WHEREVER WE GO, WE GO TOGETHER From 27 March to 3 April riders will do battle with the elements, the route and themselves. And we will be there beside them. The Absa Cape Epic. Together we shall overcome.
Absa Bank Ltd, Reg No 1986/004794/06. Authorised Financial Services Provider. Registered Credit Provider Reg No NCRCP7.
TJDR45278
www.cape-epic.com
Contents 5 6 8 10
Message from the Race Founder Messages from the Partners Messages from the Sponsors Big Tree Foundation Changing the world through education
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JAG Foundation Building positive futures through sport participation
12 16 22 24 27
Messages from the Western Cape Who and What to Watch
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Support and services that put the show on the trail
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Local heroes
Pragma A technical service providing peace of mind
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Nutrition Fuelling your ride
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The Towns Destinations along the route
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The Route Details of each day’s stage
58
Meet the contenders Bikes the pros will ride
Behind the Scenes
Follow the Race Supersport broadcast schedule
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Grand Finale at Lourensford Follow the Riders online
adidas Amabubesi An elite club of riders who have 3 or more Absa Cape Epics under the belt
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Amateur Status It’s not all about the pro riders
Editor: Adèle Tait Contributors: Tim Brink, Neil Gardiner, Gary Lemke, Ian Sadler, Dr Jeroen Swart Advertising Representative: Attie de Nysschen Design: Redwood Design - Rob Wright Layout: Andrew Steer, Dallas Cronwright Production Manager: Fenella Somerville Photographic Contributions: Gary Perkin, Greg Beadle, Ron Gaunt, Nick Muzik, Sven Martin, Karin Schermbrucker, Sportzpics, Sportograf Mapping: Craig Beech Produced by Ride magazine
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
Message from the Race Founder Ambitious? You bet! Among the many improvements and additions we see each year at the Absa Cape Epic, there are always one or two of which I am personally particularly proud. Typically, we work on these for 12 months or longer, and to see an idea come to fruition is tremendously satisfying. I am delighted that the first and final Sundays of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic will be broadcast live – the first time in the history of mountain bike stage racing! It has taken three years of planning, persuading and promoting to achieve this, another world-first added to a long list of achievements for the Absa Cape Epic. Way back in 2003, when the Absa Cape Epic concept was embryonic, we said we wanted to set new benchmarks in the world of mountain biking… It’s a great feeling to achieve another. As the race has grown over the last few years, so have our media requirements. The perfect communications partner is vital to the success of the event, and we are delighted to have Telkom Business on board, to help us service journalists at the event and in their offices worldwide. We’ve also increased the prize money to half a million Rand. This may not sound like a lot of money in the world of professional sport, but it’s by far the biggest prize purse in world endurance mountain biking and in all of South African cycling. We have played our part in stimulating SA cycling on many levels, and in the wake of our announcement last year, a number of major local races are offering substantial increases in their prize purses too. The best professional mountain biker in South Africa may soon be able to earn a million Rand from prize money alone: well-done South Africa! The level of pro-racing at the Absa Cape Epic is important. It sets this race apart from all other mountain bike stage races, and from most events in other sports too, for that matter. This year our amateur riders will be riding alongside no less than six reigning mountain bike world champions and 10 past and present mountain bike world champions. In what other sport, let alone mountain bike race, would that be possible? The professional riders attract the media; and that in turn raises the profile of the race, which delivers excellent returns to sponsors. The investment from sponsors allows us to continue improving ALL aspects of the race, and everyone experiencing the race ultimately benefits. So I’d like to say a special thank you to the many pro riders who are increasingly making the trip to South Africa in March and placing the Absa Cape Epic on their racing schedule. The real spirit of the Absa Cape Epic is imbued in the hundreds of amateurs who travel from all corners of the globe and train for months in all conditions to achieve a life-changing experience of riding and finishing the race. I salute you for your efforts. The route this year is another masterpiece from Dr Evil and his team. Every year it keeps getting better. The Prologue is back; this time right here in the Tokai Forest, where I have personally been mountain biking for the past eight years. We’ll visit Tulbagh for the first time to explore the rugged trails of the Tulbagh Valley, where a whole new purpose-built
race village area has been prepared for us on Saronsberg Wine Estate. For this we are most grateful. Another first will be the introduction of a second time trial, in Worcester. Voted the best stage location of 2010, this town gave us some of the best trails in the history of the race. This stage will certainly make for a thrilling spectacle where the leader board can change overnight, and give the amateur riders some respite in the middle of the race. With so many big names from the world of mountain biking arriving in March, we’re in for another nail-biting battle. Will the formidable Bulls hold off another challenge from our very own Burry Stander and his Swiss partner, Christoph Sauser? Or might we see an all-SA win with Kevin Evans and David George teaming up again for 2011? I can’t wait for the racing to begin! Good luck to you all. I look forward to welcoming you across the finish line at Lourensford.
Kevin Vermaak Race Founder
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www.cape-epic.com
Messages from the Partners Savour it in every aspect! A race which has fully deserved its HC status, and is also the only African race to have attained this level of excellence, without neglecting its main characteristic and true stamp of enabling amateur cyclists to ride in a peloton beside some of the best riders in the world… That is the story of the ABSA Cape Epic; a totally unique event, whose promotion of cycling on a continental level is absolutely vital as part of the UCI’s strategy to globalise the sport. A mass event which is combined with the one for the champions. The idea behind this event continues to impress, and its growing success undeniably proves this. The option chosen by the organisers has made the ABSA Cape Epic into a model to be followed by all those who are still searching for innovative solutions, and the UCI is delighted with their enthusiam and above all their competence, which once again is at the basis of the organisation of this wonderful adventure. To conclude, I would like to sincerely thank all those who have contributed to this 2011 edition of the ABSA Cape Epic, as well as to the authorities and
Back to front I have been fortunate enough to be a rider at this event on several occasions. I loved it in the “old” days when we used to trek all the way from Knysna to Stellenbosch; and I am perhaps even more enthusiastic about the shorter, more technical routes chosen recently. One year I spent time with the mechanics; reliving the war stories of each day as they emerged through broken bike bits, and observing what is done in the race village to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of the riders. It was humbling to discover how much we take for granted when we ride. The only thing I have not done at this event is race. For that I am certainly too slow, but I have plans to hop on what is reportedly a worldclass media train this year to race from highlight to highlight around the course. Obviously, the story of the 2011 edition of the Absa Cape Epic wouldn’t be complete without the perspective of friends, who won’t be quite so quick to reach the finish line. The days will be long, and there will be much to talk about. Man, this is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
Adèle Tait Editor
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
sponsors who have supported this initiative, and to advise all competitors to appreciate every moment and every emotion of these days that await them.
Pat McQuaid UCI President
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www.cape-epic.com
Messages from the Sponsors Title Sponsor On behalf of Absa, it is an honour to welcome you to the 2011 Absa Cape Epic in the beautiful Western Cape. This is our sixth year as the title sponsor of this amazing mountain bike race and we are looking forward to what we believe will be the cycling event of the year. This sponsorship reinforces our commitment to South African sports. We are already the premier sponsor in other key sporting codes, including soccer and rugby – through our sponsorship of the Absa Premiership (Premier Soccer League) and co-sponsorship of Bafana Bafana – as well as the Absa Currie Cup, and our recent announcement as team sponsor of the Springboks. Our partnership with the Cape Epic allows us to further contribute towards sport in South Africa. As the title sponsor, we are involved on many levels: from ensuring that the race is a success for both spectators and riders, to our hospitality where the comfort of our valued clients and the riders is our first priority. This year the riders are in for a great race, as the organisers have launched another super-tough route. At Absa we strive for excellence and therefore believe that all challenges can be overcome. This is also why we feel that the Absa Cape Epic is an ideal partnership, representing the kind of courage and determination needed to be the best at what we do. Watching 1 200 cyclists compete in two-person teams also shows the importance of teamwork – a strong value that we institutionalise across our Absa business units, some of which are involved in contributing to
the success of this event. Absa Capital will also be hosting the Absa Capital Lounge where all Absa cyclists can relax and “catch their breath” at the end of each stage. Absa Business Bank and Absa Private Bank have invited, and are hosting, a number of clients who are participating in the race, whilst Absa Home Loans are showcasing their home loans offering to cyclists at the Absa Cape Epic rider tents and mobile homes. Absa is proud to be involved with the Cape Epic and our sponsorship is an endorsement of our endeavour to make a meaningful contribution towards the South African cycling world. All the best to the riders! And in the wise words of world champion heavyweight boxer, Jack Dempsey, the Manassa Mauler: “A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can’t.”
Happy Ntshingila Chief Marketing and Communication Officer
Presenting Sponsor For eight years now, adidas has been the presenting sponsor of the Magical and Untamed African Mountain Bike Race. We are thrilled to see how the race has developed over the years, because when we came on board, Race Founder Kevin Vermaak, and his accomplices Mike and Sonja Hamel of Planet Talk GmbH, had nothing but a dream and a PowerPoint presentation. Even then, we could feel their passion and determination to create the best mountain bike event on the globe. Today the Absa Cape Epic is not only the most prestigious and televised mountain bike stage race in the world, it is also the best organised. Riders will appreciate that everything around them runs like clockwork and all they have to worry about is crossing the finish line each day – believe me, that is tough enough. Although the route seems to become more challenging each year, I am pleased that we now have more than 400 adidas Amabubesi club members. That means riders come back year after year, and return well-prepared. Despite their personal ambitions, I would urge the riders not to forget to enjoy the Absa Cape Epic. Ride with your eyes wide open, take photographs of the magnificent scenery that surrounds you, and interact with the 8
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
cheering crowds along the way. Memories collected here will be cherished for a lifetime! adidas wishes you the physical endurance and mental strength to achieve your goal – whether you want to win the race, endeavour to improve your personal best or simply aim to finish. We will support you in reaching your personal goal. Visit us at our booth near the finish line and reload your energy with a little nap on the Bemer magnetic therapy mats. Ride safely. We hope to welcome you all as proud finishers at Lourensford.
Axel Burkhardt Head of Olympic Sports, Cycling and Outdoor adidas Global Sports Marketing
Official Vehicle Talent alone will not get you to the top. Some of the world’s greatest record breakers were not born the fastest, the strongest or the most agile. Instead, they were born with an uncanny ability to push themselves to the limit and to remain focused on the finish line. As the world’s leading car manufacturer, Toyota has worked many hours perfecting our technology, testing our vehicles and investing in our people. We believe that podium finishes come from nothing more than working harder and smarter than everyone else. It is as a result of our determination that our vehicles will lead the way – 4x4 style for the next 8 days. As our cars survey the terrain to source the most interesting path possible, we allow the event organisers to plan each stage and afford them reliable transport throughout the event. True to the style and agility of our vehicles, we have rugby powerhouse Adrian Garvey will cycle alongside Team Toyota’s other riders. I would like to wish all our cyclists, as well as the Toyota Cycle Lab riders who are participating, an enjoyable journey – may you thrive under the tough challenges, laugh out loud at the top of each mountain, and punch the air as you cross each finish line... After all, we do this because we love it! Whatever the outcome, I have no doubt that you will lead the way in terms
of your team spirit, your drive and your love of the game. So, on the eve of this epic journey I wish each and every cyclist nothing but sheer guts and determination. And when the time comes that you start doubting yourself, bring to the fore your reserve fuel and step it up a gear – the finish line is just around the next mountain. Enjoy!
Kerry Roodt General Manager: Marketing Communications Toyota South Africa
Official Communications Partner You must have the right cycling partner to complete the most celebrated MTB challenge in South Africa. The two riders must dig deep, overcome setbacks, assess their performance and make adjustments, push through the tough times and savour the accomplishment when it’s all done! Telkom Business identifies with this philosophy. As the leading ICT Group in South Africa we have successfully partnered with businesses across the country, working with them to build communication solutions, tackle challenges and ensure they achieve their potential so that their clients can flourish. Whether big or small, established or starting out, Telkom Business is the right partner for your business. We are proud to be associated with the 2011 Absa Cape Epic and wish all competitors the very best for this year’s event.
Dr Brian Armstrong Senior Managing Executive for Enterprise Markets Telkom Business
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Pre-school children from deprived homes are left in a day-care shack where they are not getting any of the mental stimulation which is so essential during the toddler years.
The Big Tree Foundation has conceptualised a programme that builds Early Childhood Development Centres, like the Sibabalwe Educare Centre in De Doorns.
Make a difference in many children’s lives‌
This weak foundation often persists throughout the child’s school career and indeed his/her life, as they are always a step behind. We at the Big Tree Foundation, through our discussions with various VFKRROWHDFKHUV LGHQWL¿HG DQ XUJHQW QHHG IRU SUH VFKRRO IDFLOLWLHV WR bridge the gap for disadvantaged children. The Big Tree Early Childhood Development Centre is our answer. In May 2009 we successfully launched the Sibabalwe Educare Centre in De Doorns after a year of hard work. We would like to build two more pre-school units this year. The cost for one unit is ZAR 500 000 – a unit is made up of 3 classes (6 X 9 metres) and offers room for 90 children.
