The world’s greatest mountain bike stage race is back, and it’s all about big names, breathtaking views and innovation that takes the event to the next level
The most famous mountain bike stage race in the world, the iconic Absa Cape Epic.
On 19 March, mountain biking’s superstars will line up alongside aspirant amateurs to tackle the trek across 658km of wondrous untamed terrain and almost 16 000m of climbing, cementing the hors catégorie-classified race as one of the major highlights on the international calendar. The 2023 route promises to be among the most breathtaking yet. For...
Absa Cape Epic (ACE), Africa’s Untamed Mountain Biking Race 2023
South Africa, 09 March 2023: In the lead-up to the Absa Cape Epic (ACE), Africa’s Untamed Mountain Biking Race and the premier mountain bike stage race in the world, the 19th edition of the Absa Cape Epic (from 19 to 26 March 2023) will take in 658 gruelling kilometres, with 15 775 metres of limit-testing climbing through its eight days of racing that are unlike any edition before it. The 2023 Absa Cape Epic promises to stretch every team almost to their breaking point, to trial partnerships both old and new, and to reward...
Today the Epic Series is on the bucket list of every mountain biker. What an incredible journey it’s been
CAPE TOWN, – When Kevin Vermaak founded the Cape Epic in 2004, he envisioned a global MTB series that would comprise both bigger and smaller stage events in some of the world’s most iconic locations. But even he could not have imagined what this dream would become two decades later. Today, Epic events are held around the world, including the SPAR Swiss Epic; The 4Islands MTB Croatia; Andorra Epic, Port to Port and Cape to Cape in Australia; FNB Wines2Whales in South Africa; and, of...
Mitch Docker and Ian Boswell just can’t get enough, even if mountain biking is something completely different
CAPE TOWN, It’s not uncommon for professional cyclists to carry on riding post-retirement, such is the enjoyment of being on a bike. What is unusual, however, is wanting to test the body in ways that frighten even the fittest of men, once the curtain has come down on a career. But Mitch Docker and Ian Boswell have never been ones for the expected, and this year they will join other road cycling legends at the Absa Cape Epic. From 19-26 March, mountain biking’s superstars will...
The skills of modern professional riders mean that the 2023 Absa Cape Epic will be more open than ever, even though the smart money might still be on the favourites.
CAPE TOWN, 9 March 2023 – When it comes to the Absa Cape Epic, the debate about ‘cross country riders vs marathoners’ has less and less relevance among professional teams each year. The 2021 edition of The Untamed African MTB Race saw a pure marathoner pairing with the cross country World Champion and winning the Men’s category convincingly. Last year witnessed two newcomers, both stage racers, taking the Absa Cape Epic by...
With days to go to the start of the 19th edition of the Absa Cape Epic (ACE), Africa's Untamed Mountain Biking Race, we speak to Remofilwe Moeketsi and Beauty Buhle Nontobeko Ngobese about their experiences while participating in two of the world's most gruelling mountain bike races: the Absa Cape Epic and the Spar Swiss Epic.
Beauty and Remo share their insights as one of the first black female South African teams to have completed both these races for Team Absa, offering a glimpse into the world of high-level mountain biking.
The Absa Cape Epic is an annual eight-day mountain bike...
Stage 1: The Category Wrap
By Absa Cape Epic, 03/20/23, 6:45AM HST
How the age group racing categories performed during a windy Stage 1
The challenging conditions of Stage 1
Although it didn't rain, Stage 1 of the Absa Cape Epic proved to be a gruelling test for competitors due to the strong gusts of up to 90km/h and the rugged terrain, which set the stage for an enthralling second day of the eight-day stage race. This year, Hermanus hosted a stage for the fifth time since the inception of the Absa Cape Epic, and the routes around Hermanus are notorious for their rough,...
Stage 2: The Category Wrap
How the racing unfolded in the age group categories during Stage 2
After the wind hassled riders relentlessly during Stage 1 and continued late into the night, it subsided just ahead of Stage 2 and an incredible day of racing unfolded during the 116km of this year’s longest stage.
Routes in and around Hermanus are known as rough, rugged, and raw. The climbs are equally brutal. The route today did not disappoint, and riders had a bit of everything the Overberg has to offer.
The categories did not have as many changes as...
Stage 3: Category Wrap
Another Absa Cape Epic stage and another day full of physical and mental tests for the riders over the 100km from Hermanus to Oak Valley.
The Oak Valley Estate in Elgin is hosting the Absa Cape Epic for the 10th time. This venue never disappoints and in the last few sections of today’s route, riders would have been reminded why this part of the Western Cape is known as mountain bike-heaven.
The first transition stage of the 2023 Absa Cape Epic challenged riders with rocky, sandy, and steep climbs and for most riders, it was a long day in the...
Stage 4: Category Wrap
Heaven…for mountain bikers. That is the Oak Valley Estate. The fun factor was high for the time trial stage of the Absa Cape Epic with some of the best singletracks in the country on offer to the more than 1000 riders.
