When the Absa Cape Epic gets underway this Sunday (19 March) Helderberg residents will be quietly hoping local riders can give the professionals a run for their money in the world-famous mountain-bike race.
While Helderberg amateurs will be the first to tell you that enjoyment and challenging themselves are the main drivers of their participation in the “Tour de France of Mountain Biking” there is little doubt that dreams of going toe-to-toe with the world’s best professionals linger somewhere in their minds.
The 19th edition of the Untamed African MTB Stage Race, taking place from Sunday 19 to 26 March, starts with the Prologue on the trails of Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville before finishing on the exquisite fields of Val de Vie Estate in Paarl.
Somerset West’s Jaco Venter, a well-known name in road cycling who has taken part in the Grand Tour – the Vuelta a Espana, Giro d’Italia and Tour de France – and is the 2016 winner of the South African National Road Race Championships, considers the Absa Cape Epic the fourth event in cycling’s grand slam. “I have done all three Grand Tour events on the road, but I count the Absa Cape Epic as my fourth as it’s just as hard,” he said.
“Stage racing is brutal. It’s a big mental and physical fight every day. It’s so unpredictable and the team dynamic makes it even more tricky. But this combination and the awesome trails , most of which I know, is why I love the Absa Cape Epic.”
Venter is pleased with his pre-race preparation, which is a far cry from the same time last year.
“A year ago I was healing from a broken collarbone after hitting a bokkie at Tankwa Trek. I was only able to get onto the trails a few days before the race started, so I would say I’m a few steps ahead this year.”
He said racing on his home trails was definitely a bonus, but many foreign riders also train on these during the off-season, so are used to the conditions.
“I am mostly looking forward to the Lourensford stages and new trails the team have built there.”
Somerset West Olympian Erica Green, who has been mountain biking since 1991, loves the Absa Cape Epic because it gives “normal people the chance to do the extraordinary.”
Having represented South Africa at the 1996 Olympics in both road cycling and mountain biking, she said she would not normally do the event “as I’m a retired has-been”, but was riding “for fun” this year.
“I hope to get a reminder of how the routes have changed and how it would impact preparation.”
There is another reason she is taking on the Epic, however.
“My 2023 partner is a client of mine, who didn’t manage to finish last year. He had to retire with a day-and-a-half to go due to most of his training being indoors. His body fatigue got the better of him.
“So I have undertaken to mentor him through the event – I just hope I’ve done enough to achieve this!”
Another Somerset West rider, Petie Viljoen, has teamed up with long time friend Erik Knoetze.
He is excited to be partnering with the man he sold a mountain bike to 14 years ago, as they both have come a long way together.
For these men such friendship and camaraderie is what the Absa Cape Epic is all about.
