Come this Sunday, one of the Cape’s biggest cycling challenges commences, the Absa Cape Epic. Bringing together professional and amateur cyclists for an exhausting race across the Cape. In total the distance that will be covered is 739 kilometres (16 000 metres of that being uphill climbing). But for those that don’t know, the race is broken up into several stages. Even segmented into stages, the Absa Cape Epic is still widely regarded as the ‘untamed African mountain bike race’ and is the first mountain bike race in history to achieve the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) status of ‘Hors Categorie (beyond categorisation)’.

Teams of two are required to enter this race. No qualification is necessary. But cyclists are required to have a full medical check-up by their doctor before they can take part. This will include supplying a medical history for the race doctors. This will allow the Mediclinic Corporate Events (Medical) Division to provide effective medical care at the Absa Cape Epic.

Since the race is a team event, teams are to stay together throughout the race, and if they should be more than two minutes apart at any stage of the race they will receive a time penalty and might end up being disqualified.Towing (the practice of tying two bicycles together so that the stronger rider can pull the weaker one) is not allowed either, since the routes of the Absa Cape Epic are far too dangerous for riders to tow each other. Should a team fail to make the maximum stage time, they will still be allowed to race, but with a blue number board, meaning that they will not be considered official Absa Cape Epic finishers.

There are five categories in the race:

• Men – Both cyclists are male.
• Women – Both cyclists are female.
• Mixed – One cyclist is male while the other is female.
• Masters – Both riders are 40 years or older on 31 December of the year of the race.
• Grand Masters – Both riders are 50 years or older on 31 December of the year of the race.

Just as any race has rules, the Absa Cape Epic takes it to another level with strict rules prohibiting spectators from helping the cyclists. You could be a hindrance more than a help: according to the Spectator Guide, just holding the bicycle up for the cyclist as he/she pumps air into a tyre will earn them a penalty or even a disqualification! The only permissible way for you to help is simply by cheering for your favourite team. With every race there are allocated vantage points. These are the only viewing points that are allowed for spectators. Access routes to these vantage points intersect with the racing route, and there will be traffic marshalls who are to be obeyed at all times during the race. Parking along the race route is prohibited.

Each year, the route for the Absa Cape Epic changes and this year is no different. This is what adds to the extremely challenging nature of the race, since cyclists will have a different overall experience each time.

Definitely an unpredictable race.

After the winner is decided for this monumental event, a final stage takes place, but it is no race, but an after party. You can read more about it later in this post.

The time for entering the 2015 Absa Cape Epic is past with every position taken. Tomorrow, registration takes place at The Lookout in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and everyone must be registered before 14:00. Even if you’re not participating, spectators are welcome to visit since the registration will also feature an entertainment programme to welcome contestants and their supporters.

As mentioned above, the Absa Cape Epic is broken into several stages, all taking place on different routes throughout the Western Cape. Below is a brief description of each stage. The first event, the Prologue, takes place at the University of Cape Town.

Prologue: Cape Town (15 March)

The Prologue, 20 kilometres long with a climb of 600 metres, serves as the race that determines the teams’ starting positions for Stage 1. It will start at the University of Cape Town and from there will immediately start climbing up the slopes of Table Mountain towards Tafelberg Road. From then on, its downwards all the way to the finish, back at the University of Cape Town. Vantage points for spectators are at two locations: the Newlands Picnic Site and at Dead Man’s Tree on Tafelberg Road. The starting times for the race are:

• First riders: 06:45
• Women’s elite riders: 10:15
• Men’s elite riders: 11:30
• Winner’s expected arrival: 13:10

Prize giving will take place at 13:30.

Stage 1: Elgin to Elgin (16 March)

Those that have ridden in past Absa Cape Epic events know this route as the finale, but in 2015, riders will experience this strenuous route right at the beginning. With a length of 113 kilometres and a climb of 2800 metres (the Prologue is just the warm-up, it seems), this stage will commence at the Oak Valley Wine Estate, taking riders above the Eikenhof Dam, across the rising and descending Groenlandberg trail, then down towards Water Point 2 at Houw Hoek Inn. From then on the route goes under the N2 along the Lebanon trail towards one last climb from the Thandi Wine Estate trail that leads riders back to the Oak Valley Wine Estate. There are three vantage points for Stage 1, all accessible from Oak Valley: Houw Hoek Inn, South Hill Farm and Thandi Farm Kitchen.

