Matt Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 The 2011 winners of the Absa Cape Epic, Christoph Sauser (35) from Switzerland and Burry Stander (24) from South African will be back this year to defend their title, racing together as team 36ONE-Songo-Specialized. Sauser was also part of the winning team that took top honours at the 2006 event. This year’s race, which takes place from 25 March to 1 April 2012, will once again take 1 200 riders through some of the Western Cape’s most unspoilt territory. The race will kick-off with the prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville and finish at Lourensford Wine Estate. Commenting on defending their title and riding together for the fifth time, Sauser says: “It makes no difference being the defending champions or not. It’s all about the present future. We have to be at the start line in the very best shape, and have the best team and equipment around us.” Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander of team 36One Songo-Specialized celebrate the overall win during the final stage (stage 7) of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race held from Oak Valley to Lourensford, South Africa on 3 April 2011. Photo by Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS Stander has won a gold medal and two bronze models the last four years at a variety of world championships, apart from winning the Absa Cape Epic with Sauser last year. He is also one of the few South Africans who later this year will stand a realistic chance of winning a medal at the Olympic games in London. He was the Under 23 World Champion as well as the 2008 and 2009 Under 23 World Cup Champion, and finished in third position overall in 2009’s UCI World Cup series. In 2010 he was a bronze medalist at the Cross-country and Marathon world championships and in 2011 finished in sixth positional overall in the UCI Cross-country ranking. Sauser has been racing professionally since 1993 and his many accomplishments include being the World Marathon Champion in 2011 and 2007, being the European Marathon Champion in 2007, and being the World Cross-Country Champion in 2008, apart from being a six times Swiss Champion, amongst others. Participating in his sixth Absa Cape Epic, Sauser says that he comes back for more as it is a big race to win and he loves stage racing. “It creates stories, rivalry and friendship over so many days. It’s tough and a win worth so much compared to a one-day race. Plus the Cape Epic is so well organised with a big hype surrounding it, and we ride through beautiful landscape. Also, we’re riding for songo.info – the charity I started with a friend four years ago. There’s a lot of passion and work going into it, which I really enjoy. The Cape Epic gives us the perfect platform to keep songo.info growing!” Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander lead the early morning pack during stage 6 of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race held in and around Oak Valley on 2 April 2011. Photo by Sven Martin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS Commenting on riding with Stander again, Sauser says that what makes them a great team is that they share the winners’ mentality; they get along very well, are balanced and are privileged to have a good team supporting them. “We’re very confident like last year that we’ll do well this year, but with confidence and fitness you can probably bet on winning a swimming race – not the Absa Cape Epic. So many unexpected things can happen to anybody. Fingers crossed,” he says. The team does not do any specific Absa Cape Epic training together; instead, they ride together between races and spend a lot of time together enjoying meals, waiting at airports, sharing planes and hotels, and travelling the world together. “I’m very fortunate that I’ve never had a serious injury, except before the Olympics in Beijing. It was such bad timing when I cut my knee down to the kneecap. My time was running out until the race,” Sauser says. Fitness and riding with the best equipment are the most important ingredients to successfully complete the Absa Cape Epic, according to Sauser. “Measure yourself on your improvements, stay balanced and go your own way – the way you think it works best for you. And by the way, don’t look at me as a role model; I’m just one or the riders like anyone else.” Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser of 360ne Songo Specialized chace the pack during stage 4 (time trial) of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the Worcester Gymnasium in Worcester, South Africa on the 31 March 2011. Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS “There is just no math to which stages are the most difficult in the race. But most of the time, if I had a bad day the next is good again. I personally believe it ‘s a mental challenge. When I somehow have the feeling that a certain day is going easy, then I’m not prepared to suffer and end up ‘biting’ into my handle bar for hours. Nothing compares to the awesome feeling of crossing the finish line, especially if you win a stage or win overall. The last years have always been bitter sweet,” Sauser says. Sauser’s favourite memory of the race is when they were greeted by the songo.info children and friends in Lourensford, saying that it was evident that the kids wanted to participate in the Absa Cape Epic someday as well. In his free time, Sauser loves outdoor activities especially in the mountains. He also enjoys riding his Enduro bike in the Alps, backcountry skiing in the winter, and when he is tired from all the training he prefers to sit under his aircon and relax. “After the Absa Cape Epic, I want to defend my Marathon World Champion title, and win a medal at the cross-country Olympics and World Championships,” Sauser concludes. Lourensford Wine Estate will once again host the finish of the race and the Grand Finale celebrations on 1 April 2012. The Grand Finale will kick off with live entertainment by well-known South African band Freshlyground, a Farmer’s Market, delectable food and wine as well as glorious scenery. Vantage points will be accessible to the general public, so that all may have a piece of the mountain biking action. Entrance is free. Visit www.cape-epic.com for more information. Click here to view the article
'Dale Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Watch out for the Platt & Co this year, again. Apparently, one of them was riding with an undisclosed injury in the 2011 edition...
Wyatt Earp Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Todd Wells is out Yamamoto is filling his place.
scotty Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Early Sunday ride for me. 9am start and televised TV remote under my control - checkDrinks and snacks prepared - checkCell phone set to silent - check
'Dale Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Early Sunday ride for me. 9am start and televised TV remote under my control - checkDrinks and snacks prepared - checkCell phone set to silent - check Last weekend was like that for me.This weekend is weddings and birthdays. Tch!A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do... Luckily, PVR technology exists!
RudoJ Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Early Sunday ride for me. 9am start and televised TV remote under my control - checkDrinks and snacks prepared - checkCell phone set to silent - check sooo with you on this one.....cant wait!!!!
KnobbyMech Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Good luck to all participants! Hope our boys can do it again and the bad luck take a break (last year it took a brake) this year.
DMD 1 Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Sitting on Dorsberg with the boys on Sunday morning, waiting to see the Pain on the guys faces once they have tackled the awesome yet challenging route that the Tygerberg Mountain Biking Club has build over the past few years. The final Climb on Dorsberg (Meerenda farm) is going to be brutal.
Gerhardc Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) Yamamoto is filling his place. Ah, Daniel-san.....mister Miyagi.. ....I hope Max Knox can speak chien-chong-chow... Edited March 23, 2012 by Gerhardc
rouxtjie Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 The smart money will be on them or the bulls...but it would great to see 360Life take it. Anyway better 1 saffa on the top step than none.
Wyatt Earp Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 The smart money will be on them or the bulls...but it would great to see 360Life take it. Anyway better 1 saffa on the top step than none. The Songo boys are in great form.See Yamamoto behind Sauser. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7004914559_d43f8f8820_z.jpgIMG_0216 by OddPix1, on Flickr Max looking super fit as well. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/7004921185_aa8be0733b_z.jpgIMG_0272 by OddPix1, on Flickr
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