The dramatic new route of the 10th edition of the Absa Cape Epic, which takes place from March 17 to 24 this year, will be as challenging as previous years.
Both local and international mountain biking enthusiasts will be taking on the demanding eight-day mountain bike adventure of 698km with 15 650m of climbing from Meerendal Wine Estate to Lourensford.
The route, which changes considerably each year, will lead 1 200 participating cyclists, world champions and dedicated amateurs through vast distances of challenging terrain.
With its unexplored landscapes, the stage locations of Citrusdal, Tulbagh, Wellington and Stellenbosch await the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world, before riders again finish at the Lourensford Wine Estate, as has been tradition since 2007.
For three-times Absa Cape Epic winner Christoph Sauser, who has been racing professionally since 1993 and has many accomplishments under his belt including the World Marathon Champion title in 2011 and 2007, next year’s stages are quite well balanced with a lot of trails in it.
“There’s no specific king’s stage when I look at the profiles, but the heat or difficult sand and rocky surfaces can change everything.
With regards to which stage he thinks would be the most difficult, he comments: “That question can only be answered after the race.
“It’s all about the level of the competition, mechanicals and surface. No stage profile of the Cape Epic will say anything of those facts!
“I look forward to Stellenbosch, because it looks like a tougher one on paper and also because it will finish in my second hometown. Extra motivation!”
He reckons the longest stage will be the best to break away. “They also say it’s more like a road stage. There’s no such thing as an easy stage in the Cape Epic. The top teams will make any stage hard from the beginning.
“For the overall GC (general classification) riders, even if the pace is moderate, there is constant pressure such as mechanicals, crashing or riding in front of the pack out of the dust.
“The Cape Epic is the Tour de France for us mountain bikers. My next goal will be the world champs. It’s my motivation to train hard and clever!”
Stefan Sahm, another three-times winner with teammate Karl Platt, reckons the new route is the same as every year.
“It’s gonna be a painful week on the bike, but that’s how I like it. I think stage six will be the most difficult, because you’re almost at the finish line and it’s another long day with lots of climbing. It can also be a good chance to make up time on other teams.”
Sahm says stage five seems to be the most fun with a lot of single-track.
“I just hate walking sections. Any stage is good for a break away, it just depends if the peloton lets you go or not.
“On the shorter, more technical stages especially, the cross-country riders will try something for sure. Of course we’re gonna try to win a stage, but our focus will firstly be getting one team on the podium in the GC.”