The major challenges facing South Africa are all related to poverty alleviation. Many people do not have marketable skills that will allow them to generate a sustainable income. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. At present small children in poor rural communities are not getting any mental stimulation. They are left in the care of day-mothers because their parents have to work, but such facilities are often a simple wood and metal shack with no sanitation. The conditions are dangerous and no teaching or structured activities are undertaken. When these children reach school-going age, they have no idea ZKDW VFKRRO LV DQG LW LV WKH ¿UVW WLPH WKH\ VHH D FODVVURRP ZLWK paper and writing or creative utensils. Their teachers are faced with children who have no skills and can’t concentrate for any length of time, and the parents of these children don’t have the necessary reading and writing skills to assist them either. :KLOH WKHLU SHHUV VXUJH DKHDG WKH ¿UVW VL[ PRQWKV RI WKH \HDU LV spent teaching these children basic fundamentals; holding a pencil, drawing straight lines, the concept of numbers, and how to write.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of many children who badly need our help. If we could achieve so much in one short year with limited resources, the possibility for change is endless if we all work together! For more information visit us on our website or on Facebook.
www.cape-epic.com
Messages from the Western Cape Host Province On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, I would like to wish all participants a successful and rewarding eighth Absa Cape Epic. Our province considers it a privilege to host this event, the largest mountain bike stage race in the world. This year, 1 200 cyclists will compete in a gruelling eight-day race over 707km with 14 550m of climbing between Tokai and Lourensford. It is a great pleasure to welcome all those who have come from other parts of South Africa and the world, either to take part in the race or support it in other ways. I encourage all visitors to take in some of the highlights of our beautiful city and province. The race has helped the province become famous not only for its challenging and spectacular cycling routes but also for outstanding sportsmanship and hosting world-class competitions. I trust that this year’s race, which will lead cyclists through breathtaking areas including Saronsberg, Worcester and the Elgin Valley, will add further to this legacy. The Absa Cape Epic has also become known for raising money for charity and social development. We are therefore indebted to the organisers,
sponsors and participants for contributing to the upliftment of poor communities in the region. I hope that the services and support you receive from sports, hospitality and tourism providers match the scenery and sporting spirit of our province. I look forward to welcoming you back to the Western Cape again soon.
Helen Zille Premier of the Western Cape
Host City “Epic” has always applied to the adventures and achievements of heroes, and the organisers of the Absa Cape Epic have seen to it that the epithet is well deserved here. The setting is unmistakably African, and the level of adventure, strategy, skills, tactics and grit sets the bar for the fittest, the most competitive, and the most seasoned cycle warriors from South Africa and the rest of the world. The daunting climbs, the swooping descents, the technical water crossings and singletrack battles unfold in the breathtakingly beautiful Cape nature, and the Cape Epic caravan gathers volunteers, supporters, crowds, well-wishers, service providers and communities along the gruelling route – all sharing in the excitement, the drama and the rivalry. International television coverage takes the race into homes across the world and entices competitors, adventurers, tourists and investors to our shores. The hospitality, services and logistics create opportunities and jobs. The sport itself encourages an interest in and respect for our environment and a healthy lifestyle. The City of Cape Town is proud to be associated with the event. It fits well into a lively local cycling culture and the opening of not just
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
nature routes for mountain bikers, but also cycling paths along city routes for leisure or commuting to work. May the 2011 ABSA Cape Epic set new standards of competition, increase the following for the event and cycling in general, and cement the growing commitment to a sustainable lifestyle in our treasured city.
Alderman Dan Plato Executive Mayor of Cape Town
Eight days, 707kms, 14 550m climbing and 1 200 riders. We understand the value of the right partner.
The essence of the Absa Cape Epic challenge is teamwork. As the leading ICT provider in South Africa, we understand the value of partnerships. Together with our customers we work hard to make their THE AGENCY P14720
businesses more successful. That’s why Telkom Business is proud to be associated with this great mountain bike race.
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Host Destination
If it’s natural splendour and outdoor extremes you want, you have come to the right place! All around the world it is passionately referred to as Africa’s most picturesque and most dramatic mountain bike race. It has earned respect as one of the toughest contests in the world of cycling adventure. Some even call it Africa’s Tour de France. It is Cape Town and the Western Cape’s larger-than-life Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race, and this year will be no exception. Once again spanning varying and sensational landscapes, the 2011 race has been described as a “perfect balance between exciting trails, challenging terrain and wider vistas”. The Absa Cape Epic creates an opportunity for riders and spectators to see the Western Cape as very few others do - from gorgeous valleys, spectacular mountains, rare fynbos, through to open roads, semi-desert, wild animals, remote scenery and even historic Voortrekker wagon trails! The Absa Cape Epic celebrates Cape Town and the Western Cape’s popular blend of natural splendour and outdoor extremes. It is becoming more and more sought-after and every year inspires local and international racing celebrities (like blind adventurer and motivational speaker Hein Wagner this year) to visit the destination’s shores. We salute the Absa Cape Epic’s organisers, sponsors, riders and media for directing the lenses to Cape Town and the Western Cape’s extraordinary panoramas. Let’s continue to unveil the untouched beauty of our city and province – visit www.tourismcapetown.co.za
Calvyn Gilfellan Chief Executive Officer Cape Town Routes Unlimited
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
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When you consider the Fortuner’s powerful, yet fuel efficient 4.0 V6 petrol and 3.0 D-4D diesel engines, the fact that it’s available in either 4x2 or 4x4, and that it can take 5 adults & 2 children (or dogs) comfortably anywhere, you’ll be forgiven for getting a little excited. 3.0 D-4D Raised Body now available with an automatic gearbox. Fortuner range: 3.0 D-4D 4x4; 3.0 D-4D Raised Body; 3.0 D-4D Raised Body Auto; 4.0 V6 Raised Body Auto and 4.0 V6 4x4 Auto. For more info visit www.toyota.co.za
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www.cape-epic.com
Who to Watch With six current MTB world champions, five previous world champs, and four Olympic medallists on the start list; the 2011 Absa Cape Epic will be a rainbow-dazzle. Current champions wear the special rainbow-striped jersey and previous champions display those stripes on the sleeves of their cycling jerseys in perpetuity.
Ian Sadler on why this is the race to be at Winning a set of rainbow stripes or an Olympic medal is the pinnacle of any biker’s career, but a win at the Absa Cape Epic surely ranks next on their list of season goals. This is partly due the race’s official UCI ranking: 2.HC. The ‘2’ denotes a multi-day event and the HC part stands for Hors Catégorie – beyond categorisation! The significance of this is clear when we note that other HC races on the cycling calendar include the Grand Tours; the Vuelta a España, Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. The Absa Cape Epic was the first mountain bike stage race to be granted such status, and whoever turns up to race wants to show their mettle. Athletes who hope to qualify for the London Olympics can earn a significant number of UCI points here, and with the next Games just over a year away, riders will be keen to get their qualifying done early. As the
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
northern hemisphere freezes, travelling south to sunny SA to train and race is a smart move – trouble is, there are 30 others with exactly the same idea! Aside from the UCI World Cup series, there’s likely to be no harder path to London 2012 than the 2011 Absa Cape Epic. Then there’s the media coverage. This is the most-watched mountain bike stage race in history and athletes at the sharp end of the race gain thousands of hours of exposure around the world. Armed with these media numbers, the riders, team bosses and sponsors can certainly recoup the effort and expense of bringing along a racing team and an entourage of backup staff and gear on an long-haul flight. When the event starts in Tokai over 1000 dedicated amateur riders will have the unusual privilege of lining up with the greats, and later sharing a joke over dinner. At what other event could that happen? And in what sport for that matter?
This year it’s Hermida’s turn to wear them, after winning XC World Champs. Speaking in World Cup terms, this is the next fastest team on paper. As friends, they’ll have no trouble getting the team dynamic right. Let’s hope they’ve planned their season’s peak earlier in the year.
Multivan Merida 2 - Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler
Genze and Kugler have both caught a whiff of success at the Absa Cape Epic before, finishing a creditable 5th in 2010. But they were closer to the middle step of the podium when they each raced with other partners. Together, these two are taking the race very seriously, perhaps a little too seriously. If they relax and mine their talents they’ll be riding smoothly onto the podium in Lourensford.
THE STAGE CAMPAIGNERS
Trek Brentjens by Milka - Jelmer Pietersma & Jukka Vastaranta
Last year we were impressed by the maturity and poise of Jelmer Pietersma, who teamed up with the notorious partner-killer, Brentjens. He was more than up to the task as a rookie and this year he has a top ten finish under his belt. Now it’s his partner’s turn to ride the steep learning curve. If he copes, they’re surely in contention for a stage win.
THE FAVOURITES
Bulls - Karl Platt & Stefan Sahm
With the athletic firepower competing for top honours, you’d never have expected to see this German duo at the top of the pile three times in the last four years. Having mastered the art of pacing and damage control, the Bulls risk the same mechanicals, mishaps and crashes as everyone else; but where others lose minutes, they lose only seconds.
Songo-Specialized - Christoph Sauser & Burry Stander
This is the strongest and most decorated team in the race. Sauser won easily in 2006, partnered with Silvio Bundi. With the young South African, Burry Stander he has collected an impressive haul of international results, stage wins and podium appearances, but overall victory has eluded them. Learning in the school of hard knocks with injury (2008), a catastrophic crash (2009) and illness (2010) – Stander is now another year older, stronger and wiser, while Sauser remains his ever reliable, Swiss self.Could this will be the year they break the curse and show their true potential?
THE CONTENDERS
Trek World Racing - Lukas Flückiger & Mathias Flückiger
This Swiss pair were the darlings of the 2010 race, winning two stages, and if it were not for that unfortunate smashing of their derailleur on stage 2, who knows…? Criticised for their lack of tactical nous, the Flückigers compensate with the speed and enthusiasm of youth. Plus, as brothers, they have an added advantage in the ever-important X-factor of team dynamics.
360life - Kevin Evans & David George
This team is the great South African hope. The Evans/George partnership tasted victory in 2008, with a prologue win in Knysna, a stage win in Hermanus and a 4th spot overall, but this was followed by an off-the-boil 2009 performance. Citing March as their focus for reaching their peak fitness, they’re betting their season on the Absa Cape Epic, so we’ll be tracking their progress with baited breath.
Milka-Trek - Bart Brentjens & Jeroen Boelen
Bart Brentjens mumbled something about retiring after 2009, but it looks like he sat about on the lawn at home eating ice cream for a while and decided it wasn’t really his scene. With a good showing in 2010 (let’s not forget he’s 42) he’ll hope to capture a stage win and if his partner can deal with this unstoppable legend’s win-at-all-cost drive, they’ll be high in the overall rankings by the end of the week.
THE CATEGORY CAMPAIGNERS MASTERS
CycleLab Toyota - Shan Wilson & Andrew McLean
Shan Wilson is one of very few South Africans to have won more than one stage at the Absa Cape Epic. Eight years on, the fire still burns in his belly, and his past two performances while teamed with SA cycling icon Andrew McLean transcended their age. This year, they’ll have a hard time of it, competing with a past podium finisher of the event (Bresser) and multiple Tour de France finisher and hardman, German Udo Bölts.
Cube Rocky Mountain - Carsten Bresser & Udo Bölts
Bolts is rumoured to have once said to a youthful Jan Ullrich while climbing in the Alps, “suffer you pig!” Hopefully his motivational speaking will reap success for Bresser too (Ullrich won that year’s Tour). Both great friends and hard as nails, they’ll be formidable rivals for Wilson and McLean. It’ll be a battle of wills, and whoever wants victory the most will win.
MIXED
Wheeler/BiXS - Barti Bücher & Esther Süss
Bücher has tasted victory before while partnered with Doug Brown in the Masters section of the race, but as in 2010, he’s racing in the Mixed category. This is a smart move on two counts: Esther Süss is one of the best endurance mountain bikers in the world; and the Masters seem a little overcompetitive this year. Without Paul Cordes and Yolande Speedy to contend with, victory looks likely for the Swiss pair.
WOMEN
Colnago Arreghini Südtirol - Nathalie Schneitter & Eva Lechner
Eva is the reigning Italian MTB and Cyclo-Cross champion and Swiss Schneitter is a former Junior World titleholder. They have each won a leg of the UCI World Cup series. Fresh from their win at Trans Andes early this year, they’ll be looking to hold their form till the end of March. If you hadn’t heard of them before, you will soon.
THE OUTSIDERS
DCM - Max Knox & Thomas Zahnd
This pair have both had moderate success at the Absa Cape Epic, particularly in the coveted final stage to Lourensford with Knox climbing on the podium in 2009 and Zahnd winning the dramatic final sprint in 2007. Knox’s laid-back demeanor and Zahnd’s exacting approach might be the combination that’ll get them the flowers and kisses they deserve.
THE DARK HORSES
Multivan Merida 3 - Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos & Ralf Näf
These riders team up again after having a great time together in 2007. That’s when Näf was the reigning world marathon champ, proudly donning his rainbow stripes.
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Who to Watch Which Pro team will win in 2011? BULLS 1-1
KARL PLATT
GERMANY
Category: Men Age: 33 Weight: 70kg Height: 180cm Best results: 4 x Absa Cape Epic winner; 7 x TransAlp winner; TransGermany winner; TransSchwarzwald winner; TransRockies winner;
Twice German XCM Champion Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2003 Races Entered: 8 2004 (1,3,4,6,7,8), 1st Overall 2006 (3), 3rd Overall 2007 (1), 1st Overall 2008 (5, 8), 2nd Overall 2009 (4), 1st Overall 2010, 1st Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Second is the first loser.
