Singletracks Mountain Bike News, Reviews, MTB Trails and Community › Protected: Forums › Mountain Bike Forum › Absa Cape Epic
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March 26, 2012 at 05:58 #107728The most televised mountain bike race of all time starts this coming Sunday (25 March) and riders from all over the world are already making their way to the start in Cape Town, South Africa. Covering 781km over eight days, averaging over 100km each stage with 16300m of climbing (twice the height of Mt. Everest), riders tackle rugged trails, from 25% rocky ascents to glorious winding single-track.
The Absa Cape Epic is the race that every mountain bike racer aspires to ride and every professional wants to win. Among those 1200 riders are defending champions 36ONE-SONGO-SPECIALIZED, made up of Swiss former world cross-country champion and Olympic silver medalist Christoph Sauser, paired with former U/23 world cross-country champion Burry Stander, a South African. Their first victory together did not come easy, after injury, illness and a crash resulted in three failed attempts at the coveted title. That is the knife-edge of racing the Absa Cape Epic – the highly competitive field will exploit one small weakness.
It all begins in wine country, in among the lush vineyards of Durbanville, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. In this two-man team stage race, riders then traverse the thrilling scenery of the Western Cape. From the Cape Winelands to the shaley scrub of the Klein Karoo, through the apple orchards of Elgin/Grabouw and into the wine country again for the Grand Finale, the route features spectacular vistas, geological marvels and a protected biosphere with species of plants and animals unique to the area.ourensford Wine Estate will once again host the finish of the race and the Grand Finale celebrations on 1 April 2012. The Grand Finale will kick off with live entertainment by well-known South African band Freshlyground, a Farmer’s Market, delectable food and wine as well as glorious scenery. Vantage points will be accessible to the general public, so that all may have a piece of the mountain biking action. Entrance is free.Read more here: http://www.whistlermountainbike.com/wmb … -cape-epic
Traveling to the Cape Epic: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cyclist … -the-globe
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March 26, 2012 at 06:04 #107729
Solid start for Stander-Sauser: http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Adv … r-20120325
South Africans on fire in Cape Epic opener: http://www.supersport.com/cycling/sa-cy … pic_opener
Dust and Dreams: http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/dust-and … -1.1263424
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March 27, 2012 at 04:53 #107730
Specialized takes Cake Epic TTT: http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/mo … e-epic-ttt
Sauser and Stander take yellow jerseys for stage 1: http://www.whistlermountainbike.com/wmb … c-prologue
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April 2, 2012 at 06:33 #107731
Photos from the Absa Cape Epic: http://www.facebook.com/capeepic/photos
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April 4, 2012 at 05:52 #107732
Stander and Sauser win Cape Epic: http://sport.iafrica.com/others/787343.html
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