Even though the day was slightly less demanding, it remained important for riders to keep their focus and not lose control in the corners and reach the top of the short, sharp climbs.
It was not the first time a time trial had been hosted at the Oak Valley Estate (the last time was in 2019) and the locals made the most of their local knowledge...
Stage 5: The Category Wrap
The Queen Stage served up an intense day of racing across the categories
The 2023 Absa Cape Epic Queen Stage delivered big time with shake ups not only stage results in the various categories, but also dishing up a change in leader jerseys in more than one category.
The transition stage from the Oak Valley Estate to Lourensford Wine Estate over 102km (2300m of climbing) included the brutal Groenlandberg and a downhill portage of the Gantouw Pass.
After a day described by more than one (read many) rider as “one of the most...
New leaders in Men’s and CM.com Women’s race after dramatic Stage 6 at Absa Cape Epic
Torrential rain. Mud. Wind. Category shake-ups.
Matt Beers and Christopher Blevins (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) won Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic - their fifth stage win of the event - and moved into second place on the general classification at the same time on Saturday, 25 March.
Nino Schurter and Andri Frischknecht (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) moved back into the overall lead after finishing second on the stage. They sit 90 seconds ahead of Beers and Blevins with one day of racing to go....
Beers and Blevins win 2023 Absa Cape Epic, Looser and Le Court triumphant in women's category
Yellow bookends for Beers and Blevins. Looser and Le Court continue their consistent performance.
Matt Beers and Christopher Blevins (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) won the 2023 Absa Cape Epic at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl on Sunday, 26 March. In the CM.com Women’s category, Vera Looser and Kim le Court (Efficient Infiniti Insure) are the 2023 Champions.
The Men’s race on Stage 7 of the Absa Cape Epic - the Grand Finale - was won by Lukas Baum and Georg Egger...
CAC MTB African Championships 2023
South Africa is proud to announce that it will host the CAC Mountain Bike African Championships 2023 in both Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) disciplines at Thaba Trails Gauteng from second to fourth of June 2023, powered by Balwin Sport, in association with Computer Mania. The event promises to be a spectacular showcase of elite mountain bike racing and a celebration of the sport’s growth and diversity on the African continent.
The CAC MTB African Championships 2023 XCO and XCC will bring together the best...
CyclingSA and the Mountain Bike Commission are excited to announce the riders selected for Team South Africa for the 2023 CAC Mountain Bike African Championships in Gauteng from 2-4 June.
The team comprises of sixteen riders who will be showcasing their skills in the Junior, U23 and Elite categories.
The event is expected to attract top riders from across the African continent and it will be a great opportunity for South African riders to showcase their talent and compete for medals.
The Championships will take place at Thaba Trails in Johannesburg powered by Balwin...
2023 UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Jun 7, 2023
Cycling South Africa is proud to announce the team selected to represent the country at the upcoming UCI World Championships in Scotland. The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will host thirteen disciplines and will be the biggest ever cycling event. We will be represented in nine of the disciplines taking place from 3-13 August 2023.
With our improved financial position, Cycling SA is this year able to financially support our Junior, U/23 and elite athletes from the day that they are...
2023 UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Jun 7, 2023
Cycling South Africa is proud to announce the team selected to represent the country at the upcoming UCI World Championships in Scotland. The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will host thirteen disciplines and will be the biggest ever cycling event. We will be represented in nine of the disciplines taking place from 3-13 August 2023.
With our improved financial position, Cycling SA is this year able to financially support our Junior, U/23 and elite athletes from the day that they are...
During the 192nd UCI Congress which took place in Glasgow on 3 August 2023, Cycling South Africa was awarded the rights to host the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships 2028, to be hosted in Cape Town, Western Cape, with Table Mountain as the venue and route.
“We are very excited to have succeeded in our bid to host the UCI Marathon World Championships in 2028. Mountain biking has become a very strong discipline in South Africa, not only as a sport, but also as a recreational activity. The Western Cape is big mountain biking region...
Mitterwallner Powers Home Solo!
A women’s field of 62 set off with the favourites including 2021 UCI World Champion Mona Mitterwallner, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lejla Njemčević (winner of the year’s first UCI World Cup), the UCI Ranked no 2 and 3 riders Stefanie Dohrn (GER) and Estelle Morel (FRA), as well as Katazina Sosna of Lithuania.
An hour in, two riders had gone clear: South Africa’s Candice Lill (2022 Commonwealth Games cross-country Olympic bronze medalist), and Mitterwallner. They had pulled almost a minute ahead of a group of seven, including Morel, winner of the 2nd round...
Cape Town, 15 September 2023 - Absa, a leading financial services provider in Africa, is pleased to announce the extension of its title sponsorship of the Absa Cape Epic, the world's premier mountain-bike stage race. The extension solidifies Absa's long-standing position as the primary sponsor of the iconic event, which has come to be known as one of the world's toughest mountain-bike races.
The agreement was signed by Absa Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer, Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele, and Senior Vice President & Managing Director EMEA at The IRONMAN Group,...
