Alban Lakata and Robert Mennen will again pair up for the 2013 Absa Cape Epic Mountain that takes place outside Cape Town in South Africa. Photo: Sven Martin/Cape Epic/Sportzpics
One of the favourite teams to take top honours at this year’s Absa Cape Epic, Robert Mennen (27) of Germany and Austria’s Alban Lakata (33), will participate again as team Canyon Topeak Ergon.
Lakata has participated in five previous editions of the Absa Cape Epic, whereas this will be Mennen’s second attempt at a podium finish.
Together, they boast enough experience to handle the fast pace promised during this year’s event, which takes place from March 17 to 24 in the Western Cape.
Both Lakata and Mennen boast an impressive list of victories.
Lakata was the Craft Bike Transalp winner last year and won the 2010 marathon world championships. He is also a five-time Austrian marathon champ and has a World Cup win to his credit.
He has won two Cape Epic stages and finished in third overall in 2010 with Kevin Evans.
Last year, Mennen won the Transalp alongside Lakata and placed second in the German marathon championships. He was 12th in the world marathon champs.
Lakata started mountain biking in 2000. “My career goal is to win this prestigious race,” he says.
“I started mountain biking in 1998,” says 27-year-old Mennen. “The Cape Epic is one of the most beautiful races in the world and only a real mountain biker can win it.”
Having won last year’s Transalp with Mennen, Lakata is confident. “We won the Transalp, which is also a tough race, and last year we finished fifth in the GC.
“This year finishing on the podium is a goal!” says Mennen. “The route looks tough, but every time I watch last year’s DVD, I want to do this event again.”
“We’ll do the Andalusia bike race together this month. That should be enough. We’re not married,” said Lakata when asked about training together.
“We also get along very well,” says Mennen. “Alban is a very experienced and clever rider, and we’re both focused and know how hard we can push each other.
“We believe that we have more potential than finishing in fifth. Last year was my first Cape Epic and I learnt a lot.
“Until now my training has gone very well and Alban is also on the right track. Our aim is to improve last year’s results and finish on the podium!”
