PREVIEW: Absa Cape Epic 2018

The untamed African MTB race is back with a bang

The press conference was held yesterday (15 March) ahead of the Cape Epic race that starts with the Prologue on Sunday.

The 16^th edition of the Cape Epic is set to be the most competitive men’s fields assembled with a host of word-class mountain bikers hoping to give the podium a crack of the whip.

The current reigning champions, Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann of SCOTT-SRAM fame will be raring to defend their title and hold on to it, as there are teams hungry to claim it from them.

Schurter took part in last week’s Epic World Cup showed how prepared he is to take on the stages at the epic. His performance proved that his training is tailored around endurance more than intensity, which is a great requirement for a race like the Cape Epic. The Swiss Olympic champion was also pleased that the Epic World Cup winner, Sam Gaze wouldn’t be partaking in the Epic this; which means less competition for him.

“The Epic World Cup was an awesome event and racing against Sam was a great battle, I am glad he’s not racing the Absa Cape Epic on Sunday,” Schurter said.

“We (SCOTT-SRAM) have prepared for every stage this year and we showed last year we can do it.

“I’m looking forward to every stage and Matthias and I have a good team spirit,” the Swiss said about their ambitions ahead of the race.

Alban Lakata of Canyon Topeak will be racing his ninth Epic this year, having missed out on victory all the times, although he has featured on the podium. He was very confident and at ease when he spoke to the media on his preparations, siting that this year could just be his turn to taste the victory.

“I think I’ve prepared well but this year I’ve done some things a little differently from the past races. I think we can get to the top step of the podium; we are in top shape,” said Lakata.

“The marathon racers are going to show the cross-country riders how to race the Absa Cape Epic,” the XCM World champion boldly warned his rivals.

Team BULLS is back with a bang after they struggled a lot last year, although they managed some podium appearances. However, BULLS had to deal with another feat when five-time Epic champion Karl Platt broke his hip during training back in November last year, and it looked uncertain seeing him come back to race the Epic. Good news is that he is back on track and in good health, ready to showcase what he is made of.  The German rider recently turned 40-years-old and doesn’t look like he is ready to slow down at any given moment, although he did tease his teammate Urs Huber that they should race in the Dimension Data Masters category.

He told the media: “I had a great time at home with my family and have fully recovered.

“I started training in January and feel great. I had a good Cape Town Cycle Tour and put in some effort to test the legs- I am ready,” Platt said.

Team BULLS will be coming in extra hot this year as they have entered three teams onto their roster, looking to prove a point and to also showcase the next generation of stars will go onto emulate the likes of Karl Platt and Urs Huber.

“We have a young team (BULLS 3) and they need to learn a lot from these big races.

“This year we have another role for the our second team who were our support team (BULLS 2) and Simon Stiebjahn and Tim Boehme can go free and do whatever they want,” Platt said.

It’s certainly going to be an interesting race to watch between the first team and the previously support team as they gun for honours in the 16^th edition of the Cape Epic – two teams amongst others to look out for.

At this point in time, no one can tell who will finish first at the finish at the Prologue finish line but it is well-known that the Prologue course favours the likes of cross-country specialists such as Investec-Song-Specialized and SCOTT-SRAM; not forgetting the BULLS and PYGA Euro Steel duos who are equally versed on this kind of course.

The 16^th edition of the Absa Cape Epic is one to look out for come Sunday, 18 March.

The route will pan out as follows:

Prologue: University of Cape Town (18 March)

Stage 1: Robertson to Robertson (19 March)

Stage 2: Robertson to Robertson (20 March)

Stage 3: Robertson to Worcester (21 March)

Stage 4: Worcester to Wellington (22 March)

Stage 5: Wellington to Wellington (23 March)

Stage 6: Wellington to Wellington (24 March)

Stage 7: Wellington to Val de Vie (25 March) - FINAL

See you at the finish line!

Till next time. . .