CAPE TOWN – The 2026 Absa Cape Epic gets underway today with the prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, marking the start of an eight-day odyssey that will test 1 300 riders from more than 50 countries across some of the Western Cape’s most unforgiving terrain.
The mountain bike stage race, widely regarded as the world’s toughest, will wind its way through four Western Cape towns over the coming week: Durbanville, Montagu, Greyton and Stellenbosch. With eight days of gruelling cycling over 692km of extreme harsh terrain, and seeing 15 900m of gruelling mountainous climbs.
Today’s 20km prologue at Meerendal sets the tone for the week ahead, with rolling vineyards, sculpted singletrack and fast, loose trails testing riders from elite to debutant. The Stairway to Heaven climb leads to the unforgiving pitches of Dorstberg, where supporters will line the trails.
From tomorrow, the race heads east to Montagu in the Klein Karoo, marking the event’s first visit to the town in 19 years. The return to Montagu signals a nod to the raw, remote character of the early editions of the race. Riders will face rugged jeep tracks, technical climbs and bone-rattling descents across two stages in the town tucked between mountains and fruit orchards.
Stage one features a roller coaster through the Klein Karoo, with the Dead Man’s descent separating those willing to risk short-term gain against long-term success. Stage two offers little relief, with climbing beginning immediately and cold legs aching all the way to the summit of Ouberg Pass.
The third stage offers a long day across open roads from Montagu to Greyton, passing through the iconic Cogmanskloof Pass and the small town of Bonnievale before a gradual trek to Greyton.
Greyton, a perennial favourite with its oak-lined streets and small-town charm, hosts stage four. The short but demanding stage features energy-sapping climbs and rolling descents, culminating in the UFO climb and its infamous ramps, followed immediately by the Toyota Tough section.
Stage five from Greyton to Stellenbosch is described as one of the biggest stages in years, with extreme distance and massive elevation. The route passes through Botrivier, over KatPas in Grabouw, down the historic Gantouw Pass, and concludes with a grind up Lourensford Nek across the Helderberg basin.
The penultimate stage in Stellenbosch is tailored to cross-country specialists, with climbing beginning almost immediately up Botmaskop. The route features trails including Banhoek Berms, Nick Naks, Klipwerf, Porcupine and Inferno before a descent back to Coetzenburg.
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The grand finale on stage seven takes place in the Jonkershoek trail network, where hundreds of spectators will line the trails to cheer teams from the front of the field to the back.
Stellenbosch, regarded as the beating heart of South African mountain biking, provides a fitting conclusion to the race, where vineyards meet vertical metres.
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