Summaries and route profiles of each stage of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic.
Prologue: Table Mountain
20km & 600m climbing
The 2015 Prologue will start and finish at the University of Cape Town. The route will take riders up some of the steepest climbs on Table Mountain to the Tafelberg Road and then includes some short but fun sections of singletrack on the way to the finish.
Stage 1: Oak Valley Estate to Oak Valley Estate
113km & 2 800m climbing
After 20kms of the opening stage riders will be confronted by the notorious Groenlandberg climb. There will be several more rocky and rutted climbs as the route winds back towards the Houwhoek Inn, under the N2 to the south side of the Grabouw district and back via the Lebanon and Thandi Wine Estate trails.
Stage 2: Oak Valley Estate to Oak Valley Estate
92km & 2 300m climbing
A few tough climbs and then lots of singletrack sections. These include trails above the Elgin Country Club and through the Oak Valley and Paul Cluver wine estates. Spectators will gather at the Paul Cluver amphitheatre, with its elevated ramps and suspension bridges.
Stage 3: Oak Valley Estate to Worcester
128km & 2 300m climbing
The longest stage of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic takes riders to their new race village in Worcester. On the way they will climb over the eastern flank of the Groenlandberg and a few more tough climbs as they enter Karoo-like terrain. They will skirt the Brandvlei Dam into Worcester.
Stage 4: Worcester to Worcester
111km & 2 000m climbing
The route traverses some rough and rocky terrain around Worcester, cuts through the Fairy Glen private game reserve – home to Africa’s big five wild animals – and includes three steep climbs, the Skyscrapers, towards the end.
Stage 5: Worcester to Wellington
117km & 2 500m climbing
The route to the new race village in Wellington has some tough climbs, including the Bain’s Kloof Pass on tar and then the Full Monty in Welvanpas, which will test the legs on their sixth day of pedalling. The day finishes on a fun note through some of the excellent Welvanpas trails.
Stage 6: Wellington to Wellington
71km & 2 000m climbing
The shortest stage of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic and packed with more than 30km of singletrack. But don’t be deceived: there are several short and intense climbs during the day – including one which has deservedly been called Forever.
Stage 7: Welington to Meerendal Wine Estate
87km & 1 500m climbing
After 25km of fast riding riders will be confronted by the Paardeberg, which gains 600m elevation in nearly six kilometres. This is the first time this tough and testing climb has been included in the Absa Cape Epic. The rest of the route is relatively flat until a climb on to Meerendal Wine Estate’s Dorstberg and some singletrack to the Grand Finale finish.
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