John Gale, Mike Nixon and Hannele Steyn have ridden every race since 2004 – and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. CAPE TOWN, – Finishing just one Absa Cape Epic requires the strength of a lion and mental fortitude of a guru, but imagine what it takes to complete them all? Suffice to say those who have are few – only three in fact. On 28 February 2004, John Gale, Mike Nixon and Hannele Steyn were among the 550 riders who gathered in the dawn light of Knysna ready to embark on a ride into the unknown that would later become the Cape Epic as it is today. Fast forward almost two decades...

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 line...

Absa Cape Epic riders Johan Bezuidenhout and Fred van Zyl have 145 years between them – not that this matters for these mountain bike fanatics CAPE TOWN, At the Absa Cape Epic, age truly is just a number. Just ask Johan Bezuidenhout, 70, and Fred van Zyl, 75, two evergreen mountain bikers who will be giving their all in the Great Grand Masters category at the 2023 edition of the event, taking place from 19-26 March. Introduced for the first time this year, this category will see riders over the age of 60 competing for their own jersey. Incredibly, Bezuidenhout and Van Zyl, with their combined...

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 storm....

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, rugged,...

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 the...

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 saddle...

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 of...

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 brutal...

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. Lukas...

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 (ORBEA...

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, Thomas...

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, Thomas...

The 2024 Absa Cape Epic 613km | 16850m Climbing The 2024 Absa Cape Epic. The twentieth edition. And a route filled with untamed challenges. One that features 16 650 metres of climbing. Packed into 616 kilometres of racing. At a rate of 27 metres of elevation gain per kilometre. From the Prologue, in Lourensford, to the Grand Finale, in Stellenbosch, every stage is designed to test teams to the limit. Questioning if they are prepared for the opportunities ahead. If they can brave the untamed. And conquer as one.  This is the 2024 Absa Cape Epic route, presented by Toyota. Are you...

#SheUntamed 15 January 2024: As the 2024 Absa Cape Epic gains momentum, Absa is intensifying its efforts to promote women's participation in the renowned mountain bike race through its enduring #SheUntamed initiative. Launched in 2019, #SheUntamed reflects Absa's unwavering commitment to empower and support women, fostering inclusivity and breaking down barriers within the cycling realm. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Absa Cape Epic, and in celebration of this milestone, Absa is taking the #SheUntamed initiative to new heights. The bank is setting a bold goal to assemble...

Johannesburg, South Africa, 28 January 2024: Absa, a proudly Pan-African bank, hosted its annual Team Absa Training Camp at Karkloof Country Club in KwaZulu-Natal from 25 to 28 January in preparation for the 2024 Absa Cape Epic. Absa demonstrated its unwavering commitment to community empowerment through education during this year's training camp activities. The bank's key stakeholders took charge of spearheading significant upgrades and refurbishments at Yarrow Intermediate School, reaffirming Absa's dedication to being an active force for good in the communities it serves. Notably, this...

Absa's Chain Reaction series to share behind-the-scenes, real-life stories of the #SheUntamed teams Johannesburg, 15 March 2024 – Absa is proud to announce the premiere of Chain Reaction, a captivating four-part docuseries highlighting the inspiring stories of the 20 all-women #SheUntamed teams participating in the 20th Absa Cape Epic. The #SheUntamed initiative underscores diversity and inclusion in cycling, focusing on uplifting women within the sport of mountain biking. Set against the backdrop of the Absa cycling calendar and specifically the Absa Cape Epic, Chain Reaction seeks to...

Absa's Chain Reaction series to share behind-the-scenes, real-life stories of the #SheUntamed teams Johannesburg, 15 March 2024 – Absa is proud to announce the premiere of Chain Reaction, a captivating four-part docuseries highlighting the inspiring stories of the 20 all-women #SheUntamed teams participating in the 20th Absa Cape Epic. The #SheUntamed initiative underscores diversity and inclusion in cycling, focusing on uplifting women within the sport of mountain biking. Set against the backdrop of the Absa cycling calendar and specifically the Absa Cape Epic, Chain Reaction seeks to...

World Bicycle Relief & Ghost Factory Racing set Absa Cape Epic alight at scorching Prologue  World Bicycle Relief and Ghost Factory Racing claimed the UCI Men’s and Aramex Women’s categories respectively at today’s Prologue in Somerset West. World Bicycle Relief (Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini) and Ghost Factory Racing (Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller) claimed the UCI Men’s and Aramex Women’s categories respectively at today’s Absa Cape Epic Prologue in Somerset West. Starting, taking place within the confines and finishing at Lourensford Wine Estate, the...