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Just over week ago Matt Beer’s stood on top of the Absa Cape Epic podium alongside partner Howard Grotts, claiming his third overall title. Here we take a closer look at his race-winning S-Works Epic 8: Bike Specifications Finally: Matt’s brake pads replaced three times, while his suspension damper seals replaced every second day – that’s the factory luxury! View full article

With Winter fast approaching, Trek wants you to keep riding this “offseason” with great savings on their Top Fuel, Fuel EXe and Fuel EX models. Over a period of two months, these Trek models will be available at incredible prices. The No reason for an Offseason Sale will start on Monday 1 April 2024 and […] View full article

The Cannondale Scalpel has been a staple on cross country and marathon podiums since 2002. Today Cannondale launch an all-new design. Featuring improved suspension kinematics and more aggressive and capable geometry, which has already been race proven by Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner at Cape Epic, we expect to see plenty on the trails. Check out the full press release below: Scalpel has always been out front Ever since the first one proved that dual suspension could be faster than hardtails way back in 2002, Scalpels have always led the way. Moving XC forward. Defining what cross-country will be, not […] View full article

Glen Haw will always be a farmer, it’s not only what he does, but it’s who he is. But since 2005 when he suggested a mountain bike race as a fundraiser for his children’s school, he has also become a trail builder, an event organiser, and a connector of communities, and the rest of the Haw family has joined him in this passion. sani2c grew exponentially to become the largest stage race in the country, with three different versions of the three days of riding taking place over five days. At its core, says Glen, is adventure. “The fact that […] View full article

Simon Schneller and Urs Huber (BULLS Mavericks) won Stage 7 – the Grand Finale – of the Absa Cape Epic men’s race, but it was Matt Beers and Howard Grotts of Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne who claimed the overall title at the 2024 event. In the Aramex Women’s Category, Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) won an eighth stage in a row on their way to the 2024 Absa Cape Epic title. By winning every stage of the 2024 race (the Prologue and seven stages), the Dutch-Swiss combo matched the performance of Laura Stigger and Sina Frei, who also won eight […] View full article

It appears that only major disasters can prevent Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne (Matt Beers and Howard Grotts) and GHOST Factory Racing (Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller) from winning the Men’s and Aramex Women’s Category respectively at the 2024 Absa Cape Epic. On the 87km Stage 6 in Stellenbosch, the event’s penultimate day of racing, Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne and GHOST Factory racing once again dominated their categories, winning the stage and extending their leads in the overall general classification at the same time. Beers and Grotts go into Sunday’s Stage 7, known as the Grand Finale, nine minutes clear of second-placed World Bicycle Relief (Nino Schurter […] View full article

Matt Beers and Howard Grotts (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) romped to their first stage win of the 2024 Absa Cape Epic when they pulled away from Andreas Seewald and Marc Stutzmann (Canyon SIDI) in the closing kilometres of the 70km Stage 5 in Wellington. The Aramex Women’s Category was business as usual with Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) cruising home on Stage 5 to claim their sixth successive stage win (five stages plus the Prologue last Sunday). With two stages to go, they’ll have their eyes on the 2021 performance of Sina Frei and Laura Stigger, who won all eight […] View full article

The top three teams in both the men’s and women’s races on Stage 4 of the Absa Cape Epic could only be separated in the final metres of the 73km race. Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini (World Bicycle Relief) won the stage in the Men’s Category in a sprint finish, as did Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) in the Aramex Women’s Category. World Bicycle Relief pipped Matt Beers and Howard Grotts (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) to the line, while in the Aramex Women’s Category on Stage 4 Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne (Sofia Gomez Villafane and Samara Sheppard) also had to make do with […] View full article

Canyon SIDI’s Andreas Seewald and Marc Stutzmann rode hard and fast to claim Stage 3 of the 2024 Absa Cape Epic in a sweltering Wellington, while Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) won their fourth stage in as many days to cement their place at the top of the Aramex Women’s Category general classification. With four days of racing to come, it looks like a special effort will be required from the chasers in the Women’s Category to unseat GHOST Factory Racing from pole position. In the UCI men’s race, the pace was ferocious from the start thanks […] View full article