1-2
STEFAN SAHM
GERMANY
Category: Men Age: 34 Weight: 68kg Height: 179cm Best results: 3 x Absa Cape Epic winner; 3 x TransAlp winner Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007
Races Entered: 5 2007 (1), 1st Overall 2008 (5, 8), 2nd Overall 2009 (4), 1st Overall 2010, 1st Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Have fun and win.
SONGO-SPECIALIZED 2-1
CHRISTOPH SAUSER
SWITZERLAND
Category: Men Age: 34 Weight: 66kg Height: 1.81m Best results: 2008 XCO World Champion 2007 XCM World Champion 2 x World Cup Overall wins 10 x World Cup wins Bronze Medallist 2000 Summer Olympic Games
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2005 Races Entered: 7 2005 (2) 2nd Overall 2006 (1,2,3,7,8) 1st Overall 2008 (1) 2009 (P,1,2,3,5) 2010 (3, 4, 5,) 2nd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: We definitely want to win, but we’ve learnt to deal with anything! With our ride we will inspire the Songo kids, and it will be great to get their smiley welcome at the finish.
2-2
BURRY STANDER
SOUTH AFRICA
Category: Men Age: 23 Weight: 64kg Height: 174cm Best results: 2010 XCO Bronze Medallist World Championships 2010 XCM Bronze Medallist World Championships 2009 U/23 XCO World Champion
2009 XCO World Cup win Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2008 Races Entered: 4 2008 (1) 2009 (P,1,2,3,5) 2010 (3, 4, 5) 2nd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win overall, make Christoph suffer.
360LIFE 3-1
KEVIN EVANS
SOUTH AFRICA
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Category: Men Age: 32 Weight: 62.5kg Height: 171cm Best results: 2010 SA TT Champion 2010 SA XCM Champion 2010 Subaru Sani2c winner 3 x Bronze Medallist Absa Cape Epic
2009 XCM World Championships 8th Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2004 Races Entered: 8 2005 3rd Overall 2008 (P, 6) 3rd Overall 2010 (1) 3rd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: 1st All-South African team to stand on the top step.
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
3-2
DAVID GEORGE Category: Men Age: 35 Weight: 62kg Height: 176cm Best results: 2010 Subaru Sani2c winner 2 x Commonwealth Games Medallist
SOUTH AFRICA
2008 Bronze Medallist Absa Cape Epic 3 x Giro del Capo winner 5 x SA TT Champion Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007 Races Entered: 5 2008 (P, 6) 3rd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: In it to win it.
MULTIVAN MERIDA 3 4-1
SPAIN
4-2
JOSE ANTONIO HERMIDA RAMOS
RALPH NÄF
Category: Men Age: 32 Weight: 65kg - 68 when I eat chocolate. Height: 172,5cm Best results: 3 x XCO World Champion 4 x European Champion 2004 Olympic Games Silver Medallist 4 x World Cup wins
Category: Men Age: 30 Weight: 67kg Height: 175cm Best results: 3 x European XCO Champion 2007 XCO World Championships Silver Medallist 2006 XCM World Champion
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007 Races Entered: 4 2007 (4) 2010 (8) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win more stages than one!!! And fight for overall finally.
SWITZERLAND
2010 European team relay Champion Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007 Races Entered: 2 2007 (4) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Stage win and Top 3 Overall.
TREK WORLD RACING 5-1
LUKAS FLÜCKIGER
SWITZERLAND
Category: Men Age: 27 Weight: 68kg Height: 181cm Best results: 2010 Swiss CCX World Champion 2010 European XCO Championships 2nd 2009 XCO World Cup 7th Overall
2005 U23 World Championships 2nd Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2009 Races Entered: 3 2009 (7) 2010 (6, 7) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Try and win some stages; top 3 overall.
5-2
MATHIAS FLÜCKIGER
SWITZERLAND
Category: Men Age: 22 Weight: 59kg Height: 170cm Best results: 2010 U23 XCO World Champion 2010 U23 XCO World Cup Champion 2010 U23 XCO European Champion
2006 Junior XCO World Champion Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2009 Races Entered: 3 2009 (7) 2010 (6, 7) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Try and win some stages; top 3 overall.
MILKA-TREK 7-1
BART BRENTJENS
NETHERLANDS
Category: Men Age: 42 Weight: 79kg Height: 186cm Best results: 2005 Absa Cape Epic winner 1996 Olympic Games Gold Medallist 2004 Olympic Games Bronze Medallist
1995 XCO World Champion 2 x XCM World Championships Silver Medallist Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2005 Races Entered: 6 2005 (1,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1st Overall 2007 (5, 7) 3rd Overall 2008 (4) 2009 (6) 2nd Overall 2010 (2) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win a stage.
7-2
JEROEN BOELEN Category: Men Age: 33 Weight: 68kg Height: 177cm Best results: 2010 KNWU Dutch National winner MTB Norg winner MTB Havelte winner
2nd Bart Brentjens Challenge Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: To get experience of the race, for a possible good result in the future.
NETHERLANDS
TREK BRENTJENS 8-1
JELMER PIETERSMA Category: Men Age: 28 Height: 184cm Best results: 2 x U23 Dutch Champion 2009 Tour de France VTT winner 2010 Absa Cape Epic stage winner
NETHERLANDS
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2010 Races Entered: 2 2010 (2) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Stage win and overall podium.
8-2
JUKKA VASTARANTA Category: Men Age: 26 Weight: 64kg Height: 171cm Best results: 3 x Finnish XCO Champion 2 x Finnish XCM Champion European XCM Championships 4th
2001 European Junior Champion 2005 Ster Electro Tour Stage winner Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: To win with Jelmer.
FINLAND
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www.cape-epic.com DCM 10-1
MAX KNOX
SOUTH AFRICA
Category: Men Age: 24 Weight: 66kg Height: 177cm Best results: 2010 Cape Pioneer Trek winner 2009 Barberton UltraMarathon winner 2009 Subaru Sabie Classic winner
2008 Absa Cape Epic stage winner Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007 Races Entered: 5 2008 (8) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Do well overall and win stages.
10-2
THOMAS ZAHND Category: Men Age: 30 Weight: 67kg Height: 181cm Best results: 2010 Cape Pioneer Trek winner 2010 Verbier-Grimentz 3rd place
2009 Marathon Riva del Garda 3rd place 2007 Absa Cape Epic stage win Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2005 Races Entered: 6 2007 (8) 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Stage win and GC podium.
SWITZERLAND
MULTIVAN MERIDA 2 16-1
HANNES GENZE
GERMANY
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Category: Men Age: 29 Weight: 73kg Height: 178cm Best results: 2005 XCM European Champion 2 x XCM German Champion Trans-Schwarzwald winner Trans-Germany winner
2 x Jeantex Transalp Silver Medallist Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2008 Races Entered: 4 2009 3rd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: 3rd Overall in the GC
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
16-2
ANDREAS KUGLER
SWITZERLAND
Category: Men Age: 31 Weight: 70kg Height: 183cm Best results: 2010 Swiss XCM Champion 2010 3th European Marathon Championships 2010 2009 Trans Schwarzwald winner
2009 Jeantex TransAlp Silver Medallist Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2009 Races Entered: 3 2009 3rd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: 3rd Overall in the GC
WHEELER BIXS PRO TEAM 36-1
BÄRTI BUCHER
SWITZERLAND
Category: Mixed Age: 49 Weight: 69.9kg Height: 171cm Best results: 2 x Absa Cape Epic Masters Winner Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2008 Races Entered: 4
MIXED 2008 (1,2,3,5,7 ) 1st Overall Masters 2009 (1, 2) 1st Overall Masters 2010 (1, 4, 5) 2nd Overall Mixed 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: To win the Mixed category race.
36-2
ESTHER SÜSS Category: Mixed Age: 37 Weight: 55kg Height: 1.67m Best results: 2010 XCM World Champion 2010 Swiss cyclist of the year
SWITZERLAND
TEAM COLNAGO ARREGHINI SÜDTIROL 34-1
EVA LECHNER Category: Ladies Age: 25 Weight: 50kg Height:166cm Best results: 2010 World Cup winner 2010 European Champion 2 x World Cup winner
LADIES Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win a stage or two.
ITALY
34-2
NATHALIE SCHNEITTER Category: Ladies Age: 24 Weight: 59kg Height: 166cm Best results: 2010 XCO World Cup winner Champéry 2008 U23 XCO European Champion
35-1
CARSTEN BRESSER
MASTERS
Category: Masters Age: 40 Weight: 68kg Height: 174cm Best results: 2 x Represented Germany at the Olympic Games 5 x TransAlp Winner 2003 XCM World Championships Bronze Medallist
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2006 Races Entered: 5 2006 (3) 3rd Overall 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win the Masters category.
35-2
UDO BÖLTS Category: Masters Age: 44 Weight: 71kg Height: 179cm Best results: 3 x German Road Champion Giro d’Italia Stage Winner Vuelta al País Vasco Stage Winner
9th Place Tour de France Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2008 Races Entered: 4 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win the Masters category with my partner Carsten.
GERMANY
CYCLELAB TOYOTA
MASTERS 38-1
SHAN WILSON
SOUTH AFRICA
2008 XCO World Championship Silver Medallist Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Have a good time, learn a lot about myself and win a stage or two.
SWITZERLAND
JUWI / ROCKY MOUNTAIN
GERMANY
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2009 Races Entered: 3 2009 2nd Overall Mixed 2010 (1, 4, 5) 2nd Overall Mixed 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: To win the Mixed category race.
Category: Masters Age: 43 Weight: 67kg Height: 176cm Best results: 2010 JoBerg2c Overall Winner 2010 Sani2c Masters Winner 2010 Absa Cape Epic Masters Winner
Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2004 Races Entered: 8 2004 Mens (5) 3rd Overall 2006 (5) 2008 (4,6,8) 2nd Overall Masters 2009 (P,3,4,5,6,7) 2nd Overall Masters 2010 (1,2,4,5,6,7,8) 1st Overall Masters 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: Win the Masters category.
38-2
ANDREW MCLEAN
SOUTH AFRICA
Category: Masters Age: 46 Weight: 65kg Height: 174kg Best results: 2010 JoBerg2c Overall Winner 2010 Sani2c Masters Winner 2 x Absa Cape Epic Masters Winner
4 x Giro del Capo Overall Winner Absa Cape Epic History & Stage wins: Debut Year: 2007 Races Entered: 5 2007 (1,2,6,7) 1st Overall Masters 2009 (P,3,4,5,6,7) 2nd Overall Masters 2010 (1,2,4,5,6,7,8) 1st Overall Masters 2011 Absa Cape Epic ambitions: A podium position overall.
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www.cape-epic.com
Pro-Bling - What the Pros Ride In competitive mountain bike stage racing every advantage counts, no matter how small. Riders will badger their sponsor’s development team and their mechanics for any piece of gear that’ll save them a second here or there. Neil Gardiner found out what they’ll be riding.
BULLS
Frame Platt played a significant role in developing this carbon 29er hardtail frame, during his recuperation from shoulder surgery. After several prototypes they settled on an aggressive head angle for sharp handling, and longer chainstays to keep the bike stable on the fast downhills. Fork The RockShox Reba XX is a pretty standard choice. No doubt the team mechanic is well briefed on the precise pressures and rebound settings the riders each prefer.
360LIFE
SONGO-SPECIALIZED
22
Two Bulls teams will be taking part in the race, which requires major logistics and shipping over 100kg of spare parts to their hotel in Cape Town. Their no-risks approach to racing extends to their choice in gear. You’ll find no lightweight bolt kits, no custom machined bits, no superlight, flimsy tyres and no silly carbon wheels on their Bulls!
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
Parts Shimano’s new XTR adorns the Bulls frame. No mix and match among the groupsets, reliability above all else. Wheels Platt and Sahm have enlisted the services of an unnamed master wheelbuilder in Germany who builds for several other top pros. Stan’s 355 rims are married to XTR hubs. Schwalbe Racing Ralphs round off the dependability theme.
Evans and George have spent a great deal of time researching, testing and weighing. They’ve hand-picked each part for its weight and power-saving properties. Frame Scott’s former carbon design consultant, Peter Denk, was the key figure behind the development of the Scott Spark – one of the lightest yet most resilient dual suspension frames available.
Parts The shifting and braking is up to SRAM’s XX. The cranks are Cannondale’s gorgeous Hollowgrams and pedals are Crank Brothers Candys, Evans believes that the wider platform allows for better power transfer.
Suspension DT Swiss XRC 100 Twin Shot fork with carbon lowers takes care of the front end while Scott’s proprietary Nude dual chamber rear shock is substituted for a DT Swiss XR Carbon. Light.
Wheels DT Swiss XRC 1250 are the hoops of choice, using ceramic cartridge bearings, and they’re shod with a Continental Race King and X King combo. Conti Europe mounted a special compound onto the UST cases improving rolling resistance by 25%.
At the time of going to press the debate over which bikes Stander and Sauser would ride in the race was unresolved. Sauser felt they’d move to the 29er version of the dual suspension S-Works Epic. This is one of the most advanced bikes available, pushing the envelope in carbon technologies and format innovation. Frame Specialized’s S-Works Epic frame features many refinements since last year’s version including an upper carbon headset bearing cup, beefier stays & pivot bearings and a 142-12 PLUS rear axle system, all to improve stiffness.
