Absa Cape Epic

Absa Cape Epic Stars Size Each Other Up

Nic Lamond (Absa Cape Epic) / 06.02.2014

Road racing has the Spring Classics, a series of historic one-day races seen as a precursor to the World Tour stage races. And the Absa Cape Epic has given rise to a number of mountain bike events essential to the eight-day untamed African MTB race.

The first of these is the Fairview Attakwas Extreme Mountain Bike Challenge. It is the ultimate testing ground for riders hoping to conquer the Absa Cape Epic. Held in mid-January each year it takes competitors through 121km (and 2900 vertical metres!) of harsh Karoo terrain, from Oudtshoorn to the finish in Groot Brak River. It is the perfect outing for those assessing their bikes and their bodies ahead of the Absa Cape Epic – less than two months away.

With some of the world’s top international marathon racers lined up in Oudtshoorn, Attakwas provides a glimpse of who to watch when the Absa Cape Epic kicks off in March. While any pro will tell you that two months is plenty of time to build form, they will also admit that racing head-to-head is a rare and valuable opportunity to scrutinise their competitors’ form.

It was Swiss powerhouse Urs Huber from Team Bulls, who emerged battered but victorious after 4 hours, 47 minutes and 46 seconds in the saddle this year. Huber beat countryman and four-time Absa Cape Epic winner, Christoph Sauser into second place and knocked almost nine minutes off the previous course record – set in 2013 by Sauser himself.

For Huber the Attakwas is a critical part of his Absa Cape Epic training: "It was a good test for us in similar conditions (to the Absa Cape Epic) to see where we are on our way to preparing for the big race. It is both a chance to see where I am after a hard training camp, and to see if I could win.” 

Sauser also considers the Attakwas an important review of his Absa Cape Epic training:“The Attakwas is a good chance to see who’s in shape. It’s about having a small goal during all the intense training you’ve done. Attakwas is the first race of the year and one of the toughest.”

2013 Champions Jaroslav Kulhavy and Christoph Sauser during the 2013 Prologue 

Sauser reserved special praise for Czech rider and newcomer to marathon mountain biking František Raboň. Raboň will partner Sauser in the 2014 Absa Cape Epic. Although Raboň was relegated to fourth place behind the German Karl Platt in a sprint for the line, Sauser was impressed with the former pro roadie: “He definitely proved himself by sprinting with Karl [Platt] for third. I’m very happy to be riding the Epic with him. He’s a really great to be around – not only for the Epic but the rest of the season too.”

Platt is a four-time winner of the Cape Epic, and is partnering with Huber. No doubt the laid-back German is feeling quietly confident of their chances.

For Absa Cape Epic hopefuls – pros and amateurs alike – early-season races such as Attakwas, Tankwa Trek, Ride the Rock and the Garden Route 300 can be invaluable. A chance to test yourself, analyse your equipment, scope the competition and hone your trail-side mechanical repair skills. All essential parts of completing the eight-day untamed African MTB race.

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