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The PYGA Euro Steel 2 team, iXopo local Michael Foster and teammate Jaedon Terlouw, won the KAP sani2c Race Prologue at Glencairn Farm near Himeville today in a time of 00:39:31,  followed by the PYGA Euro Steel 1 team of Philip Buys and Pieter du Toit (00:40:14). Only one second separated second and third place, Insect Science’s Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning (00:40:15). Sam Sanders and Danielle Strydom of Efficient Infiniti Insure took the win in the women’s race after 48 minutes and 43 seconds of riding. The sani2c team of Frances Janse van Rensburg and Bianca Haw followed just shy of a […] View full article

Welcome to the Lesotho Sky Event, your gateway to Africa’s Mountain Kingdom and an annual must-attend for adventurers seeking mountain biking thrills off the beaten track. Since its inception in 2011 as a 6-day UCI stage race, this event has evolved significantly. Celebrating over a decade of adventure, we’ve shifted to a more intimate 3-day, non-competitive MTB ride format, designed to offer an unparalleled riding experience while reducing environmental impact and enhancing community engagement. The new 3-day format features a cloverleaf route design starting from a single base camp – making navigation a breeze with provided GPS tracks. Each stage […] View full article

The KAP sani2c Race kicks off on Thursday 24 April, where, for the first time in the 20-year history of the event, there will be a Prologue for the UCI registered riders. KAP sani2c is now a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Category 2 marathon stage race and points are allocated per rider – which means that each rider from the first team across the line will be awarded 80 points to their UCI ranking. Andrew ‘Housty’ Houston says they have developed a challenging 16 km Prologue route with 416 metres of climbing: “I think we have delivered some ‘sani spice’ […] View full article

It’s June up in northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It’s winter, the grass is dry, the bushveld scant. The mornings are cold, but the days warm up beautifully, and the dust of dirt roads pillow in clouds as Sihle Hlabissa pedals his white e-bike on the way to Qomukuphila School. Patch-skinned Nguni cows turn their heads to watch as he passes by. It’s as if even they know an e-bike is a weird thing to be spotting in a poor rural community cushioned between a multitude of game reserves. Support Wild Bike and WIN a Specialized Tero-X Specialized’s Soil Searching […] View full article

TIME pedals have a new look and select new features, providing you with lightweight and ergonomic pedal systems for you to achieve your cycling goals. We’ve reorganised and simplified our road and MTB pedal lineup, making it easier to compare models and select your perfect pedal. We’ve also added features to some of our most popular high-performance pedals. Take a look at the line-up of TIME pedals below SPECIALE 12 The SPECIALE 12 is the ultimate balance between aesthetics and performance. This grippy, lightweight, and strong pedal was developed by our engineering team for the demands of professional enduro, trail, […] View full article

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 will end at midnight on 30 June 2024. Why choose a Top Fuel? The Top Fuel is a quick, short-travel 29er trail bike that’s perfect for riders who like to stay pinned both up and down the trail. It’s lighter and snappier than a trail […] 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