Suspension During 2010 a very special fork was developed in collaboration with RockShox, featuring a carbon crown and an inertia valve damper and Brain internals made by Specialized. Specialized were tight-lipped about the 2011 version.
Parts Shifters and brakes are SRAM XX, with Specialized’s integrated arm/BB crank system using a 2x10 set-up of Rotor QRings bolted on with Carbon-Ti bolts.
Wheels Both riders use Roval Control Carbon wheelsets. Stander prefers Specialized’s new Renegade while Sauser quite likes his own design, the Sauserwind.
MULTIVAN MERIDA
While Hermida had great success in 2010 on his 0.9 26” hardtail, Näf preferred the control the 96 full suspension offers. For the Epic, they’ll be riding Merida’s brand new carbon 29er. Frame Merida’s 0.9 26” frame is one of the top 3 on the market and on the rugged tracks of the Western Cape, this pair will be most grateful for the velvety ride of this popular format. Plus it’s superlight and Näf is a weight fanatic. Suspension Precision is in Swiss people’s DNA. That DT Swiss’ new shock is the lightest 29er version available, while staying reliable is no accident.
TREK WORLD RACING
Wheels DT Swiss, they believe the 29” wheels are perfect for African conditions, offering more grip on the loose surfaces and a nice smooth ride.
They were the darlings of the race in 2010, emerging victorious on two of the 8 days. The fresh-faced Swiss brothers are very demanding on their equipment, and this has cost them dearly in the past. In 2011 they’ll be taking no chances. Frame The 2011 version of Trek’s top-of-the-line dual suspension Top Fuel 9.9 SSL, which served them well on the rough stuff. The hound’s tooth pattern is not everyone’s favourite, but if it makes them faster, who’s to argue? Suspension It’s Fox front and back with an F-Series Remote RL fork and an RP-2 rear shock.
CYCLELAB TOYOTA
Parts SRAM XX for both riders, but Näf has his mechanic install lighter bolts where possible. Hermida insisted on BB30 since the first time he rode it.
Parts Shimano XTR – they say the 2011 kit features the best cranks in the business, vastly improved brakes and bulletproof construction. Wheels Bontrager is almost as old as mountain biking, but they still come up with the goods in high performance wheels; Race XXX Lite, with Bontrager XR0 Team tyres.
Wilson is a multiple stage winner at the event and his experience on the off-road scene keeps McLean’s roadie weight-weenie tendencies in check. Frame These two were 29er pioneers. Gary Fisher is the father of this format. Trek has taken over the brand, but Gary still gets to sign his name on this carbon version. McLean will ride a Superfly and Wilson a Full Dynamix 29 with integrated seatpost. Suspension Wilson will run a RockShox Reba while McLean enlists Fox: “…not the lightest, but the specs state that they only require maintenance every 250 hours... a conservative figure!”
Parts Wilson has conceded to allow McLean to spec the lightest group available. SRAM XX throughout. Wilson will add a double elliptical Rotor ring set-up. Wheels 29ers are heavier, but McLean has chosen a spec that balances weight/robustness well, with Stans wheels. Wilson holds the Ambrosio Easytubeless agency so he’ll be showing off his product.
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www.cape-epic.com
Who to Watch Let’s hear it for the local heroes! Star-striped From a handful of elite professionals in the early days, the 2011 edition of the Absa Cape Epic has grown to attract the cream of the world’s mountain bikers. As race founder Kevin Vermaak said when the route for the 2011 edition of the race was launched: “Surely this is a world record for the largest number of world champions in the same race.” Six reigning World Champions will tackle the 2011 Epic. They include the Swiss Mathias Flückiger (Under-23 XCO World Champion), Spain’s José Hermida (XCO World champ) and Alban Lakata of Austria who is the Marathon World Champion. The women’s division boasts three World Champions in Esther Süss (Marathon), Alexandra Engen (U23 XCO) and Tracy Moseley (Downhill). Throw in a few previous World Champs such as SA’s Burry Stander, his partner Christoph Sauser of Switzerland and another Swiss, Ralf Näf; and you get the picture… because of its cross-discipline appeal, there isn’t really anything bigger than the Absa Cape Epic.
The strongest local field ever
Therein lies the rub for local elite cyclists aiming to become the first South Africans to win the race. As the event blossomed, attracting the world’s best riders; the locals have been forced to sink or swim, keep up or fall off the pace! As with most sports South Africans focus on, they’ve kept up and at times pushed the best all the way to the line. But at this event, overall victory is a bridge yet to be crossed by a local team or even a South African riding with a foreigner. Opinion is divided on when a home-grown cyclist might win the Absa Cape Epic. Many locals reckon it’s just a matter of time (maybe even 2011) but others such as the jovial Karl Platt, suggest anyone eyeing the title will have to wait until he retires! Serial winner Platt swiftly pointed out the tongue-in-cheek nature of this suggestion: “Guys like Kevin Evans and David George have done well in the past. They’ve also had lots of bad luck... they will be well prepared, and with a little luck, they can win...” said Platt on a training trip to the Cape in December.
Burry Stander
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Kevin Evans
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
by Ian Sadler
If anyone knows how to win the Absa Cape Epic, it’s Platt who has four wins, plus silver and bronze medals in his trophy cabinet back home in Germany. South Africa’s Burry Stander knows how to lose the Epic – two years on the trot! “We should have won the last two,” said Stander of his heartbreak races with partner Christoph Sauser in 2009 and 2010. “We won six stages in 2009 but just as it seemed we had it in the bag, I broke a wheel. The next race I fell ill on the second day. Our problem has been bad luck,” is the opinion of the 2009 Under-23 Cross-Country World Champion. Talk to any Epic rider and they’ll tell you, luck – the good type – is a vital ingredient if a team intends to get to the finish, let alone anywhere near the podium. “Sure, you need luck,” says George. “Your bike and tyres take a hammering during the race... one mishap can see all your dreams and plans disappear very quickly.” Having said that, he points out that South Africans have never been out of the race and sooner or later locals will win it. “We’re up to the task, and in no way are we out of our depth.” Stander thinks along similar lines. “Kevin and David are highly motivated, they’ll be up there I’m sure... and of course so will Christoph and myself,” he adds, pointing out that Brandon Stewart and Max Knox weren’t too far off the pace in 10th spot last year. “I don’t think I was smart enough two years ago, I didn’t look after myself well enough... also I probably raced too much,” recalls Stander who has learned volumes from the teacher that is often overlooked; experience! Stander’s big learning curve started about three years ago when he teamed up with Sauser for his first Absa Cape Epic. “Testing myself against the world’s best gave my riding a huge boost. Until then I was about 40th on the world cross-country rankings,” he recalled. “After my first Epic I came second at Worlds and won it the next year... I owe a lot to the Absa Cape Epic.” Port Shepstone’s most famous citizen said teaming up with Sauser, getting a sample of Epic success, and making the dust (instead of eating it) gave him a mindshift of epic proportions.
David George
Andrew McLean and partner, Shan Wilson - strong performers in a very strong category and chasing higher honours
Looking to the Masters, McLean predicts the toughest Epic of them all in 2011. “We’ve got guys like Bart Brentjens riding as a Master… it’s going to be very difficult, though I’d rather come second to the best in the world than win in a weak field,” said McLean. Looking back, early Epic fields probably do look a little weak compared to today, and you get the feeling McLean knows life on the mountains of the southern Cape is only going to get more difficult in future. Kevin Evans said: “It’s been an incredible journey, the way the Epic has evolved. Without doubt it’s the most prestigious mountain bike race there is... and because of that we have the best in the world right here.” If locals think that’s just a lot of hype, this is what Sauser had to say from his snowed-in home in Switzerland in mid-December: “You won’t believe it… an Alpine ski race in North America that was scheduled to be screened was cancelled because of the weather and replaced by a one-hour Absa Cape Epic review… prime time on a Saturday night!” That about sums up the Absa Cape Epic… a premier event with the best bikers that attracts prime-time coverage. Will 2011 see more South Africans on the podium?
Sauser has fondly witnessed the rise of Stander. “In Burry, South Africa has one of the world’s top mountain bike riders. With so many stage races, teams and all the development in mountain bike racing in South Africa, you have a platform… now the kids just have to use their talent, they’re good enough.” Andrew McLean is a local, good enough to have won two Epics. Even though that was in the Masters’ division, this performance is right up there. He also has a positive vibe – tempered with a touch of reservation – when talking about locals grabbing Epic glory. “We have the guys to win, it’s just a pity they’re not together. Ideally I’d like to see Kevin [Evans] team up with Burry [Stander], but I know it cannot happen,” said McLean, adding: “Burry and Christoph Sauser have an excellent chance, and if they do win, we’ll adopt Christoph as a South African!”
Problems for Sauser and Stander
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
adidas Amabubesi The Absa Cape Epic Finisher Club
To reward mountain bikers that return each year to ride the Absa Cape Epic, adidas and the Absa Cape Epic have created a loyalty programme for multiple finishers. Riders that have completed the Magical and Untamed African Mountain Bike Race three times are awarded membership of adidas Amabubesi – The Absa Cape Epic Finisher Club. “Amabubesi” means “pack of lions” in Zulu – an excellent analogy for mountain bikers that return year after year to ride the Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, as they are admired and respected. In addition to a special certificate to honour their achievement, adidas Amabubesi club members receive certain benefits: • special adidas Amabubesi merchandise only available for club members. This year Amabubesi members can brand any adidas merchandise with special Amabubesi labels. And adidas has many other surprises for 2011 Amabubesi participants. • an annual Amabubesi function before the start of the race, for ALL members, not just those that are riding in that year’s race.
• a guaranteed entry into the Absa Cape Epic – riders who have completed the race at least 6 times don’t have to enter the public lottery in order to get a start place. Membership is on a ‘per rider’ basis, so there is no need to ride with a fellow Amabubesi member to get a guaranteed start place. Qualifying members receive their invitation at the same time as riders that were successful in the lottery. All normal registration deadlines apply.
“For us it is a prerequisite that the focus is on the athlete. They must be the centre of attention at any event we support,” says Axel Burkhardt, head of Olympic Sports, Cycling, and Outdoor at adidas Global Sports Marketing. “To finish the Absa Cape Epic just once is a great accomplishment. That is why we would like to reward mountain bikers that keep coming back to the Absa Cape Epic and complete this tough race year after year, and pay tribute to their achievements.”
