- Okay, let's talk some racing.
The Absa Cape Epic is a team cross country event
like no other.
A demanding eight day stage race adventure
through the western cape region of South Africa.
It's about to kick off this weekend so hold tight
whilst I give you a run down of what to expect
and who to follow.
This event has become a classic on the mountain bike circuit
so let's dive in and see what it's all about.
So how does this event work?
Well the basics goes like this:
it's a team event, those teams being made up of two riders,
who must remain within two minutes of each other
on the course throughout the entire event.
On a mass start stage, the second rider's time
would be the one that counts.
The prologue starts the event, it's a team time trial
of a shorter distance than the main stages.
Exciting stuff to get it going.
As the event makes it's way around the country,
a huge circus follows the riders.
And at the finish line each day,
the entire event villages miraculously popped up
including medical centers, hangout lounges,
media center, catering and all the accommodation tents
for the participants.
Everything is provided.
The riders have only to think about their racing, that's it.
Just about going as fast as you can.
There's even a support village that follows
in close proximity to the actual event
and provides further services like bike shops,
masseuses, beverage vendors and everything else
that the spectators and supporters would need.
This is in fact only one
of five HC category multi-day stage races
on the entire UCI calendar.
Meaning an event doesn't really get any tougher than this.
Actually, that places the Cape Epic
alongside unbelievable events such as the Vuelta,
the Giro and the Tour de France, of course.
So to finish the Cape Epic as an amateur
is a real achievement.
For the pros, the UCI ranking points are
of serious importance.
For example, the winning duo
of the Cape Epic share 320 UCI ranking points.
Winning a world title in mountain biking you only get 300.
It's a big deal.
The 2018 course right the prologue
being a short 20 kilometer time trial gets the race underway
from the slopes of the table mountain.
Then six more stages that range from 70 kilometers
on stage seven to 122 kilometers on stage three.
The stage five time trial is just 39 kilometers
but could be critical to the general classification.
On every stage expect to see challenging remote downhills
on single tracks, rocky climbs, beautiful vineyards
and spectacular mountains.
It's a classic because of the racing and of course
because of the terrain.
The race is jam packed with legends
and fabulously interesting team matchups.
I really think one of the most fascinating parts
of the event is seeing how these teams work together
and what tactics they use to compete.
The entire concept of riding as a team came
from the early editions of the event.
Taking competitors out into such remote landscapes
meant that riding as a pair was just simply safer.
That interesting team twist evolved
into the mouthwatering format we have now.
So let's take a look at who you've got to follow in 2018.
The winners in 2017 were first timers Nino Schurter
and Matthias Stirnemann of Team Scott-Sram.
Huge favorites after last year's win
and these two will be coming into the event
with masses of confidence.
Nino is, of course, current world cup, world champ,
Olympic champion, he had the perfect season last year
and he's on his way to becoming one of the greats
of the sport.
But guess who is the only man to have bested him
in the last 12 months?
That's right, Matthias Stirnemann.
This team will be very very hard to beat.
(upbeat music)
In the masters, we have some awesome team prospects.
Bart Brentjens and Abraao Azevedo,
Team CST Sandd A. Eagle AAZ,
which just rolls off the tongue, have major experience.
Bart is a true giant of cross country mountain biking
with an Olympic gold, a world championship
and an overall world cup title to his name.
He's literally done it all and then some.
Bart has also competed in the Cape Epic 12 times,
so I can't overstate his experience.
Teammate Abraao is from Brazil and he's a world champion
in Masters XC and he also holds multiple national titles.
Riding the Cape Epic for the fifth time,
they're an incredible team.
However, age is not on either man's side.
GC classification, they're probably going to struggle
to get into the top 20 but they might be able to do it.
In the Masters, however, they've been previous winners
and they could win again.
Let's keep our eyes on 'em.
In the women's category, Annie Last and Mariske Strauss
of team Silverback-BH, interesting potential in this one,
combining a local with last year's world cup
and world champ surprise superstar Annie Last,
and I'm a Brit, so I'm unashamedly supporting her.
I think they have a fair chance in this race, you know?
However the battle for top honors
in the women's does look really really tough,
but they're in with a shout.
If I was a bettin' man, I'd be looking
to the trusted experience of Annika Langvad
and first time racer Kate Courtney
of team Investec Songo Specialized.
Annika has won the Cape Epic three times already
in her career and her world championship win
is probably all you need to know about her potential
in any race.
Partnered here though with one of the brightest stars
of the cross country circuit for many a year
the under 23 world cup race winner Kate Courtney
from the US.
This team is an exciting prospect of old and young,
sorry Annika, but I can't help but think
they're the team to beat.
And to finish, what about a curveball?
Here's a lineup that'll spark a lot of interest
and could put a cat amongst the pigeons in the results.
George Hincapie and Christian van de Velde of team Absa WBR.
True veterans of the road, cycling classics
and road history, George famously the devoted domestique
to Lance Armstrong on the US postal team
and Christian van de Velde, another famed tough domestique,
at one point for the CSC team under the leadership
of Carlos Sastre and I think it was Fränk Schleck.
These two relative newbies to the Cape Epic
will be very fun to watch.
And I really think they could get some cool results.
There you go, the Absa Cape Epic prologue kicks off
on Sunday, the eighteenth of March
from the University of Cape Town.
It's going to be an amazing event so follow all the action
here on GMBN with our weekly race news on Monday
and also during the Dirt Shed Show on Fridays.
You can also follow the live feed on the race
by clicking the link in our description down below.
And thanks for watching and stay with us
by clicking here to see Blake riding some loam
and if you want to know more about one
of our presenters Neil Donoghue, click over there.
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