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The 19th edition of the ABSA Cape Epic finished today with the Grand Finale (Stage 7) in Val the Vie Estate. The untamed eight-day African mountain bike stage race is often referred as the "Tour de France” of mountain biking. Hosted by South Africa’s Western Cape the ABSA Cape Epic is the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world. 724 teams of two, from 55 nations, among them multiple World, Olympic, and National Champions tackled 650 kilometer course climbing and more than 15 th...

Stage 6 marked the penultimate day of the ABSA Cape Epic 2023. For the first time in history, outside of a time trial, the entire stage was hosted by a single landowner. It was a dramatic day, as wind and rain was on the cards for the riders today. The trails were wet and soggy, which caused a dramatic shake up in the general classification. Matthew Beers (RSA) and Christopher Blevins (USA) won the penultimate stage 6 with a time of 3hours 26minutes 48seconds. SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing’s Nino Sch...

Stage 5 of the ABSA Cape Epic marked another transition stage. Today was also this year’s Queen Stage with 102km and 2450m of climbing. The route featured the long and rough Tierkop Climb and a Cape Epic favorite, Groenlandberg with its sandy and rutted trails. Riders also had to contend with the Gantouw Pass portage. Defending champions, Lukas Baum (GER) & Georg Egger (GER) of team Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company won the Queen Stage with 04hours 13minutes 6seconds. It is their first stage win...

Stage 4 marked the second time trial of the race. It took the riders around the trails of Oak Valley Estate in a short but intense day of racing with 47km to go and 875m of climbing. The course was packed with singletrack, making it a test of skill as well as fitness. Maintaining a rhythm to climb twisting trails like Berg Adder and then descend down trails like Puff Adder, Vissie’s Magic and Sounds of Silence required absolute focus. Matthew Beers (RSA) and Christopher Blevins (USA) from tea...

Today is Stage 3 and it marks the first transition, from Hermanus to Oak Valley Estate. Today’s route traverses wild country nestled within pockets of manicured agriculture. 100 brutal kilometres of raw, natural trails separate the race villages. The riders have to climb 2300 meters before returning Oak Valley Estate, ahead of the time trial on Stage 4. Today’s race was decided on the very last meters in a sprint finish between four teams. Matthew Beers (RSA) from team Toyota-Specialized-Nine...

Stage 2 of the 2023 ABSA Cape Epic marked the longest stage of this year’s race. The riders looped around the beautiful trails of Hermanus. At 116 kilometers it had everything from long grinding climbs to hair-raising downhills and technical demanding single tracks. The men’s race saw a very fast and technical race with the best end for Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne’s Matthew Beers (RSA) and his partner Christopher Blevins (USA). The pair took the win of Stage 2 after they already won the Prol...

Stage 1 of the ABSA Cape Epic was traditionally tough and tested the riders to their limits as it has been a real marathon stage. The bare numbers sat at 98 kilometers with 2,550 meters of climbing, the highest of this year’s route. After a relatively short Prologue, things were being turned up a notch as the race properly got under way. The route headed through the best of the Hemel en Aarde Valley singletracks and into the searing Overberg planes. The outbound loop trended relentlessly uphi...

The ABSA Cape Epic is back with the 19th edition of the untamed African mountain bike race. The eight-day race is often referred as the "Tour de France of mountain biking" and it‘s the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world. It attracts this year 724 teams from 55 nations including multiple World, Olympians, and National Champions next to aspiring amateurs testing themselves against the best. The teams of two riders tackle around 648 untamed kilometers and 15.475 meters of cli...

The Absa Cape Epic is the world’s premier mountain bike stage race. The route changes every year, leading aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through 658 Untamed kilometres of unspoilt scenery and up 15'775m of climbing. The Absa Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike race in the world and classed as UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series (SSR) by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI); this official UCI status makes it a highlight on the professional ra...

Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA) and Wout Alleman (BEL) of Wilier-Pirelli rode an absolutely flawless race to win Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic. Speed Company Racing’s Lukas Baum (GER) and Georg Egger (GER) finished second on the day, but more importantly, they did some damage to the overall lead of Canyon Northwave MTB and Andreas Seewald (GER) and . The all German team will start the Grand Finale on Sunday just 2:45 behind the yellow jersey leaders. The race for the Absa Cape Epic is wide open goi...

Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA) and Wout Alleman (BEL) of Wilier-Pirelli rode an absolutely flawless race to win Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic. Speed Company Racing’s Lukas Baum (GER) and Georg Egger (GER) finished second on the day, but more importantly, they did some damage to the overall lead of Canyon Northwave MTB and Andreas Seewald (GER) and . The all German team will start the Grand Finale on Sunday just 2:45 behind the yellow jersey leaders. The race for the Absa Cape Epic is wide open goi...

Today was the penultimate Stage of the Absa Cape Epic 2022. Stage 6 contained more singletracks then any other stage despite a short distance with 76 kilometres. Plenty of steep climbs and 2700 meters of climbing challenged the tired legs of the riders.

The sun came out to witness Marco Joubert (RSA) and Pieter du Toit (RSA) of team Imbuko Type Dev breaking away after 70km. The all South African team, wearing the African red jerseys, rode the last 45km of the stage all alone upfront with the chasing pack unable to hunt them down. It was their first-ever stage win at the Absa Cape Epic. Overall leaders in yellow Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stosek (CZE) finished in second 2 minutes and 6 seconds behind. Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized’s Matt...

Today Stage 5 of the Absa Cape Epic 2022 got underway. It was a transition stage that started in Greyton and finished after 115 kilometers in distance and 2400 meters of climbing in Stellenbosch.

The sun came out to witness Marco Joubert (RSA) and Pieter du Toit (RSA) of team Imbuko Type Dev breaking away after 70km. The all South African team, wearing the African red jerseys, rode the last 45km of the stage all alone upfront with the chasing pack unable to hunt them down. It was their first-ever stage win at the Absa Cape Epic. Overall leaders in yellow Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stosek (CZE) finished in second 2 minutes and 6 seconds behind. Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized’s Matt...

It was tight, tense, and tactical in the men’s race. Speed Company Racing’ Georg Egger (GER) and Lukas Baum (GER) blazed a trail from the start, but around 50km into the day, they were joined by Matt Beers (RSA) and Christopher Blevins (USA) of Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized, and then soon after yellow jersey leaders Canyon Northwave MTB and Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stošek (CZE) joined the front of the race. The three teams matched each other pedal stroke for pedal stroke until the fin...

The Stage 4 of the Absa Cape Epic 2022 led over the trails of Greyton. With 101km in distance and 2250m of climbing it was another tough day for the riders.

It was tight, tense, and tactical in the men’s race. Speed Company Racing’ Georg Egger (GER) and Lukas Baum (GER) blazed a trail from the start, but around 50km into the day, they were joined by Matt Beers (RSA) and Christopher Blevins (USA) of Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized, and then soon after yellow jersey leaders Canyon Northwave MTB and Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stošek (CZE) joined the front of the race. The three teams matched each other pedal stroke for pedal stroke until the fin...

The Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic 2022 led over the trails of Greyton. With 101km in distance and 2250m of climbing it was another tough day for the riders.

Georg Egger (GER) and Lukas Baum (GER) of Speed Company Racing showed their class as they broke away from the leading men's bunch already after the opening kilometres. The young Germans rode away from Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized's Matt Beers (RSA) and Chris Blevins (USA). They quickly opened a gap of two minutes 15 seconds, which they held to the finish line. It was their first ever Absa Cape Epic win. Overall leaders Canyon Northwave MTB of Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stosek (CZE) fini...