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www.cape-epic.com 28
adidas Amabubesi members NAME
AGE
Beech, Craig 38 Willy Alcock SA – W32 Cape Evans, Kevin Jan Van Rooyen SA – W42 Cape Gale, John Nixon, MikeWyk 52 Sakkie Van SA – Limpopo Platt, Karl 32 Jaco Van Zyl SA – W Cape Rademeyer, Henco 42 Paul Van Zyl SA – W Cape Rossignol, Dirk 47 Peter Velloza SA – Gauteng Sherman, Mike 44 Stewart, Brandon 29 Mike Venables SA – Gauteng Steyn, Gerrie Ennis Venter SA – W60 Cape Steyn, Hannele 45 De Villiers Viljoen SA – W Cape Swanepoel, Bonny 45 PeterHuyssteen, Viljoen Van Hendrik Kenya 53 Izak Visagie SA – W41 Cape Van Niekerk, Ben Wilson, Shan Dane Walsh SA – W43 Cape Arthur, Mike 24 Terry Wampach SA – W Cape Basson, Koos 52 Brett Warren Botswana Benade, Joyce 45 Stephen Wells SA – W47 Cape Blaauw, Henning Boshoff, Riaan 41 Andrew Westaway SA – Gauteng Buck, Martin 51 Michael Whitehouse SA – Gauteng Deacon, Marcel 30 Jeffrey Whiteley SA – Gauteng Du Toit, Louis 45 Chris Whitfield SA – W46 Cape Frazer, Neil Heymans, Mannie 39 Marc Wiederkehr SA – Gauteng Labuschagne, Johan 39 Silvio Wieltschnig Austria Labuschagne, David 37 Hillegert Wilcocks SA – Gauteng Lategan, Pieter 47 Jeff Wilcocks SA – W56 Cape Mcintosh, Rob Glenn Williams SA – Gauteng Reyneke, Bruce 51 Simpson, William Mark Willimott SA – E 52 Cape Smal, Anton 34 Shan Wilson SA – W Cape Anderson, Greg 51 Gavin Wood SA – W53 Cape Arthur, James Craig Woods SA – W56 Cape Baker, Cecil Bassingthwaigthe, Marc SA – W27 Tony Wright Cape Bezuidenhout, Johan 58 Hayden Wroughton SA – Free State Blaauw, Pea 51 Thomas Zahnd Switzerland Brentjens, Bart 42 Tim Ziehl SA – W48 Cape Cave, Mike Cillie, Andrew Jan Zonnestein SA – W49 Cape De Jager, Russell 41 De Lange, Aidan 48 De Villiers, Yolandè 38 Dinkelman, Mervyn 36 Du Toit, Dennis 40 Fipaza, Songo 35 Franken, M.C. 44 Garcia, Gustavo 39 Jakobsen, Cedric 47 Kamau Kihagi, Davidson 37 Kamfer, Jaco 37 Kapnoudhis, Mark 49 Kinjah Njau, David 38 Lamond, Simon 35 Leary, Patrick 51 Lemmer, Hendrik 47 Mackintosh, Clinton 33 Mulder, Nicholas 32 Muller, Corrie 46 Nel, Neels 48 Nugent, Russell 41 Olivier, Gerrie 41 Olsen, Brett 46 Roux, Peter 48 Ruddock, Geddan 35 Sauser, Christoph 34 Schubert, Karl 33 Strauss, Bryan 52 Strauss, Francois 48 Strauss, Adriaan 47 Swaine, John 51 Van Nieuwenhuizen, Tjaart 44 Van Wyk, Sakkie 48 Venter, Ennis 48 Whiteley, Jeffrey 49 Wiederkehr, Marc 43 Wilcocks, Hillegert 42 Wilcocks, Jeff 42 Zahnd, Thomas 30 Barnard, Kobus 35 Bedeker, Jacques 41 Biesheuvel, Mike 50 Bontekoning, Brian 44 Booyens, Hanlie 37 Bresser, Carsten 40 Brown, Doug 49 Brown-Waterson, Leanne 37 Bushnell, Trever 44 Cairns, Rod 55 Claes, Filip 33 Conlon, Tony 49 Conradie, Pierre 41 Cotton, Alan 41 Crous, Carl 45 Desimpeleare, Christophe 40 De Wet, Conrad 36 Drew, Stephen 51 Du Preez, Douw 47 Ebersohn, Francois 41 Eldridge, Jason 35 Eloff, Frits 54 Erasmus, Leon 37 Ernst, Achim 51 Evans, George 46 Exelby, Roan 32
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
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Fagan, Henry Fick, Chris Fourie, Matthys Fuchs, Roland George, David Girdwood, Graham Gnudi, Roberto Goodwin, Greg Green, Erica Hockey, Temlett Hough, Simon Jager, Reginald Jason, Mark Keet, Paul Knox, Max Kotze, Fourie Kraft, Ivonne Lakata, Alban Lamberts, Jan Loots, Lieb Mac Farlane, Wayne Macready, David Malan, Jacques Mclean, Andrew Meintjes, Riaan Moolman, Greeff Peens, Cedric Pfitzenmaier, Nico Pielenz, Markus Pienaar, David Pieterse, Koos Pople, Troy Pruis, Kobie Qotoyi, Nicholas Rabie, Lood Rabie, Chris Rebello, Wayne Retief, Andre Retief, Albert Roux, Etienne Sahm, Stefan Samanek, Petr Schutte, Jan Sillon, Laurent Silvis, Sander Smit, Daniel Smit, Coenie Speedy, Yolande Stander, Elmien Storm, Hennie Stroberg, Collin Talbot, Bruce Theron, Martin Thomas, Di Thomson, Shane Van Den Schoor, Leon Van Der Merwe, Steve Van Der Merwe, Willem Van Dongen, Erno Van Rensburg, Malan Van Zyl, Paul Venables, Mike Viljoen, De Villiers Walsh, Dane Westaway, Andrew Williams, Glenn Adam, Ted Adam, Shaun Alcock, Willy Anderson, Bruce Andrew, Mike Andrews, Doug Arapakis, Lake Bain Venn, Martin Barnard, Theo Barnard, Fienie Bellingan, Renier Bezuidenhout, Coen Blewett, Tim Boehme, Tim Bölts, Udo Bögli, Michel Boonzaier, Brad Booyens, Nicky Bosman, Anton Bouckaert, Luc Brachtendorf, Kerstin Britz, Andre Browne, Mathew Bucceri, Ricky Bucher, Bärti Bundi, Silvio Burger, Kobus Burger, Loan Cackett, Roy Carcas, Mauro Carné Case, Trevor Chilcott, Dylan Childes, Michael Cilliers, Johan Clark, Jonathan Clayton, Andrew Cloete, George Cloete, Nicholas Cloete, Ian Cockburn, Bruce
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adidas Amabubesi members NAME
AGE
Collett, David Constancon, Petruschka Cordes, Paul Cronje, Chris Currie, Andrew Daniel, Graham De Bruin, Coenraad De Kock, Steve De Villiers, Jaco De Vries, Christiaan Derks, Riaan Henry Dewar, Kevin Dimond, Steven Distin, Trevor Dowdle, Justin Du Plessis, Anton Du Plessis, Christo Du Plessis, Etienne Du Toit, Cd Du Toit, Albert Du Toit, Danie Du Toit, Ergee Du Toit, Jacques Durham, Leigh Edwards, Richard Edwards, Craig Endenburg, Roy Engelbrecht, Johan Enthoven, Adrian Esmeyer, Marthinus Evrard, Daniel Farrenkothen, Ray Forrest, Chad Foster, Hilton Franken, Pierre Fredman, Linzi Fyvie, Guy Gaertner, Patrick Genze, Hannes Gerber, Marius Godwin, Avril Goosen, Colin Gous, Stephan Gregory, Andrew Grinton, Chris Groenewald, Johan Haarhoff, Mark Haenggi, Michel Hahn, Tristan Hayes, Henry Hemphill, Bradley Hendriks, Colin Hermida, Jose Hofmeyr, Elsabe Hohne, Peter Holmes, Joe Jackson, Lynn Joubert, Riaan Joubert, Etienne Kennedy, Wayde Kenny, Andrew Kiessling, Gerhard Kleinhans, Erik Klohn, Gus Klopper, Koos Kristafor, Sean Kristafor, Liesbet Lamond, Nic Lategan, Heine Lawrie, Dennis Lawson, Mike Le Roux, Dominique Lemmer, Carinus Lincoln, Yannick Loots, Sirk Loubser, Pierre Loubser, Melt Maarsingh, Dirk Maarsingh, Berend Jan Otto Macmillan, Russell Malherbe, Ludwig Mammon, Ismail Marais, De Wet Mare, Carl Markgraaff, Gavin Marques, Paulo Marsh, Andrew Martin, Anka Mc Pherson, Kevin Mcconnachie, Stuart Mcgladdery, Roy Mcguffog, Angus Mckechnie, Rodney Mclean, Dale Mcpherson, Andy Meier, Matthaeus Millard, Francois Mills, Ralph Milton, Trevor Monteith, Graham Montenegro, Alfredo Morawski, Ryan Mulder, Martyn Munnik, Oliver Murray, Andrew Nienaber, Marnitz Oertel, George
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NAME
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Olivier, Leon Olivier, Arie Pauw, Barry Pienaar, Fritz Pieterse, Madeleine Potgieter, Michael Potter, Paul Powell, Robbie Pretorius, Gerhard Prinsloo, Daniel Pritchard, Charles Pummer, Fredy Ravenhill, Bruce Record, Kevin Redfern, Derek Robert Reed, Doug Richter, Heinrich Robinson, Gavin Roelandt, Ronny Roma, Mario Ross-innes, Andrew Roux, Willie Sachs, Brett Schaap, Andries Johannes Scheepers, Xavier Senekal, Petrus Serritslev, Ingrid Silva, Clive Sim, Robert Simon, Peter Smal, Sanet Smit, Kyle Snelling, Alan Sochanski, Chris Steffny, Nik Stenson, Jonathan Stopforth, Peter Stopforth, Ischen Stronkhorst, Miriam Stroucken, Jack Sumerauer, Sandra Swanepoel, Ben Melt Swanepoel, Ludwig Swart, Henry Swart, Ben Tait, Adele Thomson, John Thomson, Jeremy Till, Wayne Tingle, Craig Tingle, Ian Tomsett, Justin Turnbull, Peter Valverde, Joaquin Van Antwerpen, Richard Van Blerk, Nicky Van Der Bergh, Christo Van Huyssteen, Roelof Van Onselen, Linus Van Rensburg, Maartin Van Rensburg, Alex Van Rooyen, Pieter Van Rooyen, Jan Van Staden, Robert Van Zyl, Jaco Van Zyl, Christiaan Van Zyl, Nico Velloza, Peter Victor, Dylan Viljoen, Peter Visagie, Izak Walker, Anthony Wampach, Terry Ward, Liz Warren, Brett Wells, Stephen Wentzel, Johan Whitehouse, Michael Whitfield, Chris Wieltschnig, Silvio Wijnberg, Richard Willimott, Mark Wood, Gavin Woods, Craig Wright, Tony Wroughton, Hayden Ziehl, Tim Zimmermann, Stefan Zonnestein, Jan
49 42 43 33 42 49 38 44 55 41 39 41 61 52 41 52 39 49 46 47 34 40 62 49 41 43 32 51 44 42 27 49 58 42 33 37 48 38 41 55 40 34 25 50 48 49 45 43 49 52 50 37 49 34 43 43 45 33 57 33 29 48 38 41 41 39 32 42 31 44 49 47 52 37 46 45 34 42 54 37 52 37 40 38 50 45 42 42 48
South Africa United States of America Germany Australia Great Britain Switzerland Netherlands Belgium Namibia
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Spain Italy Kenya Austria Mauritius Portugal Brazil France Botswana
29
www.cape-epic.com
A Race for All Serious amateurs Gary Lemke discovers that anyone who applies themselves to the race can finish it... His race biography reckons his nickname is ‘Phil’; that he’s completed two Absa Cape Epics, is an accountant and his hobbies are running and bike riding. That is not particularly unusual. Many professionals are able to find enough time to put in the hours to get ready for the largest mountain bike stage race in the world. But Philip ‘Phil’ Hourquebie is no ordinary bean counter… His day job just happens to be Chief Executive Officer for Ernst & Young. This dynamic 57-year-old has completed two Epics, as one half of the Absamorigals team, with Jack Strouden. “I have known Jack for over 35 years, and he invited me to join him in his second Epic in 2009. We had a memorable ride. I don’t remember any guilt or friction, so we decided to do it all again in 2010…” said Hourquebie. Race founder and CEO, Kevin Vermaak has often said: “anyone who applies themselves to the race can finish it…” It’s a daunting eight-day slog but Hourquebie feels it is do-able. “Kevin is correct, but it does take discipline and focus. I was not even a cyclist before 2009, I was a road runner; and a rather slow one – with 11 Comrades and 5 Two Oceans Marathons behind me!”
How do you do it? Hourquebie is a shining example of how corporate high-fliers have embraced the magic and challenge of the Cape Epic. They will never be in the newspaper headlines, and they won’t get the valuable television exposure, but for them entering and finishing the event is a gold medal in itself! You have to marvel at how someone like the Ernst & Young CEO is able to find the time, let alone the energy, to prepare for the race. His modest side presents itself when he offers a deadpan response: “I can only train in the mornings before making and having breakfast with my wife, Christine, and getting to the office around 7.30a.m. I was fortunately warned that the Epic would need more training than the Comrades…” He added: “Generally, I do not ride in the week – I don’t enjoy the roads! I spend time in spinning classes where I try to ensure I get a good return on my time investment. I then do at least one long ride over the weekend with a second shorter one. In 2009 I was training about 15 to 20 hours a week and spending another 5 hours or so getting to and from riding venues. Last year I did a little less training due largely to my travelling, which was focused across Africa for shorter periods, which meant it was not practical to travel with the bike... Hotel gyms often do not have bikes so then my training is running (on the road or treadmill – not great for cycling training but hopefully this will stand me in good stead later, when I accompany my son in his debut Comrades!) Fortunately I have suffered no distracting injuries,” Hourquebie said. 30
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
He has been with Ernst & Young for 35 years and married to Christine for the last 34 years, but Hourquebie freely admits that the combination of a demanding day job and the training for the race does pose challenges. “Let me just say that without the active support of Christine this would not be possible. Not only does she show me patience and understanding when I am away for even longer than usual, she acts as my ‘sports manageress’, ensuring I have everything I need for training or racing. She will take my bike for repairs and encourage me to get out on those mornings when I feel a lie-in might be better!” More than just endurance or skill, Hourquebie believes an ability to maintain concentration is essential to succeeding in this event: “The race itself has a relentlessness to it that sets it apart from any other ultra-demanding sport. Road running has the Comrades, canoeing has the Dusi, but the Epic tests a mountain biker every metre of the eight-day journey… “There never seems to be any let up,” said Hourquebie. “Getting up over the climbs is always a hard slog, but … getting down some of them is even more scary. They look like direct vertical drops when you see them from the top. At one drop in the 2009 race I froze and thought there was no way I could walk down, even without a bike... after watching a number of people ride down before me, I gathered the courage to go myself.” He has nothing but admiration for the race, the organisers and the professionals. But that’s modesty speaking. In reality, it’s the competitors like ‘Phil’ Hourquebie who make this race the best of its kind anywhere in the world!
