![\"ccs-62657-0-02388000-1423742608.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-02388000-1423742608.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLocal luminaries of the sport like 1995 Rugby World Cup winners Chester Williams, Joel Stransky and Marius Hurter have all completed the race, with Stransky and Hurter now familiar sights on the trails of the event. Butch James and John Smit, both winners of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, completed their first Epic in 2014.<\/p>\n
Stefan Terblanche, former Bok skipper Corne Krige, and renowned rugby hard man (you have to be tough to play for the Springboks and then \u201ctransfer\u201d to the Australian national team) Tiaan Strauss have also all completed the Absa Cape Epic, with former Wales captain Colin Charvis returning this year, having completed his first Cape Epic as a solo rider in 2013.<\/p>\n
While former soccer stars, F1 champions and a smattering of retired professional cricketers (no golfers just yet – come on, Ernie!) have tackled \u2013 and tamed \u2013 the world\u2019s premier mountain bike stage race, there\u2019s clearly something about the Epic that speaks to rugby players, so much so that Charvis is willing to put himself through the misery of training in the meat of the Welsh winter in preparation for his Epic return. John Smit believes the appeal for rugby players lies in the Epic offering an outlet for letting off some competitive steam.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cape Epic definitely fills a gap in life after professional sport,\u201d says Smit. \u201cIt\u2019s another team event for us retired rugby players and we experience the same kind of camaraderie at the Epic that we did on the field. I look forward to the team effort that\u2019s involved in completing something like the Epic, while participating in the event also helps us feed the competitive monster.\u201d<\/p>\n Another 2015 rugby entry into the Absa Cape Epic is former Sharks lock and one-time Epic finisher (2009) John \u201cSlugger\u201d Slade, who will team up with former Springbok and Sharks flyhalf Butch James. After completing his debut Epic last year, James famously noted that the event \u201cwasn\u2019t that tough\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI should clarify what I mean by that,\u201d says James. \u201cI was training for the Epic last year and everyone I spoke to said I was \u2018mad\u2019 or \u2018crazy\u2019 and seriously doubted that I would finish the event. All these comments raised the expectation of \u2018toughness\u2019 to the extent that I thought I would die out there, so when I actually made it I was surprised and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Slade, who wanted to return after completing the 2009 event but never found the time, approached James to be his partner for 2015. \u201cHe timed it well,\u201d says James. \u201cWhen you\u2019re on the route you don\u2019t think about doing it again, but John asked me the week after the race had finished, and I was missing the vibe. You get caught up in the excitement of the event, and I\u2019m looking forward to experiencing that again.\u201d<\/p>\n This year four-time Epic finisher Marius Hurter will be riding with Charvis (advice to fellow riders: don\u2019t get in their way on the narrow downhills), Smit will ride with lifelong friend and 2014 partner Shane Chorley, and five-time finisher Stransky is riding alongside eight-time national road race champion Anriette Schoeman.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n