Georg Egger (GER) and Lukas Baum (GER) of Speed Company Racing showed their class as they broke away from the leading men's bunch already after the opening kilometres. The young Germans rode away from Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized's Matt Beers (RSA) and Chris Blevins (USA). They quickly opened a gap of two minutes 15 seconds, which they held to the finish line. It was their first ever Absa Cape Epic win. Overall leaders Canyon Northwave MTB of Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stosek (CZE) fini...

Stage 2 of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic marked the longest stage of this year’s race. The route took the teams from Lourensford Wine Estate into the heart of the hinterland in Greyton. It was a challenging day with a lot of wind and sun for the riders.

In the women’s race Robyn de Groot (RSA) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) of BMC MTB Racing took a magnificent stage win. They showed incredible riding over 6 hours and 20 minutes after their struggles yesterday. The men race was decided in a nail-biting sprint finish. Nino Schurter (SUI) and Lars Forster (SUI) of SCOTT-SRAM were heading towards the finish line in a lead, but Christopher Blevins (USA) overtook them. His partner Matt Beers (RSA) could not go with him, so SCOTT-SRAM took the st...

Today’s Stage 1 started and finished again in the hills of Somerset West, at Lourensford Wine Estate. It was the first marathon stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic that is notoriously tough, especially this year being declared as the Queen Stage. The bare numbers sit with 92km and 2.850m of climbing, the most of this year’s route. After a relatively mild Prologue, things are being turned up a notch. The route lead firstly through playful single trails at Helderberg Trails and Dornier Trails. The...

Today’s Stage 1 started and finished again in the hills of Somerset West, at Lourensford Wine Estate. It was the first marathon stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic that is notoriously tough, especially this year being declared as the Queen Stage. The bare numbers sit with 92km and 2.850m of climbing, the most of this year’s route. After a relatively mild Prologue, things are being turned up a notch. The route lead firstly through playful single trails at Helderberg Trails and Dornier Trails. The...

Today’s Stage 1 started and finished again in the hills of Somerset West, at Lourensford Wine Estate. It was the first marathon stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic that is notoriously tough, especially this year being declared as the Queen Stage. The bare numbers sit with 92km and 2.850m of climbing, the most of this year’s route. After a relatively mild Prologue, things are being turned up a notch. The route lead firstly through playful single trails at Helderberg Trails and Dornier Trails. The...

Today’s prologue (time trial // 24km distance // 700m climbing) was short but the first half of the route led steadily uphill, driving heart rates upwards, before the second phase of the day was packed with roller-coaster downhills on manicured singletrack. It was a first test for the riders to prove their form and get their name in the spotlight.

Today’s prologue (time trial // 24km distance // 700m climbing) was short but the first half of the route led steadily uphill, driving heart rates upwards, before the second phase of the day was packed with roller-coaster downhills on manicured singletrack. It was a first test for the riders to prove their form and get their name in the spotlight.

The Absa Cape Epic is the world’s premier mountain bike stage race. The route changes every year, leading aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through 650 Untamed kilometres of unspoilt scenery and up 16 000m of climbing. The Absa Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike race in the world and classed as UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series (SSR) by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI); this official UCI status makes it a highlight on the professional ra...

The Absa Cape Epic 2021 took amateurs and professional mountain bikers over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 2021 route started off at the iconic slopes of Table Mountain National Park and finished today with the Grand Finale at the Val de Vie Estate. The Cape Epic is classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), known as the “Tour de France” in mountain biking.

The Absa Cape Epic 2021 took amateurs and professional mountain bikers over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 2021 route started off at the iconic slopes of Table Mountain National Park and finished today with the Grand Finale at the Val de Vie Estate. The Cape Epic is classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), known as the “Tour de France” in mountain biking.

The Absa Cape Epic 2021 took amateurs and professional mountain bikers over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 2021 route started off at the iconic slopes of Table Mountain National Park and finished today with the Grand Finale at the Val de Vie Estate. The Cape Epic is classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), known as the “Tour de France” in mountain biking.