A Day in the Life of an Amateur… Are there any ordinary Absa Cape Epic riders? 04h55 Still dark. Legs sore. Damn, this sleeping bag smells. Why am I awake? I need sleep! 05h00 FAAARK what the hell!!! I always manage to find a tent right next to the hooter. Or they look for me, and then park the truck. 05h07 What is it with the keen beans next door? You’d swear they were racing this thing. 05h45 Teeth brushed, hair finger-combed – see, dear, I am making an effort! Now, which row was my tent in? Oh, there we go, I can see the eager beavers running through their morning stretches. 05h57 Partner? I guess I should rattle his tent a little and see if he wants to go home yet. 06h02 Right, got the bugger up, time to get the gimp kit on. The chamois cream will be fun. It gets cold at night... Maybe the cream will freeze-dry the saddle sore, and it will drop off like a wart. Hope so. No way I am going to the bum clinic and touching my toes. 06h15 Suited up and ready to roll - into the breakfast tent. Saved my partner from a fiery death. Why would you put the deep heat and the bum cream in the same part of your bag anyway? Maybe I should have left it, he would have got dressed quicker. 06h20 Made it to the food, in spite of a seeded rider stampede – they need to defend their uber-position in the start chute. Thankfully, they all weigh less than your average supermodel, so no harm done. 06h22 Right, second helping time. My appetite is back – the first three days was more like making foie gras than feeding an endurance athlete. I hope the extra banana doesn’t reappear on the first climb. Again. 06h34 Bike park. Finding your bike is easier when half the field has already liberated theirs. The tyres are still hard. Made the mistake of trying to ride out of the bike park. Landed skew on that damned saddle sore, and hooked bars with a still-racked bike. Very embarrassing. Maybe even more so than the bum clinic... 06h44 Marshal shepherding us into the final chute. Chill, dude, we have all day. 06h49 Ten minutes to go. Trying hard to be cool. My partner handles it by fiddling with his bike. If he tries to get his bar ends level one more time he might need a proctologist. 06h55 Found myself bopping along to some techno-hypnokrappo number. Nobody noticed, thankfully. I guess it beats Chariots of Fire. And multiple Hoopla!s. 06h49:30 The jersey wearers have just come rolling past, still looking sleepy in spite of their espresso-machineequipped-camper parallel lives. One year, maybe, I will sell granny and go fully-catered. 06h58 Why did I inherit my father’s iron will; but my mother’s pea-sized bladder. I’ll be back…
07h00 3… Grab bike from irritable partner. 2… Swing a leg over the saddle, apologise to the large Dutch man behind for blikseming his bike computer across the start chute 1… Thunder birds are go!!!!! 0… Well, there is a lot happening down here, guys. 07h00:25 Finally we are rolling. And the idjit behind’s STI is no longer making love to my butt cheek. 07H10 So much for a neutral zone – 55km per hour on the flat, brakes and brakers squealing like piggies. 07h15 Can we have the neutral zone back, please? Dr Evil, you bastard, 15 minutes is not enough warm up for this stupid climb. Just ‘cos your laatie weighs less than a dassie… 07h46 Still on Dr Evil’s new find. The plan is working – I have pummelled my partner into thinking I am stronger than him. He is apologising for holding us up. I should get an Emmy for this. 09h34 Gradually, we lost souls make out an oasis in the African desert – shimmering in the distance. Is it real? Is the sharp-dressed man from head office greeting us as we roll in real? Man, we love you. 09h37 Pro-class, that’s what that pit stop was. 09h42 What is the point of a pro-class pit stop if your partner can’t find the right banana. They are all squished by now, you chop. 09h51 Justifiable homicide, it would have been. THIS close. Back on the road, at last. Ride more, it will help your stress levels, they said. 11h38 Just blitzed straight past all the guys getting their special race nutrition at water point two. We are on the school-fee friendly DIY feeding scheme. My cycling CV has expanded, it would appear, since yesterday. Thanks, Paul Valstar! 12h17 I just had a full conversation with a sheep. Except, it was a bush. 13h51 My partner’s rear is all I have seen for half an hour, and it scares me that it is comforting to see. 13h57 I can hear an announcer – the finish must be near! 14h12 Can no longer hear the announcer. Dr Evil, you are a swine, but we love you anyway. (My Buddhist adviser said I must say the second bit, to avoid bad karma). We are doing the 15km circumnavigation, via a radio mast, of the hill overlooking the finish. 14h49 Finally, we can see, and hear, the finish, on a dead straight approach. No more surprises. 14h53 Finished. Thank the pope. 14h54 Thought I was getting mugged, but it was just the helpers from Pragma nicking our bikes to give them a wash.
14h55 The Woolworths Recovery Zone is all that now lies between us and a hot shower. Forget the shower idea… now where did I put that smoothie? 14h59 My partner has fallen asleep, sitting up, in a chair at the back of the Woolies tent. 15h30 Abandoned sleeping beauty to find a pair of tents… far away from infrastructure vehicles. Hung my socks on the tents so I can find them again. 16h01 Dragged our bags to the tents. Tomorrow, I must do the falling asleep trick. Got an SMS from Pragma. The bikes are washed and securely stored in bike park – legends. My wife doesn’t do that. 16h19 Showered at last. Forgot my toiletries again, but somebody had left theirs behind. For the fourth day in a row, I have had to put clean feet in wet cycling shoes. Must tie slops to my towel or something. 17h00 Headed off to the Chill Zone. Dan The Man has the mike again. He is being mildly abusive, and has squeezed in three references to the Bulls getting carrots from the Stormers. 18h05 Running late for dinner! Two beers, and I am on my knees. Sad. 18h09 Found a spot to sit. Sharing table with a couple of American riders. Recovery drinks and lo-fat stuff everywhere. Ordered a third beer in their honour. 18h30 Full like a tick. Just got an SMS with our results for the day. We moved up three spots! Wicked. Still in the social section, though. 18h45 The mad Spanish World Champion is on stage. He is a funny guy. He just has to say his name to make me laugh – sounds like a pissed-off cobra. He runs through what happened at the front of the race, giving us fatties an idea of what it is like to climb at Warp Factor 7, and still be able to talk. The first climb of the day didn’t even blip Jose’s radar. Sod. 19h17 Back in the Chill Zone. I think there is a weight limit for entry after dinner – nobody under 70kg here. Honorary fatty status for the Platt and Sahm, though. ‘Kom drink Sahm’. Germans and beer are not to be separated. 20h42 Time to veer off towards bed. Might have overdone the booze. 21h17 Finally found the tents. Can’t be arsed to do my teeth. 21h49 Teeth done, dear. Had to get up for the mother of all pees. Damned beer. 23h51 Why would anybody want to be moving a truck around now? Feels like it is parked on top of my head. 05h00 FAAARK! What the hell!!!
31
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8 days. 1200 riders. 707 km. 14550 m climbing. 1 car rental company.
www.cape-epic.com
Behind the Scenes Presenting a fully supported stage race for 1 200 riders requires a huge amount of planning and support from professionals as well as volunteers. Here’s a glimpse of their world.
Technical support and volunteers While every component of the race is essential, the riders spend a lot of their time thinking about the work of course designer, Leon Evans (Dr Evil). Faced with particularly tough sections, riders sometimes imagine that he might not have gone exactly where they have to, but perhaps they underestimate the challenges he faces: “I cover approximately 2 000km and about 12,000 vertical metres designing each stage – thankfully not on a bicycle! I normally use the Land Cruiser, but lately the nature of the route with all the single tracks has ruled this out. Instead, I chose a motorbike – wrong option! The motorbike weighed 200kg and was very difficult to handle. After crashing many times, I was bruised and battered for the next 6 weeks. Someone once said to me that when I design the route I should do it on a bicycle. I should have listened!” 34
2011 RIDE GUIDE I The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
While the cyclists are the focus of the race and get all the glory, not many people realise that the volunteers are often already on their way to positions around the course long before the riders have had breakfast in the mornings. Maya Kägi was a water point volunteer at the Absa Cape Epic in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and she thoroughly enjoys the adventure and camaraderie that develops among the volunteers: “I work as a medical assistant in Switzerland, so I just enjoy doing something completely different for a week… Most of the volunteers hardly know each other, but we soon become a family, and I also keep in touch with many of them after the race,” says Maya. It is not hard to understand why many of the riders remember her from previous years, as she sees it as her mission not just to hand out food and drinks, but also to share a few encouraging words with the riders when they think they are really suffering, and need
Leon Evans
Despite the fact that the medics have to deal with something as banal as an average of 95 patients per day in the bum clinic, Dr. Basil Bonner and his helpers manage to take away with them a sense of wonder: “The single overarching theme that blesses the event every year without fail, is the sheer physical beauty of all the stages, coupled with the electric spirit of human endeavour that permeates the atmosphere!”
to be reminded that there is an objective beyond the present. More than one wobbly rider will describe how the Swiss waterpoint-girl got them back on their bikes and headed for the finish! Working on the logistics team, Riaan Binneman echoes Maya’s wonder at the vast scale of the event, and pride in accomplishing something that everyone can be proud of. “I have been involved with logistics since 2007. It’s just such a wonderful experience to be part of the event and to make things happen on such a large scale – it is really an epic adventure for us. During the last race we move around 600 tons of equipment, including the 132,000 litres of drinking water consumed. We used 26 different vehicle configurations to move all the equipment, and the trucks travelled just under 40,000km in total.
While many of the service providers and volunteers do their very important work behind the scenes, it is hard not to notice some of the others. Ever since the first event in 2004, the Baggies have been a colourful and integral part of camp life. Some of their duties (moving rider bags) are assigned, but others (choosing the camp wake-up song) are self-imposed. Baggies work extremely hard, but they operate under a macho code that often obscures this fact. Sayings like: “There were 300 Spartans, but there are only 12 Baggies…” and “Chuck Norris is still trying to become a Baggie…” are meaningful to them. During the 2010 Absa Cape Epic, the Baggies handled about 4 500 race bags. The average bag weighs about 28kg so they moved 126 tons in rider bags alone. Their record for off-loading and sorting the rider bags from the truck is 13 minutes and 42 seconds… but apparently that includes breaks!
LOGISTICS
±280 tons to transport & over 160 event-registered vehicles are involved • • • • • • • •
1 700 chairs 170 round tables and 130 rectangular tables 23 500 m² of marquees 50 individual luxury showers 140 portable flush toilets 184 000L purified single source drinking water 4 000L purified single source water supplied per water point 1 000L Energade supplied per water point
THAT’S A LOT OF FOOD!
Maya Kägi
Loaves of bread 600 Rolls 21 000 Pieces of fresh fruit 46 320 Pasta (kg) 1 270 Rice, potatoes, other starch (kg) 800 Cereals (kg) 350 Chicken (kg) 1 917 Beef and lamb (kg) 1 012
Eggs Breakfast sausage Salad (kg) Vegetables (kg) Cheese (kg) Milk (litres) Peanut butter (kg) Portions of butter
20 930 26 910 8 000 7 200 110 833 120 10 465
35
www.cape-epic.com
Photographers Without the efforts of the television crews and stills photographers, the splendour of the African scenery and the racing would be forgotten soon after the dust settles behind the riders. These men and women are just as committed to telling the story of the Absa Cape Epic as the riders are to riding and finishing!
(L-R) Nick Muzik, Gary Perkin, Ron Gaunt, Greg Beadle, Karin Schermbrucker, Sven Martin
“Knowing the world is watching just sends that extra bit of adrenalin through the blood! Our cameramen and motorbike riders have the task of staying with the world’s best mountain bikers, and the cyclists always have right of way. Often the crew have to make quick decisions to ensure everyone’s safety. We have a fantastic helicopter pilot who not only understands flying but also the integrity of the event. A good working relationship with him has made it possible for me to capture some of the best hand-held footage to come out of South Africa in any sporting event. Few people realise how much work is required to package the material acquired by the cameramen into something that can be televised. Our editors and technicians are caged in for 8 days, hardly seeing daylight!” Mark Le Roux – Bigshot Media Gary Perkin is a professional photographer, lucky enough to travel the world and try to capture the essence of the sport of mountainbiking. The mix of environment, passion, and competition drives him to search endlessly for that iconic image, which sums up this great and varied sport. Sven Martin is a 36 year-old full time photographer who lives out of a suitcase for 8 months of a year following the world’s best mountain bikers across the globe. As a past professional racer, he likes the un-staged reality found in race imagery and strives to tell a story with his images of the sport’s greatest riders. 36
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
Karin Schermbrucker has a passion for photographs that change people’s perspectives and open their eyes. It was during a 10-month trip through East Africa with UNICEF, documenting community projects in over 14 different countries, that the bug bit, and her career as a photographer began. Nick Muzik considers himself a cyclist. He has ridden road bikes, mountain bikes and BMX’s, and done 11 Argus Cycle Tours (some from the A bunch), as well as numerous mountain bike races around the country, but after a day on one of the Absa Cape Epic pre-rides, he is content to be a photographer at this event! Greg Beadle has not been a professional photographer long, but his broad range of photographic skills is well suited to a fast-paced documentarystyle event like the Absa Cape Epic, and his BMW GS 1200 Adventure takes him to those hard to reach locations at which he enjoys shooting. Ron Gaunt is an award-winning photographer. In 2006 one of his pictures won the Spirit of Laureus award and ranked in the top 100 news images in the UK news media for 2005. He now lives in South Africa and is a regular contributor to national newspapers and magazines. Sportograf implies photographer & sportsman, but also sportsman & photographer… As competitive athletes in several disciplines, this organisation has a natural affinity to sport; they respect the performance of every athlete, and honour this with professional quality pictures in the best locations.
