claimed victory for Investec songo Specialized at the 2015 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by: Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Christoph Sauser in action alongside Sipho Madolo in the 2016 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by: Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Christoph Sauser in action during the 2016 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by: Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\n