Cape Epic new format brrrrrrrrr

[wildog_a]

GP riders like me who used to do all our prep on their road bikes had better start rethinking the training plan. I'm booking a skills clinic as soon as the temperature rises a bit. This just in from the organisers

 

ABSA <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />CAPE EPIC ANNOUNCES DRAMATIC CHANGES FOR 2009 EVENT<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

The Absa Cape Epic is set for a dramatic revamp for the 2009 event. Since its inception five years ago, organisers have introduced innovations annually in order to build the race into what it is today, and next year?s race will be no exception.

 

Most of the greatest cycling stage races in the world use a different route and a different start venue every year. In the early days of the Absa Cape Epic it was important to give context to the event by saying it was an ?8-day mountain bike race from Knysna to Cape Town?.

                                

Since 2004, the race has offered a completely different route from Knysna each year, and most riders would say that it evolved for the better, albeit tougher each year. But there are only so many different routes that exist between Knysna and Lourensford. A new and flexible start location provides an opportunity to ride in new diverse areas and on previously un-ridden routes for many years to come.

 

Says Kevin Vermaak, Director and Founder of the Absa Cape Epic and Cape Odyssey: ?During this year?s race, we were challenged about how to continue down the road of innovation for 2009. However, within 3 weeks of the race we?d hatched a plan for next year that has led to the most frenetic post-event period of researching, planning and permission seeking in order to be ready to announce our exciting changes in time for the lottery results in July. It?s been about as challenging as it was before the first race to develop this new concept for what will be the sixth edition race.?

 

By starting the race in a different location to Knysna, the organisers could introduce even more exciting stages and routes to the race. Says Vermaak: ?We could ride in areas that had never been possible before due to the constraint of starting in Knysna and getting to Lourensford in 8 days of riding.

 

?The Absa Cape Epic has grown in popularity amongst cyclists around the world. Every year we typically have more than 40 countries represented and 35% of the riders travel from outside Africa. In South Africaon>, the race is increasingly becoming an iconic endurance event well known beyond just the cycling community,? says Vermaak.

 

The prologue time trial, which was introduced for the first time this year (2008 Absa Cape Epic), represents a unique opportunity to ?bring the race to the people?. Vermaak continues: ?The 2009 Absa Cape Epic will therefore have a prologue on the mountains in the greater Cape Town area and the first stage will start on Sunday morning from Gordon?s Bay, just outside Cape Town.?

 

Riders will then ride 7 stages from Gordon?s Bay through the Western Cape to the traditional finish venue at Lourensford. Race registration, race briefing, and the prologue will take place in Cape Town. This means easier and simpler pre-event planning for most riders.

 

Vermaak adds: ?The total race distance in kilometres may be less than in previous years, but the total time in the saddle for backmarkers and winners alike will be similar. The more technical nature of the entire route will mean that average speeds are likely to be less than in previous years. One thing is for certain, finishing the Absa Cape Epic will always be a massive physical and mental challenge, and riders will need as much dedicated training and preparation to earn the title ?Absa Cape Epic Finisher?.

[GoLefty!!]

I suggest you also take lessons in trail ettiquette, cos if you roadies can't hack it on the singeltrack the real MTB'ers are gong to roll over your behind.

 

If the route goes through the areas I suspect they will use then it is going to be more than a lot of technical riding. Full sussers won;t help you.

 

You okes need to take up Downhill for a year to get in shape

[Slowbee]

 

[Tumbleweed]

dere are anoffer fred on dis alreadys

[fandacious]

I luff it when you speak foriegn

[wildog_a]

dere are anoffer fred on dis alreadys

 

are you suggesting that I schedule my skills clinics at night?

[GoLefty!!]

that may come in handy..