37
www.cape-epic.com
Behind the Scenes Peace of Mind is the Pragma Promise
In 2011, Pragma will again join forces with the organisers of the Absa Cape Epic to offer the ultimate race experience for the participants. “We have proven that every service we deliver at the race is approached professionally with detailed planning, adequate support and competent workers to execute these tasks; a significant investment to ensure the peace of mind of the riders,” says Adriaan Scheeres, CEO of Pragma. The Pragma Bike Wash was nominated as the best overall race village service by the riders in 2010. In 2011 this has been extended to offer a more integrated service: • At the finish line, a Finish Line Service crew-member will take a rider’s bike so that the cyclist can go directly to the Woolworths Recovery zone to replenish lost energy. • The bike will be registered on On Key Event Asset Management System (EAMS) software system as it enters the Bike Wash area. • The bike will then be carefully yet thoroughly washed with an approved bio-degradable, solvent-free gel soap. • When the bike leaves the wash area, an SMS will be sent to the rider informing him/her that the bike is clean and parked in the Bike Park. • All bikes are parked according to race numbers, and can be retrieved easily by the riders. • The Pro Tech Zones are mini service points where the top 30 pro teams can do some quick maintenance on their bikes. The teams 38
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
will have access to their personal spares provided in toolboxes which will be replenished daily. “The work we do at the Absa Cape Epic is symbolic of what we do every day…. We take care of your most important physical asset during the race, keeping it clean etc. so it will take you through to the end. We would like to invite the first-time riders to make use of the Finish Line and Bike Wash Services from day one. Our experience is that riders are hesitant to hand over their bikes at first, however they soon realise the benefit and convenience of having clean bikes, before servicing them for the next day’s ride. By the later stages of the race, bikes are unceremoniously handed to the Pragma service to be taken care of,” says Corneli Vorster, Pragma Events Coordinator. “Pragma is a Physical Asset Management company, with major clients in the mining, manufacture, utilities and facilities sectors to the extent of 3.5 million locations globally. Our clients understand our passion and drive to ensure that they can have peace of mind over the performance of their assets, controlled maintenance budgets and contained risk. We will do the same for every rider at the Absa Cape Epic,” Scheeres concludes.
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Energy Crisis ‘Massive energy consumption’ is how Dr Jeroen Swart describes the demands on the body’s reserves during the Absa Cape Epic. He should know. As head of Performance Cycling at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town, he conducted the ultimate field test – he rode it in 2010. Replacing the spent energy during and after each stage is one of the most critical factors that will determine performance, particularly later in the race. There are volumes of research from all over the world detailing the effects of various foods and fluids. We caught up with Dr. Swart and asked him what the latest scientific evidence is telling us about eating right.
Q: How much energy does the average rider expend during a big day out at the Absa Cape Epic? A: A mid-fielder weighing 80kg would burn 9 000-10 000 calories on one of the longer stages. That’s 5x what he’d use during a normal day at the office. In fast food terms, it’s about 25 quarter pound burgers with cheese! Q: What are the common mistakes people make in their nutritional approach? A: Optimal nutrition starts with the correct breakfast. Most riders believe that a breakfast of oats or other low GI food is best, but some low GI foods can take up to 8 hours to digest, going well into the middle of a race or Epic stage. Diverting blood to the small intestine to continue the digestive process is going to reduce blood flow to working muscle, lowering performance. Worse yet, the presence of food in the small intestine can result in abdominal cramps and possibly diarrhoea. Another downside is that the continuous delivery of glucose into the bloodstream before the start causes insulin values to stay elevated, rapidly lowering blood glucose once the race starts and muscles start taking up glucose in larger quantities. This can cause a sluggish feeling or light-headedness in the first minutes of the race, losing a rider his valuable position in the bunch or his sense of humour. Rather eat an easily digestible meal about 60-90 minutes before the start. An example would be 2 slices of toast with jam and a banana. Q: What about on the bike, what do you consider ‘best practice’? A: Carbs! Once on the bike, the most important goal is to ingest carbohydrates and replace the energy being consumed. Carbohydrates are by far the most important fuel source during exercise and maximising their digestion and absorption is the key to delaying the onset of fatigue. 40
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
The easiest way to ingest carbohydrates is in the form of a carbohydrate drink. The human body can absorb approximately 500ml of fluid each hour. In addition, working muscles can metabolise only 60-80 grams of carbohydrate each hour. Most commercially available drinks deliver about 40-50 grams of carbohydrate per 500ml of drink, just short of the ideal amount. So in practical terms, riders should drink about 500ml of a commercial drink each hour and then add a few extra carbohydrates in the form of a gel or an easily digestible energy bar. Q: What about protein? A: Yes, during prolonged endurance exercise, increasing amounts of protein are used as an energy source. Research shows that an addition of approximately 10-15% protein to beverages improves performance and also reduces post exercise muscle damage. Newer commercial drinks therefore contain extra protein in the form of either hydrolysed whey protein or other proprietary short chains of amino acids such as Peptopro. Q: What about afterwards, would those Woolies sandwiches fall into the ‘good scientific approach’ category? A: After exercise, the enzyme responsible for restoring carbohydrate, glycogen synthase, is very active in the first hour. Ingesting carbohydrates soon after exercise is therefore far more important to the recovery process than ingesting protein. As a result, the ideal post exercise recovery drink is one that consists mostly of carbohydrate and an additional 10-15% protein to halt the catabolism of muscle. So yes, a great example of this type of meal is one of those delicious sandwiches from Woolworths that we received at the finish of each stage. Two slices of bread (the carbohydrate) and some great tasting meat or cheese (the protein). Wolf it down!
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
Towns and Destinations Because there is so much to see and do in a relatively small area, the Western Cape province is divided into six tourism regions. The journey of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic route starts with a prologue in the city of Cape Town, and then heads into the Cape Winelands region, to the towns of Tulbagh and Worcester. Elgin, the next destination, is in the Cape Overberg, before the race returns to Somerset West in the Helderberg region of Cape Town for the Grand Finale. Tokai A national park within the limits of a city is pretty unusual, but Cape Town is unique, as cities go! The Tokai forest lies within the Table Mountain National Park, on the steep eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Here a network of cycling trails, hiking paths, horse tracks and other facilities have been established among the trees. The history of Tokai is closely intertwined with the forestry trade, and some of the trees in the adjacent arboretum date back to roughly 1880, when trees from all around the world were planted here to establish which of them would grow well. Sections of the Pine and Eucalyptus trees once grown here for commercial purposes are now being removed to make way for indigenous trees. The race venue in Tokai is the Chrysalis Academy; a stunning piece of real estate for a social development organisation targeting vulnerable youth in the city!
Saronsberg/Tulbagh
The race travels approximately 120km to the north-east of Cape Town for the start of the first stage at the Saronsberg Wine Estate, near the town of Tulbagh. The town is virtually completely surrounded by mountains, with the Obiqua mountains on the west, the Witzenberg on the eastern side (it snows here in winter!) and the Winterhoek mountains of which the Saronsberg is part, to the north. Land was allocated to the first European Settlers in the fertile Tulbagh Valley in 1700, and the townsfolk led a somewhat unremarkable existence in their isolated valley until an earthquake (registering 3.6 on the Richter scale) struck the area in 1969. This shook things up literally as well as figuratively! Today Church Street in Tulbagh boasts the greatest concentration of restored historical buildings of any street in South Africa. The epicentre of the quake was in fact the Saronsberg, where Saronsberg Wine Estate nestles at the foot of the mountain. Although some original vines survived the quake, this is now a cutting edge southern hemisphere enterprise with a flair for internationally acclaimed blended wines and a tasting room that houses a notable collection of contemporary works of art, overlooking a sculpture garden. No effort was spared in creating a campsite for the riders at the estate.
Worcester
July 2010
January 2011 - this field was specially prepared for the campsite!
After two days near sleepy Tulbagh, the race heads towards Worcester, though certainly not in a straight line. The largest town in the Western Cape interior and on the main arterial to Johannesburg, Worcester has been a bustling commercial, cultural and administrative centre almost since the town was founded in 1822. Today the surrounding Breede River Valley is the largest wine and brandy-producing region in South Africa – 33 wineries produce and bottle here. If you have forgotten to pack something, you might well be able to buy it in Worcester at one of the shopping centres near the race village on the grounds of Worcester Gymnasium School. Worcester is hemmed in by mountains, and these feed the fertile valleys of the Breede and Hex rivers, which pass either 43
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side of the town. With verdant valleys rising up on all sides, the Karoo National Botanic garden, where most of the time trial will be ridden on the edge of the town, comes as a surprise. The beauty of 140 hectares of unique semi-desert vegetation is on a completely different scale from the grand mountains; with the low, autumn toned plants and rocks best appreciated close-up, while moving slowly! Worcester was voted the best stage location by the riders in 2010.
of the two British soldiers who guarded him on the farm during his internment! Viljoen was also a gifted farmer, and he established the first commercial deciduous fruit orchards, and vineyards in the Elgin valley. His descendants are still on the estate.
Lourensford
Oak Valley/Elgin Since this journey started with the incongruity of a national park in a city, it is only fitting that it should draw to an end near a hydro-electric power station situated in a UNESCO protected reserve! The Palmiet Pumped Storage Hydro-electric Scheme operates out of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, set aside to protect the more than 1 600 fynbos biome plant species that thrive in the Cape Floral Kingdom – the smallest of the world’s floral kingdoms. If you have to stop to remove some very tough little plants with fine leaves from your jockey-wheels in this vicinity, we hope you give them a decent burial… Country life intermingled with cutting-edge agri-science in fact characterises the whole Elgin Valley, which is a patchwork of hills and dales, rivers and dams, surrounded by the mountains of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Shielded by these mountains, the Elgin valley produces unique coldclimate wines, deciduous fruits and a variety of modern, chic products and lifestyle experiences for the city folk who live just a mountain pass away. Elgin was probably named after the Scottish town at the request of the immigrant farmer who provided the land for the railway station that originally took the local apples to market. Oak Valley Estate, where the race village is set up is typical of the area, with 1786 hectares devoted to rearing free-range beef, orchards of apples and pears, vineyards, and greenhouses producing cut flowers… And a network of mountain bike tracks among the 4 000 oak trees planted by Sir Antonie Viljoen, the founder of the estate some time around 1898. Viljoen was an exceptional character; a qualified medical doctor, he served as a Senator in the Cape Parliament and was knighted in 1916 for his efforts to bring together Boer and Brit in the bitter aftermath of the Boer War, during which he was placed under house arrest after he signed up as a medical officer with the Boer army. He paid for the services 44
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
The Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West was established in 1700, following the deportation of then Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel, and the division of his farm, Vergelegen into four portions, of which Lourensford was one. The farm is steeped in colourful history and heritage, and some of the earliest traces of human activity yet found in the Hottentots Holland Valley come from Grootnek and Uitzicht on the estate where winter rains leached out early and middle Stone Age artifacts (150,000 – 200,000 years BC)! Today the estate is owned by Christo Wiese, a Cape industrialist and retail magnate, who runs a progressive, tight ship. The ultra-modern winery harnesses technology unique to the southern hemisphere, but apparently it would all be worthless without the magnificent soils and diverse micro-climates in the hills and dales of the farm, which create the ideal terroir for what are emerging as world-beating wines. Almost 350 hectares of the estate are under fruit, and the mountain slopes are covered by Pine plantations, spanning approximately 900 hectares. The farm also cultivates Buchu (an indigenous herb) and Trout. Lourensford is an enthusiastic participant in efforts to preserve the unique plants of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the general biodiversity of the estate.
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8th Absa Cape Epic Route The perfect setting for another Magical and Untamed African Mountain Bike Race
The route in brief
Mapping: Craig Beech
Start / Finish
Distance (Km) Climbing (m)
Prologue Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
Chrysalis Academy, Tokai Forest / Chrysalis Academy Saronsberg Wine Estate, Tulbagh / Saronsberg Saronsberg / Saronsberg Saronsberg / Worcester Gymnasium Worcester / Worcester Worcester / Oak Valley in the Elgin Valley
27 89 104 125 32 (TT) 143
750 2 050 2 300 1 900 800 2 350
Stage 6 Stage 7 Total
Oak Valley / Oak Valley Oak Valley / Lourensford Wine Estate
119 68 707
2 700 1 700 14 550
You can only ride the route of the Absa Cape Epic as a participant or as a member of the Epic Trippers programme. Much of the route is on private land, belonging to landowners who support the Absa Cape Epic and open their gates for the race. This land is NOT open for general mountain biking, and riders who are found to trespass there will receive a lifetime ban from the race.
Note: Routes are subject to change, and separate batch start times will be used to avoid congestion on the course. Please pay attention during the race briefings and note your batch start times.
Water Point Sponsors
Prologue SUNDAY 27 MARCH
START AND FINISH VENUE: CHRYSALIS ACADEMY, TOKAI FOREST
PORT SUPERS 3H00 1 07H00 -
DISTANCE: 27km CLIMBING: 750m
The Tokai Forest, part of Table Mountain National Park hosts the prologue of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic. In addition to the well-known and -loved mountain biking trails in the forest, riders can look forward to some tough climbs, fast descents and fast-flowing singletrack. As a special concession, the route designers were granted access to some of the forestry trails, where cyclists aren’t usually welcome! With easy access for spectators, the riders can look forward to some much-needed support on the testing 27km route. This showcase event is a race against the clock to determine the seeding in the field, and decide which teams will wear the coveted zebra-striped leaders’ jerseys at the start of stage 1.