Introducing the Motul Bike Care range. A comprehensive four-step bicycle care range designed for effortless maintenance and superior performance. This innovative line offers simplicity and effectiveness in cleaning, degreasing, lubrication, and prevention on all types of bikes. Featuring biodegradable formulas and eco-designed packaging, Motul Bike Care ensures both environmental responsibility and exceptional results. We dive into the four-step process and take a closer look at the Motul Bike Care range, available in South Africa via Rush Sports: Step 1: Cleaning The first step in cleaning the bike is cleaning the frame, and Motul has two cleaners for this: Frame Clean […] View full article

Hans Becking, on his birthday, and Wout Alleman (BUFF – MEGAMO) roared to a second successive stage win on Stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic in Tulbagh. At the same time, Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) claimed a hattrick of stage victories in the Aramex Women’s Category on the 97km stage that started and finished at Saronsberg Cellar. BUFF – MEGAMO, after a commanding Stage 2 performance, also moved into the overall lead in the Absa Cape Epic General Classification and will wear the Yellow Leader Jerseys from tomorrow (Stage 3). GHOST Factory Racing, in the […] View full article

Hans Becking and Wout Alleman (BUFF-MEGAMO) won Stage 1 in the men’s elite race at the 2024 Absa Cape Epic, while Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) were Stage 1 winners in the Aramex Women’s category at Saronsberg Cellar in Tulbagh. Both the men’s and the women’s races concluded with thrilling sprint finishes after a fair amount of cat and mouse in the closing kilometres. Becking and Alleman, Low Country riders from the Netherlands and Belgium respectively, are flying high at this year’s Cape Epic, with Alleman in thrilling form. He was in complete command of the BUFF-MEGAMO […] View full article

In 2019 Titan Racing launched their much anticipated new full-sus, the Cypher, a fully-fledged racing bike with enough flair to tear up the descents and power through the climbs. In the years since it has proven itself a formidable force in the local and international racing scene, and has played a pivotal part in establishing Titan Racing as a force to be reckoned with. But, time waits for no man, woman or bike and so the time has come to introduce the next-generation Titan Racing Cypher. It is a ground-up new design, incorporating all the lessons learned on its way […] View full article

World Bicycle Relief (Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini) and Ghost Factory Racing (Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller) claimed the UCI Men’s and Aramex Women’s Categories respectively at today’s Absa Cape Epic Prologue in Somerset West. Starting, taking place within the confines and finishing at Lourensford Wine Estate, the 2024 Prologue provided the typical tests of tough climbs, dusty descents and ever-rising late-summer temperatures. Handling the challenges – and their bikes – best on the day were World Bicycle Relief in the UCI Men’s race and Ghost Factory Racing in the Aramex Women’s Category. Both teams were remarkably cool and comfortable […] View full article

For over 170 years, owners of powered vehicles have enjoyed the benefits of using Motul’s innovative range of premium automotive and motorcycle fluids and lubricants. With the introduction of the new Motul Bike Care range, cyclists can now enjoy the same performance advantages. Well-known South African distributor of high-quality bicycle brands, Rush Sports, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Motul which means the full Motul Bike Care range will be available in leading bicycle stores across South Africa, from the end of March 2024. The comprehensive eight-product range has been formulated to meet the needs of road and MTB […] View full article

After a three-year hiatus the 2024 songo.info Champions Race, presented by fibertime, proved once again why it was a mainstay of the packed March cycling calendar, on Wednesday evening. Riders and fans alike were treated to a late afternoon of fantastic racing and an electrifying atmosphere; as the streets and footpaths of Kayamandi played host to some of the world’s best mountain bikers. With teams gearing up for the Absa Cape Epic, which starts on Sunday, the 20 minute plus 1 lap efforts were a bit outside of the training the elite riders have been putting in recently, yet both […] View full article

In the two-decade history of the Absa Cape Epic there has never been an elite women’s field so deep. In this year’s edition, four teams line up as five-star favourites, three start with podium or perhaps top five aspirations, and four more will be disappointed if they simply fill in the remainder of the top ten places come the 24th of March. Further back there is an unofficial race-within-a-race which could also impact the Absa African Jersey competition. Never mind the route and the wilderness areas it passes through; this year’s UCI women’s race will be Untamed… Five-Star Favourites Defending champion […] View full article

