Absa Cape Epic Women's Race Rule Changes

[News bot]

In 2012 the Absa Cape Epic women’s race received UCI HC (beyond categorisation) classification and in 2014 it introduced equal prize money for the Women’s category. Now the Cape Epic has announced additional far-reaching and innovative changes to the rules governing the elite women’s race for 2016 and beyond.

 

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[Sitting slip]

this is going to make it a more honest race as well, no more woman sucking wheel in faster men bunches.

[Jaco-fiets]

I find it amazing that Gunn Rita brought this up in the 1st few days of this year's epic. Why has the woman not brought this up earlier. This will def make for much better racing in that cat

[milky4130]

I find it amazing that Gunn Rita brought this up in the 1st few days of this year's epic. Why has the woman not brought this up earlier. This will def make for much better racing in that cat

even far more amazing was how many Hubbers here blasted her for blogging about this.

[River Rat]

Well done Gunn Rita, she could have quietly left the race and gone about her business. But, she stood up, said it like it is and made a difference.

 

I have a new hero.

[raptor-22]

even far more amazing was how many Hubbers here blasted her for blogging about this.

 

Not that shocking or amazing. Been lurking here for some time and this forum is not short of the self righteous.

 

It probably hasn't been raised before because the women tend to not want to rock the boat. The issue needed to be raised by someone with the palmares to carry the message across international media.

if one of our local ladies raised the point can you imagine the Irish firing squad that would have awaited her on thehub!!!?

[milky4130]

Agreed, poor ladies were probably crying out inside.

[Baaisikilist]

Yeah, hats off to her... Not the blah blah sour grapes crybaby etc etc everyone made her out to be. She made a difference. Kudo's...

[Chro Mo]

Be interesting to see the splits/times with this rule in place.

[SAGecko]

About time too.

 

And the different sponsor names on the shirts will make the world of difference.

 

Watch the Ladies race take off now.

[Danger Dassie]

A number of the ladies (including local) raised the point, Sally Bigham also raised a few points. Over the years the women's field has gained a lot more depth as well. 
Wines2Whales have also noticed this and allocated more prize money towards the women's category. 
It leaves the mixed category in the cold a bit, but lets face it. Mixed teams are really more for competitive amateurs not so much UCI level pros, elite women deserve the extra bit to bring their category closer to the elite men. These are the two categories that represent the pinnacle of competition.
 

There's a lot of new ground being broken here by both the riders and organisations, so it can only set a good platform to work on going forward.