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
Stage 1 MONDAY 28 MARCH
DISTANCE: 89km CLIMBING: 2 050m
START AND FINISH VENUE: SARONSBERG WINE ESTATE OUTSIDE TULBAGH
Stage 1, with a distance of 89km, may sound short, but tough first stages are a tradition at the Absa Cape Epic and Dr. Evil describes this day as “seriously hard”. Initially, the flat roads give few clues of what is to come. Soon after leaving town, short but incredibly steep, rough and loose climbs will appear, and on the treacherous descents, volleyball-sized rocks and sand patches pock the little-used dual tracks. Sign-boards indicating danger are rare at the Cape Epic, but when you see them, you may want to unclip… While the pro-riders will make short work of it, the first 50km may take back-markers over 5 hours. The stage’s last climb will bring riders to the top of one of most precarious and difficult downhills ever seen at this legendary mountainbike stage race. With large rocks, deep ruts and a sheer drop to the left, riders will need to take it slow.
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Stage 2 START AND FINISH VENUE: SARONSBERG WINE ESTATE OUTSIDE TULBAGH
DISTANCE: 104km CLIMBING: 2 300m
Y SUPERC
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
TUESDAY 29 MARCH
A 12km steady upward drag will take riders to a 6km climb on an ancient Voortrekker wagon trail, specially opened for the race. At the top, the 18km mark, riders will have already ascended almost 1 000m and Dr Evil thinks half the field may have to do some walking. His advice is not to dawdle too much here, because it is an out-and-back route, and those who have not cleared the climb when the pro’s return from their adventures will be cut off! With this stage’s major obstacle out of the way, the Witzenberg Valley opens up ahead, with the route looping clockwise, following the buffer zone between orchards and mountainside. A look at the profile shows that the tracks are far from flat, but a short section of singletrack will compensate the labours of the first 50km. If it is a hot day in the valley, riders will be tempted to take a dip in one of the dams dotted along the route as they begin to head home. After a 1.5km rise back to the top of the wagon trail comes the descent; ample reward for the hard work invested on the way up. On a clear day, the unmistakable silhouette of Table Mountain will be visible from the crest. Riders then descend towards town for a good night’s rest.
Stage 3 WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH
DISTANCE: 125km CLIMBING: 1 900m
START VENUE: SARONSBERG WINE ESTATE OUTSIDE TULBAGH FINISH VENUE: WORCESTER GYMNASIUM IN WORCESTER
On the fast roads out of town, riders will cover 13km before the first climb. It is steep at times and very loose, requiring hard bursts of effort to gain momentum over the rockiest parts. “It is a back-breaker and there isn’t much respite…” is Dr. Evil’s cheerful account. If there were ever a race-week theme, it would be ‘from effort comes reward’. After the 4km climb, riders will arrive at a plateau with a picture book-beautiful valley nestled between the spectacular mountains. There will be little time to look around during the race though – the deeply rutted descent tests rider and equipment alike. After some smooth farm roads, the tyres will be put to the test, as devil thorns lie in wait on the more rocky tracks. A long drag upwards on a rough path leads to a remote hut at the foot of the bare rock cliff-face on the mountainside. Water point 2 at Jason’s Hill Wine Farm will offer some relief, before riders tackle the last section on which Absa Cape Epic veterans will have déjà vu on the steep climb and fast descent leading to water point 3 - just when they thought they knew their way into the race village, Dr Evil throws them a curve ball.
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Stage 4 START AND FINISH VENUE: WORCESTER GYMNASIUM IN WORCESTER
DISTANCE: 32km CLIMBING: 800m
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
THURSDAY 31 MARCH
Stage 4 will mark another first for the Absa Cape Epic – two time trials in one race – with a 32km route through the foothills of Brandwacht. Riders will traverse the unique semi-desert environment of the Karoo Botanical Garden to the western side of Worcester on rough dual track, with a new 5km loop past the local golf course. The route data promises only 800m of climbing, but over such a short distance, it requires hard effort. As usual, the top teams will leave at 1-minute intervals, racing against the clock; some looking for a stage win and others to consolidate. Experienced amateurs will save themselves on the ride and spend the day recharging their bodies in preparation for the second half of their Absa Cape Epic adventure.
IT CAN’T GET MORE CONVENIENT THAN THIS 3 ENERGY GELS IN 1 TUBE
CARBOHYDRATE: 33.0g
SODIUM: 333mg
POTASSIUM: 192mg ENERGY: 582kJ CAFFEINE: 75mg MSM: 153mg PHOSPHORUS: 168mg FIBRE: 2.1g
CREATINE: 450mg VITAMIN C: 225mg
NO STICKY FINGERS Just flip cap with teeth and consume FLAVOURS - Peach flavour (Caffeine Boost) - Unflavoured LONGER LASTING 1 Vooma gel tube = 3 x Vooma gel sachets FLIP-TOP CAP for one-handed ease of use Nutritional information per 90g tube
INSTANT ENERGY, SUPER CONVENIENT! USN’s NEW VOOMA GEL is scientifically designed to assist in ensuring optimal energy delivery through the addition of short- and long-chain carbohydrates. VOOMA GEL will ensure that phosphate levels are maintained during an endurance event, as well as that the necessary electrolytes are provided for adequate homeostasis in and around the muscle tissue and optimal muscle function. 1 VOOMA GEL TUBE = 3 VOOMA GEL SACHETS
PERFORM FASTER HARDER LONGER 53
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Stage 5 START VENUE: WORCESTER GYMNASIUM IN WORCESTER FINISH VENUE: OAK VALLEY IN THE ELGIN VALLEY
DISTANCE: 143km CLIMBING: 2 350m
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2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
FRIDAY 1 APRIL
Stage 5 will be a truly epic day out, and the longest stage in many years; with fast open roads separating three major obstacles. Riders will be wise to save their strength and cooperate with other teams to form larger groups, taking turns at the front to lighten the load. The first climb of the day will be a shock to the system, not only from the gradient but also the track’s surface. Only the fittest and best bike handlers are likely to make it up without dabbing a foot. As with everything, what goes up must come down, and those with full suspension bikes will be grateful for their weapon of choice. More open roads will help get some kilometres under the belt before the radio mast comes into view. Down the other side of this deceptive climb is a fast chute into farmlands and a set of rolling hills that’ll deaden the legs of even the most hardened campaigner. At the 100km mark, riders will reach the foot of Groenlandberg, the grand old legend inviting riders back in 2011 thanks to Cape Nature Conservation. The 15% gradient on the concrete path should be paced conservatively, with the remainder of the climb taking most riders well over an hour to complete. The north-facing slope will make for a challenging ascent on a hot afternoon, but the rocky downhill section leads on a fairly direct path to the famed Oak Valley singletrack, which has been extended!
Stage 6 SATURDAY 2 APRIL
DISTANCE: 119km CLIMBING: 2 700m
START AND FINISH VENUE: OAK VALLEY IN THE ELGIN VALLEY
In the penultimate stage, competitors will be weary. The route profile and the total ascent show how they will be tested right to the end of the week on this brutal Oak Valley loop. For the second time in two days, riders head over Groendlandberg, this time following the 2010 route in reverse. After crossing the R43 riders need to come to terms with a tough sandy climb, nicknamed ‘The Beeatch’. A short section on Highlands Road will be a relief before more loose and partially sandy climbing – which will be rewarded with a dramatic view over the Atlantic Ocean, the Botriver mouth and Kleinmond. One last climb leads them through another Cape Nature area featuring some rare fynbos. Shortly after, riders get to enjoy the flowing single tracks of Lebanon, before they dip under the N2 for more fun singletrack through Thandi and back home to Oak Valley – a great way to finish a strenuous day in the saddle.
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WANT TO ENJOY THE EPIC? DON’T START WITHOUT EPIC PRO
The ABSA Cape Epic is one of the most brutal endurance sport races in the world. You don’t start the race with inferior gear, old tyres or a cheap bike, do you? You’ve prepared for hundreds of hours over thousands of kilometres in order to suffer as little as possible right? Well why risk all that with inadequate energy and recovery supplementation? What you feed your muscles before, during and after each stage of the Epic will determine whether you suffer, enjoy the adventure or not finish at all. DAILY RECOVERY Everyone knows that you need a carb drink for energy during your ride. But for tired, damaged muscles to recover during and after long hard rides, you need a combination of easily digestible protein and quality carbohydrates. In addition to that, your body needs to replenish phosphate and electrolyte levels.
Protein consists of amino acids, which are responsible for thousands of bodily functions, including optimal brain and hormone function. During intense physical activity your muscles stress and fibres break down (catabolism) and during the Cape Epic even more so. The heavier you are, the longer you’re likely to ride each stage and the more you break down. Muscle breakdown causes toxic ammonia build-up and an increase of harmful free radicals that could significantly hamper performance. Damaged and tired muscles can only recover optimally with protein. So, to get back on your bike for the next stage with strong legs and a replenished system, you need to consume the right amount at the right time. CARBS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH Carbohydrates are a source of energy and extremely important, especially during your rides. But carbs alone do not – and cannot – recover damaged muscle tissue. Supplementing with carbs alone will give you energy and the more carbs you ingest, the longer you will last until you deplete your amino acid pool. Your amino acid pool is the amount of available amino acids in muscle cells, which are extremely important for recovery and performance. Once this amino acid pool is depleted you become weaker, your nitrogen levels (important for strength) – among other essential functions – drop or become compromised and it could take up to seven days for your body to recover completely. For most, riding the Cape Epic is about finishing comfortably and in the shortest possible time and enjoying the experience...
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THE SOLUTION USN EPIC PRO ALL-IN-ONE is a scientifically formulated performance and recovery supplement engineered specifically for one-day ultra-endurance events, events and training sessions lasting longer than 3 hours and stage races like the Cape Epic. USN EPIC PRO ALL-IN-ONE consists of:
t A perfect ratio of ultra-premium carbohydrates from Vitargo® and four other different low-medium GI carb sources t Ultra-premium proteins from hydrolysed casein, PeptoPro® and hydrolysed whey protein t Free-form amino acids like ȕ-Alanine, L-Glutamine, LCarnitine and L-Tyrosine. t Its exact composition of minerals and electrolytes – in easily absorbed forms – are sucked up by working or depleted muscles to hydrate cells. EPIC PRO ALL-IN-ONE is a true pre-digested, unparalleled endurance performance fuel with all the necessary building blocks and recovery nutrients to ensure you improve the more you ride – no going backwards! WHEN Before and during each stage with another full serving immediately afterwards. A further serving can be taken each night. NO PRESERVATIVES NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURANTS NO BANNED SUBSTANCES
Podium contenders Burry Stander, David George and Kevin Evans are leaving nothing to chance and have placed their trust in USN Epic Pro All-in-One to ensure they are optimally nourished throughout the 2011 Cape Epic. 2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas www.usn.co.za
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Stage 7 SUNDAY 3 APRIL
START VENUE: OAK VALLEY IN THE ELGIN VALLEY FINISH VENUE: LOURENSFORD WINE ESTATE IN SOMERSET WEST
PORT SUPERS 3H00 1 07H00 DISTANCE: 68km CLIMBING: 1 700m
It is the same every year – the last day of the Absa Cape Epic might be short but it is never easy. Old Viljoen’s Pass and Nuweberg remind riders that it is not over yet – at least the punishing Buys se Pad is not part of the plan this year, and there is singletrack next to the railway line, courtesy of the Wine to Whales route! Trail builders are in the process of cutting new routes and Dr Evil has warned riders of a few final surprises before a traditional finish at Lourensford. Here they will be reunited with their loved ones – a life’s task accomplished and an experience they will never forget.
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Follow the Race WATCH THE PROLOGUE AND STAGE 7 LIVE ON SUPERSPORT A FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF MOUNTAIN BIKING
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58
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
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www.cape-epic.com
Follow the Riders www.cape-epic.com Spectator information Find out when and where you can watch each day’s racing along the course. Live info Keep a close eye on the race as it unfolds, with live reports from the roving eyes along the route.
Weather Check up on the weather conditions that the riders and crew have to endure.
Now riding Get current, detailed stage information on the route, the host towns and the surrounding area. Click for a stage-by-stage flythough of the terrain.
Polar live rider tracking Certain athletes have been issued with Polar GPS devices. Follow them every pedal stroke of the way.
Time splits Get regular updates throughout the day as riders cross the line.
Leader boards Get up to date with who is leading the race in each category.
Latest news Read detailed up-to-the-minute news articles.
Media The latest photographs and videos capturing all the drama are posted every day. 62
2011 RIDE GUIDE The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas
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the inspiration and motivation you're looking for. After all, why should you have to go it alone.
Success takes commitment and discipline. It's a journey for body and mind. There's a member of the Polar family that will give you
THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS TO ANYWHERE WORTH GOING.
michael.meisl rätikon (SUI) alex.luger Š 2011 adidas AG. adidas, the 3-Bars logo and the 3-Stripes mark are registered trademarks of the adidas Group.
Climbing hard or hanging in there to belay your partner, adidas BodyMapping concept keeps your body temperature ideal at all times. WINDSTOPPERŽ protects your front and arms while soft-shell material provides ventilation at the back to keep you dry. And the FORMOTION™ cut guarantees exceptional freedom of movement. TERREX™ hybrid jackets set new standards in versatility and reliability. adidas.com/outdoor