Cape Epic
Mountain Bike Race South Africa
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 The
Cape Epic the Magical and Untamed African mountain
bike race has become the biggest cycling event in South
Africa. Every year around March/April all attention
turns to the most challenging race in Africa and one
of the biggest mountain bike races in the World. The
Cape Epic has put SA on the international cycling map
with a bang. From day 1 the Epic was massive, well organised, an experience of a lifetime and addictive
as the repeat riders will testify. For any cyclist it
is a serious adventure and a challenge, but for the
average cyclist it is an almost insurmountable
challenge. Going into the race for the first time is
an experience in itself, it truly is a voyage into the
unknown. There is almost an endless stream of
questions from supporters, spectators and participants
alike.
Check out this online
guide with links to some of the better resources, reviews
and websites on the internet.
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Cape
Epic Resources | Epic Team
websites |
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www.cape-epic.com
The official Cape Epic website www.cape-epic.com
is the race office for visitors and riders alike. It
is a comprehensive site with just about everything you
will need to know about the race organisation. There
are also a few great resources like the forum where
riders compare notes and get assistance on bikes,
training and finding partners. Check under downloads
for some really useful training articles and how to
articles.
Cape Epic 2009 - The next step in epic history
Absa Cape Epic 2008
Route
| The 2008 race route is as follows:
Prologue: 17km 310m in the Pezula estate
Stage 1: 123km 3091m :
Knysna to Saarsveld near
George
Stage 2: 137km 2518m: Saarsveld to
Calitzdorp
Stage 3: 133km 2340m: Calitzdorp to
Riversdale
Stage 4: 121km 2620m: Riversdale to
Swellendam
Stage 5: 146km 1819m: Swellendam to
Bredaarsdorp
Stage 6: 130km 2095m: Bredaarsdorp to
Hermanus
Stage 7: 91km 1985m: Hermanus to
Grabouw
Stage 8: 68km 1760m: Grabouw to Lourensford near
Somerset West For accommodation in the stage
finishes and locations check the links above to the
relevant towns where the race village will be setup. Book
accommodation early or be disappointed, as the Cape Epic
fills up these little places where accommodation is at a
premium. The route
was launched at the
Gala evening in Johannesburg |
Experience the 2007 Cape Epic on a computrainer™
Activeworx is
building a library of South African race and ride
routes for use with a Computrainer. You can download
the 8 stages of Cape Epic 2007. If you do let us know
what its like, mail us.
Absa Cape
Epic 2007 Results
Top riders prepare for ABSA Cape Epic at Giro del Capo
Cape
Epic 2007 World Cup Riders
History of the Cape Epic
Cape
Epic 2006 reports from iafrica.com
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Cape Epic 2007 Route
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Day |
Start Town |
Finish Town |
Distance |
Climbing |
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1 |
Knysna |
Uniondale |
101 |
2660 |
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2 |
Uniondale |
Oudshoorn |
132 |
2245 |
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3 |
Oudshoorn |
Ladismith |
128 |
2425 |
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4 |
Ladismith |
Barrydale |
121 |
1285 |
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5 |
Barrydale |
Montagu |
102 |
1590 |
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6 |
Montagu |
Villiersdorp |
111 |
1565 |
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7 |
Villiersdorp |
Kleinmond |
116 |
1990 |
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8 |
Kleinmond |
Lourensford |
75 |
1285 |
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Total |
886 |
15045 |
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Cape Epic Facts:
- The 2007 Absa Cape Epic starts in
Knysna on Saturday 24 March and finishes at
Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, on
Saturday 31 March 2007.
- The Absa Cape Epic has within 4
years become not only the largest full-service
mountain bike stage race in the world, but also,
globally, the most televised mountain bike event of
all time.
- Since its inception the Absa Cape
Epic has generated more than 3500 hours of
international TV coverage in Europe, America, the
Middle East and Africa.
- 42 nations will be represented at
the 2007 Absa Cape Epic and riders travel from as
far as Brazil, Canada, Norway, Hong Kong and
Australia to join this unique team race.
- Amongst the entrants are Olympic
gold medallists, world champions and reigning UCI
World Cup champions.
- Riders compete in teams of two in
one of four categories: Men, Ladies, Mixed and
Masters (both riders must be 40 years or older).
- The Absa Cape Epic was the first
ever team mountain bike stage race at which UCI
points were awarded.
- The Absa Cape Epic and Exp.
Sponsorship, Absa’s sponsorship agency, were awarded
the Gold award in the medium budget sponsorship
category at the 2006 Business Times Marketing
Excellence Awards.
- The 2007 Absa Cape Epic covers a
total of 886 km’s over eight days and 1086 riders
will complete a total climb of 15 045 m’s, which is
the equivalent of riding nearly twice up Mount
Everest.
- A new route is designed each year
and is entirely off-road from Knysna to Lourensford
Wine Estate.
Check out the official
website for full details of the
Cape Epic 2007 Route
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Cape Epic
Resources
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An Epic Guide
This is a growing resource of information about
Cape Epic experiences and advice on how to
complete the Cape Epic. It is an inspirational and
practical guide to finishing the Cape Epic. It is
also useful as a training program and guide for
mountain bike races and stage races in general.
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Absa Cape Epic Wiki
The Absa Cape Epic now has an entry in the free
online encyclopedia Wikipedia. |
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Participants
websites
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Spinman's
Cape Epic Home Page
The legend of Spinman going for his 3rd epic in
2006. He has some great info like the best tips
from previous participants, the ultimate
checklist, detailed race reviews from previous
events as well as tons of news on the race. Oh
and if you are doing the Epic best you subscribe
to the Spinman Cape Epic E-mail group.
Cape
Epic 2005 with Team Plan A
An account of a successful first time visit to
the epic
Cape
Epic 2007 with Team Subaru
Team Subaru complete their third epic.
Check out the training plans, training camps, bike preparation
and race reports.
Nick's
Cape Epic Page
A couple of regular full-time working amateur
racing cyclists. Their account of a successful
2004 event and less successful 2005 event.
Myriam Saugy prepares for the Cape Epic
29-year-old Swiss endurance racer Myriam Saugy
tracks her training for the Cape Epic mountain
bike race 2007. She completed the event riding in
a Ladies team. Myriam Saugy's website
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Team BBB - Cape Epic 2008
Back for the 4th epic this solid team will
take you through their epic experience.
Christoph
Sausers 2005 Epic
A diary of the second placed teams event.
Christoph
Sausers 2006 Epic Victory
Check his blog for the 2006 event, riding for
specialized with team mate Silvio Bundi, he
pulled off a solid win.
Louise
Kobin's 2004 Epic
A race review of the 2004 event.
Enjoying
the Ride
Mario Correa's Epic training blog an account
from a seasoned multi day event rider and has
some interesting information on comparisons with
the Trans Rockies, Trans Alps and La Ruta
Cape Epic 2005 Photos
Adam Baki's pics from the Cape Epic 2005. He
traveled all the way from Hungary to take part.
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