They are Hermanus\u2019s pride and joy . . . and it is proof not all heroes in Hermanus wear capes \u2013 they mountain bike instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Almarie Hugo, her second Cape Epic will be even more memorable than her first last year. \u201cI\u2019m doing it with my son, Neil,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how many mother-and-son teams there are, but it\u2019s very special for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is a marine engineer for Maersk, and so he works offshore for three months and then two months on shore. He has actually been putting in a lot of hard work on a cargo vessel training for the Cape Epic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is clear that humour is the tie that bonds the 59-year-old mother and her son (30) as they are riding under the team name #shemademedoit at this year\u2019s event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hugo started mountain biking four years ago. A fitness fanatic by nature, she has taught spinning classes at various gyms in the Western Cape, including her home gym in Hermanus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always had people who attended my classes saying I should start cycling, but I would say \u2018No, I\u2019m not a cyclist\u2019. But then about four or five years ago my husband said I should get a bike, and so I started.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What surprised her most during her first outing in the race last year was how technical it was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t really ready for that,\u201d Hugo said. \u2018But I have been training with my coach, Johann Wykerd from Absolute Motion, for about three years, and if it wasn\u2019t for him and all the wonderful training and motivation he\u2019s given me I wouldn\u2019t have been where I am today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hermanus native Claude Tyers will tackle his sixth Cape Epic this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The father of four, who celebrated his 49th birthday on 24 February, has made a habit of competing alongside his friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast time around I did it with a friend of mine, Andrew Grimanis, who wanted to complete his third one,\u201d he said. \u201cThis time around it\u2019s with a mate of mine, Charl Boshoff, whom I grew up with in Hermanus. He\u2019s doing his first one, so I\u2019m very privileged to do it with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not that he doesn\u2019t like to challenge himself. \u201cI weigh 109 kg and am 1,98m tall, so I\u2019m one of the bigger guys in the race. I measure how well I do according to my own capability.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his training for the 2023 Cape Epic about two months ago under the watchful eye of coach Lance Stephenson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did the Tankwa (Trek) recently and a few other races prior to that, so I\u2019m feeling good.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hermanus\u2019s Franklin Haman, 47, is taking part in his first Epic this year, teaming up with cousin Des Haman, of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was scheduled to race in 2020, but then the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born and bred in Hermanus, it was special to him that the race was taking place in his home town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHermanus will once again get the chance to showcase its beauty to the world \u2013 and we get to sleep two more nights in a bed and not a two-man tent!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hamans, like so many others in the field, are using the race to help others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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