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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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of mountain biking’s most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Sheets of sandstone provided the ultimate testing ground for the riders. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step on the journey, followed then by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb gave way to singletrack.

The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of mountain biking’s most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Sheets of sandstone provided the ultimate testing ground for the riders. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step on the journey, followed then by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb gave way to singletrack.

The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of mountain biking’s most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Sheets of sandstone provided the ultimate testing ground for the riders. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step on the journey, followed then by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb gave way to singletrack.

The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of mountain biking’s most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Sheets of sandstone provided the ultimate testing ground for the riders. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step on the journey, followed then by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb gave way to singletrack.

Stage 1 (98km distance // 1850m climbing) of the Cape Epic 2021 took the riders around Ceres today. In a tight finish on Stage 1, the BULLS (Urs Huber & Simon Schneller) and BULLS 2 (Martin Frey & Simon Stiebjahn) teams claimed first and second respectively, with Canyon Northwave MTB (Andreas Seewald & Martin Stošek) racing home in third.

Stage 1 (98km distance // 1850m climbing) of the Cape Epic 2021 took the riders around Ceres today. In a tight finish on Stage 1, the BULLS (Urs Huber & Simon Schneller) and BULLS 2 (Martin Frey & Simon Stiebjahn) teams claimed first and second respectively, with Canyon Northwave MTB (Andreas Seewald & Martin Stošek) racing home in third.

The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of mountain biking’s most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Sheets of sandstone provided the ultimate testing ground for the riders. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step on the journey, followed then by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb gave way to singletrack.

Stage 1 of the Cape Epic 2021 took the riders around Ceres today. Named after the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility, Ceres has long been a mecca for South African mountain bikers. Amazingly though, the Absa Cape Epic has visited the region on numerous occasions and 2021 is only the second time the race has overnighted in the small Warmbokkeveld town.

The Cape Epic 2021 returns after an absence of 36 months to the beautiful and iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town (RSA). The Absa Cape Epic is the world’s premier mountain bike stage race. This year’s route takes amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through 619km of unspoilt scenery and 15.250m of accumulated climbing, over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, South Africa.

After a pandemic-enforced hiatus, the Absa Cape Epic, widely regarded as the world’s premier mountain bike stage race, returned to action in fine style in Cape Town today with the 20km Prologue ahead of seven days of marathon mountain biking. The Mother City didn’t quite get the memo that the show was back on, drenching the riders with a series of rain squalls throughout the morning.

8 days. 647 kilometres. 15 550 metres of vertical ascent. Rugged mountain dual tracks and rocky singletracks through pristine fynbos. Sandy farm road between manicured orchards. Bone-rattling descents off ancient mountain ranges. This is the 2020 Absa Cape Epic route. Wild and untamed. The pinnacle of mountain bike stage racing. The Race That Measures All. From the iconic slopes of Table Mountain National Park to the luxury of Val de Vie Estate, the route for the seventeenth edition will chal...

After having bad luck in the first two stages, the 2019 winners and top seeds Manuel Fumic from Germany and Henrique Avancini from Brazil manged to win the third and last & final fourth stage. Their stage wins had no impact in the general classification as the Cannondale Factory Racing One Team already lost 30minutes at stage one due to Fumic’s mechanical. The best and most constant team throughout the last four days was the BULLS Heroes Team, Simon Stiebjahn (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI). With...

After having bad luck in the first two stages, the 2019 winners and top seeds Manuel Fumic from Germany and Henrique Avancini from Brazil manged to win the third and last & final fourth stage. Their stage wins had no impact in the general classification as the Cannondale Factory Racing One Team already lost 30minutes at stage one due to Fumic’s mechanical. The best and most constant team throughout the last four days was the BULLS Heroes Team, Simon Stiebjahn (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI). With...

Stage 3 of the 2020 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, saw the race’s sixth new pairs of stage winners crowned. The Queen Stage, which took in the iconic Merino Monster climb on Saturday, could prove decisive in the final general classification reckoning. Cannondale Factory Racing and dormakaba blue raced to the King and Queen of the Mountain titles, respectively, before securing stage wins too. Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini’s stage win will have no impact on the...

Stage 3 of the 2020 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, saw the race’s sixth new pairs of stage winners crowned. The Queen Stage, which took in the iconic Merino Monster climb on Saturday, could prove decisive in the final general classification reckoning. Cannondale Factory Racing and dormakaba blue raced to the King and Queen of the Mountain titles, respectively, before securing stage wins too. Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini’s stage win will have no impact on the...