The Absa Cape Epic 2021 took amateurs and professional mountain bikers over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 2021 route started off at the iconic slopes of Table Mountain National Park and finished today with the Grand Finale at the Val de Vie Estate. The Cape Epic is classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), known as the “Tour de France” in mountain biking.

Stage 6 marked the penultimate day of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Steep but mercifully short vineyard climbs started the day before the Wild Boar Rollercoaster provided singletrack thrills. District roads and farm dual tracks, through iconic wine farms demanded complete concentration. Upon exiting the reserve, the climbing began in earnest.

Stage 6 marked the penultimate day of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Steep but mercifully short vineyard climbs started the day before the Wild Boar Rollercoaster provided singletrack thrills. District roads and farm dual tracks, through iconic wine farms demanded complete concentration. Upon exiting the reserve, the climbing began in earnest.

Stage 6 marked the penultimate day of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Steep but mercifully short vineyard climbs started the day before the Wild Boar Rollercoaster provided singletrack thrills. District roads and farm dual tracks, through iconic wine farms demanded complete concentration. Upon exiting the reserve, the climbing began in earnest.

Stage 6 marked the penultimate day of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Steep but mercifully short vineyard climbs started the day before the Wild Boar Rollercoaster provided singletrack thrills. District roads and farm dual tracks, through iconic wine farms demanded complete concentration. Upon exiting the reserve, the climbing began in earnest.

Stage 5 was short and brutally steep, a major physical and psychological hurdle for the riders on their trail to Val de Vie. The climbing started virtually instantaneously. Leaving Wellington, the only way was uphill on the lengthy Hawequa Climb. The descent from the summit started on dusty dual track, before slipping into the Brooklyn Bridge singletrack.

Stage 5 was short and brutally steep, a major physical and psychological hurdle for the riders on their trail to Val de Vie. The climbing started virtually instantaneously. Leaving Wellington, the only way was uphill on the lengthy Hawequa Climb.

Stage 5 was short and brutally steep, a major physical and psychological hurdle for the riders on their trail to Val de Vie. The climbing started virtually instantaneously. Leaving Wellington, the only way was uphill on the lengthy Hawequa Climb. The descent from the summit started on dusty dual track, before slipping into the Brooklyn Bridge singletrack.

Stage 5 was short and brutally steep, a major physical and psychological hurdle for the riders on their trail to Val de Vie. The climbing started virtually instantaneously. Leaving Wellington, the only way was uphill on the lengthy Hawequa Climb. The descent from the summit started on dusty dual track, before slipping into the Brooklyn Bridge singletrack.

After three days of racing it was time for a transition stage from Saronsberg, in Tulbagh, to the Slanghoek valley. The early kilometres ticked past with unnerving ease, but once the surface began to roughen the challenges came. Brutally uneven dual tracks through a private game reserve provided a sudden shock.

After three days of racing it was time for a transition stage from Saronsberg, in Tulbagh, to the Slanghoek valley. The early kilometres ticked past with unnerving ease, but once the surface began to roughen the challenges came. Brutally uneven dual tracks through a private game reserve provided a sudden shock.

After three days of racing it was time for a transition stage from Saronsberg, in Tulbagh, to the Slanghoek valley. The early kilometres ticked past with unnerving ease, but once the surface began to roughen the challenges came. Brutally uneven dual tracks through a private game reserve provided a sudden shock.

After three days of racing it was time for a transition stage from Saronsberg, in Tulbagh, to the Slanghoek valley. The early kilometres ticked past with unnerving ease, but once the surface began to roughen the challenges came. Brutally uneven dual tracks through a private game reserve provided a sudden shock.

With two converging mountain ranges to explore, Stage 3 of the 2021 Cape Epic was not short on climbing. Nestled in the nook between the Groot Winterhoek and the Witzenberg Ranges the Tulbagh Valley was not hasty to reveal its rewards.