Stage 2: Elgin to Elgin (17 March)

While the starting and finishing locations are the same as those of Stage 1, Stage 2 takes a different route, nearly as long and as tough as Stage 1’s. The route for this stage is 92 kilometres long with a climb of 2300 metres. Stage 2 features a few strenuous climbs with plenty of single-track sections. The trails included in this stage consist of those above the Elgin Country Club and through the Oak Valley and Paul Cluver wine estates. Vantage points for this stage are at the Elgin Country Club and Paul Cluver amphitheatre, where spectators can gather on elevated ramps and suspension bridges.

Stage 3: Elgin to Worcester (18 March)

The longest stage of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic (with a distance of 128 kilometres and a climb of 2300 metres) takes riders from Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, to HTS Drostdy in Worcester. The route leads to a  climb over the eastern flank of the Groenlandberg and a few more tough climbs as they enter a Karoo-like area. They will then go around the Brandvlei Dam on their back into Worcester. The vantage points for Stage 3 will be at the Boskloof Sports Field and Eagles Cliff, both accessible from Oak Valley.

Stage 4: Worcester to Worcester (19 March)

This stage, which is 111 kilometres long with a climb of 2000 metres, features HTS Drostdy as the starting point and finishing area. This time, the route leads across an even section as riders exit Worcester, then over some manageable rises and eventually puts riders on the flanks of the Windpomp climb. The route then leads through the Fairy Glen private game reserve – the home of Africa’s big 5 animals – and ascends three steep climbs, the Skyscrapers, followed by some extraordinary descents towards the end. Spectators can view the action from three vantage points accessible from HTS Drostdy: Fairy Glen, Glen Heatlie Farm and the Karoo Botanical Gardens.

Stage 5: Worcester to Wellington (20 March)

This stage has one of the steeper climbs, at 2500 metres, and crosses a distance of 117 kilometres. Starting from HTS Drostdy, riders will face some tough climbs, notably the Bain’s Kloof Pass and Full Monty, although there are descents between these rises. Riders can also look forward to some of the best trails in South Africa, including Cool Runnings and Cool Runnings Too, before they reach the overnight stop in the DJ de Villiers Stadium at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Wellington. Spectators can view the riders from an unnamed farm that can be reached from HTS Drostdy. This area will grant superb views of the riders as they descend into the Wolseley Valley.

Stage 6: Wellington to Wellington (21 March)

Stage 6 starts and ends at the CPUT Campus in Wellington, and is the shortest stage of the Absa Cape Epic at 71 kilometres, but don’t be fooled, its total climbing height is 2000 metres, with the route offering up some of the most intense ascents. Stage 6 boasts 30 kilometres of single track, but riders will have to stay sharp as the route has a mostly up-and-down nature, granting them little time to catch their breath. One of the climbs, appropriately named Forever, will take riders up Bain’s Kloof Road at the 60 kilometre mark, before putting them on another section of the black route that takes them back to Wellington’s CPUT Campus. The vantage points for spectators are all accessible from CPUT: Welbedacht Wine Farm, Linton Park, Bosman Family Vineyards and the Doolhof Wine Estate.

Stage 7 (Grand Finale): Wellington to Durbanville (22 March)

The final stage of the Absa Cape Epic will take riders from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Campus in Wellington to the Meerendal Wine Estate, in Durbanville. With a distance of 87 kilometres and a total climb of 1500 metres, Stage 7 is set to end off the Absa Cape Epic with no less of a challenge than previous stages. Starting with 25 kilometres of fasting cycling on farm and district roads, riders just need to look ahead in the distance to see the highest climb of the stage, the epic Paardeberg. From the heights of the Paardeberg, cyclists have a rapid descent to keep them engaged as they encounter fast roads yet again before the final climb on to Meerendal Wine Estate’s Dorstberg. Shortly after this climb, riders will have one last swooping descent through the legendary trails of Meerendal towards the wine estate’s historic Manor House and finish line of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic Grand Finale, where they will be welcomed by the spectators waiting to see which team will seize all the glory. The one vantage point for this stage is in the vineyards of Vondeling Wines, accessible from CPUT. As mentioned before, spectators can also get themselves to the Meerendal Wine Estate to watch the riders finish and enjoy the hospitality of the estate, which comes at a cost of R 1,500.00.

After Party (22 March)

This is the official after party of the Absa Cape Epic, and provides the opportunity for the riders to celebrate their accomplishments made during the 8-day event. The event will bring everyone back to Cape Town, being situated at the exceptionally desirable Grand Café & Beach in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The dress code for the event is “Anything but Lycra” Casual and the cost per person is R 400.00.

Should you require any more information, the organisers of the Absa Cape Epic can be reached via the following contact details:

Tel                                                     +27 (0)21 426 4373
Email                                                 info@cape-epic.com

With the Absa Cape Epic cycling off next week, make your plans today if you still want to catch some, if not all of the action of this amazing cycling race.