Every Absa Cape Epic field seems to outdo the one before with a deeper range of challengers and more big names assembled in South Africa’s Western Cape to do battle in the world’s premier mountain bike stage race. The 2024 edition is no different. The story lines of 2023 are revisited, with plots of revenge simmering. New would-be heroes, or villains (depending on whose side one takes), have entered the fray. Plus, an aging legend – once the undisputed king of the event – has retuned to wind back the clock. The Five-Star Favourites Toyota Specialized NinetyOne, ORBEA LEATT Speed Company, and […] View full article

The Spotlight Academy is what the name states, our aim is to enable the strongest riders from local development academies the opportunity to shine and a platform that will allow them to be noticed internationally. We ensure that they are granted the means to race significant races such as the Cape Epic, Wines2Whales and Marathon Championships. The Spotlight Academy provides these riders with the support needed to grow as athletes and as individuals. The dominant goal is to allow underprivileged riders from South Africa to be the best in the world. We know they are capable. The academy currently has […] View full article

The Specialized Epic has been a mainstay of World Cup XCO tracks, and the marathon stage racing scene here in South Africa since it was launched in 2006. Having spent many a happy hour in the saddle of both the Epic and Epic EVO, there was no way I was passing up the chance to give the latest iteration a rev. Here are my first impressions after a few top secret runs in Jonkershoek: What’s New? In short: the Epic 8 no longer makes use of Specialized’s proprietary Brain suspension technology. It’s out with the inertia valve, and in with […] View full article

With the launch of a more capable Epic 8, the Epic 8 EVO moves deeper into ‘downcountry’ territory than it’s predecessor. The update sees a return to a shared chassis with the Epic, with the travel increasing from 120mm to 130mm front, and 110mm to 120mm on the rear, along with geometry updates, and burlier tyres to finish off a more trail-orientated build kit. What’s New? On the Trail Where the Epic 8 is all business, and almost alarmingly fast, the EVO is plain good fun. It gets you to the trailhead with your sense of humour intact, and when […] View full article

Liv is the women’s specific sister company to Giant Bicycles, and the brand has remained resolute about designing bikes specifically for women, rather than rebranding men’s models, or dropping the line altogether. Today they launch an update to their cross-country marathon race bike, the Pique Advanced 29 series. No doubt we’ll be seeing one or two on the trails at Cape Epic next week. What’s New? Take a look at the full press release below: Press Release Liv, the company dedicated to getting more women on bikes, today launches the new Pique Advanced 29 series, the 3rd generation of the […] View full article

The Pedal Project – a community-based mental health support programme which utilises mountain biking as a vehicle for empowering children from historically disadvantaged communities – is an official charity of the Absa Cape Epic. In an attempt to raise awareness of the charity, to promote healthy competition throughout the race, and to highlight the achievements of riders who would otherwise go unheralded the programme is launching the PedalForGood leaders’ jersey. The competition will unfold within the greater UCI Women’s race and will be contested by a group of women who balance racing aspirations alongside their career and family commitments. As […] View full article

Kent Main and Tiffany Keep were worthy winners of the 46th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Main slipped off the front of a select group, inside the final 5 kilometres and time trialled to the line. While in the women’s race Keep edged out S’annara Grove with a bike throw on the line to claim victory by a tyre’s width after a fiercely contested sprint. The men’s race started with bang. The pace was frenetic with Jaco van Dyk making the first attempted breakaway. Once the Honeycomb Pro Cycling rider was caught a group of six launched clear. They […] View full article

Stand a chance to win a team entry for two worth R19 750 to the 2024 or 2025 KAP sani2c.  The winning team can choose to ride the race or the trail in 2024 or choose between any of the three events in 2025. ENTER: Click on the link and fill in the form to sign up. Entries close on the 31st of March 2024. You will get a free USN Endurance Supplement Guide as an added bonus. Beat Heat & Hydration with USN Whether you are a professional athlete training for an endurance event or simply exercising to improve […] View full article