the unofficial Cape Epic 2024 thread

[babse]

9 hours ago, Pieterlab1 said:

Matt and Alex will team up for Epic this year. 

Blevins will be preparing for the Olympics.

This official? 

That'll be rad if all African team can compete for overall. From signs Alex is definitely up for it.

 

Olympics in august? Blevins not looking to get smashed around for a week again 😉

[DieselnDust]

22 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

Why? Why the top XCO? Other than good PR. Marathon MTB, especially in the stage format is still a relatively new discipline that is growing. XCO is an exceptional baseline, but not all riders who specialise in the format enjoy/excel at Stage XCM.

We also forget the effects of a post covid economy, which compounds many of the challenges and can cause a setback back by two years, within a broader timeline.

Not sure I agree with the credibility assessment, last year we saw performances by two local teams that put them out there on an international platform. Kim Le Court is now on a WT team with AG Ins Soudal and took a commendable top 10 at TDU. Not saying that’s due to the ACE jersey, but it does play a role. 

As much as there’s an argument for change, we also should acknowledge the outcomes currently and those who do show up. 
Worth its own thread tbh as we‘re digressing here.

Marathon is actually not new at all. It’s the older of the two main XC disciplines. 
when Mtb started the format was long laps and 2hrs minimum race length. That format stuck around for almost two decades before Red Bull got involved and lobbied for a shortened track with more technical features. 

21 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

I'd suggest 75% of cycling fans can't name the top 5 ranked XCM females without google.

I'd also say that getting unknowns onto teams is development, not having the top racers in the world competing, which is more in line with the marketing and coverage focus than a stepping stone TO the top tier.

So yes, it is entertaining, but it isn't the deep, competitive field of top female athletes that the coverage and hype says it is.

Most cycling fans can’t name the top 5 male XCM racers either, it’s worse for the women. There just isn’t enough entrants to justify the exposure. There is a plan in place to give XCM more exposure but the coverage at the moment is up in the air. I may have to reactivate service again to watch the Mtb this year. Re bill will have highlights packages for free which might actually suit me. 
until they get the coverage sorted again the women’s discipline is going to suffer. Red bull did a hell of a lot for ladies racing that’s only now coming out into the open

[Stephan]

Does anyone know when the lineup will be announced? Keen to see who is riding with who this year. 

[Irvin85]

At R300 000(US$16 000) for the winning team I see why there is not more teams lining up for the TdF of Mtbing. If they are really serious in getting the best of the best to ride there should be much bigger price money. That price money just covers the race entry and they might have some change left for a KFC bucket. 

Yes they probably do not pay the entry fee as elite racers but after splitting the winnings with the team manager, mechanic, physios, dieticians and doctors there might not be enough left for that KFC bucket.  

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Irvin85 said:

At R300 000(US$16 000) for the winning team I see why there is not more teams lining up for the TdF of Mtbing. If they are really serious in getting the best of the best to ride there should be much bigger price money. That price money just covers the race entry and they might have some change left for a KFC bucket. 

Yes they probably do not pay the entry fee as elite racers but after splitting the winnings with the team manager, mechanic, physios, dieticians and doctors there might not be enough left for that KFC bucket.  

Actually a really good representation of the feeble prize money you get at  the TdF from ASO.

[DieselnDust]

Warning: this post is best read through a Rob Warner accent filter:

Hello everybody  So much movement in teams.

Toyota Specialized NinetyOne probably have their weakest ladies team in over a decade.

Candice and Mona look hot favourites on a pair of brand new soon to be released Cannondale Lab71 Scalpel 120s. Candy just cleaned up Greece and mona is well mona. We know they’re solid as they both have a leg to stand on…

with the Ghost ladies Anne and Nicole the most promising challenge. Pity they left Caroline and Isla at home but such is life in these budget constrained times….

then we have a string of local ladies hungry for that podium, with Illa stow and Laura stark looking promising the bike and on paper. Or will the delicious pairing of Tarrn Povey and Bikehub’s own Kylie Hanekom have something to say about that??

the men’s race looks wide open too. 
Schurter Fini partnership is strong on paper but is it, are the cracks already there? Can they fix a puncture between them? So many questions too little answers

the racing company that is speedy is now identifying as a fully sponsored entity known as PKF or Orbea Leatt Spoed Maatskapij.

Seiwald is back with Stocek , looking for some cosak revenge 

rabensteiner teams up with Samuele Porro with a German panzer singing machine behind them in Simon Stiebjan and Jakob Hartmann

our beloved Beers teams up with coolHarvey’s  Grotts from their 2018 win. They a're backed up by the pairing of Alex Miller and Johan van Zyl minus the ninety one part.

 

the roadies get their time in the sun with brace yourselves for a barrage of names and take a breath

……..

Sergio Mantecón Gutierrez and Jose Maria Sanchez Ruiz <reaches for asthma pump >

Pyga eurosteel are back with Philip Buys Pieter du Toit ….that sounds like slavery but we’re assured it’s not.

speaking of Coolharveybhes also back with new cannon fodder in Filip Adel. 
 

this is shaping up to be a bumper edition 

#staytuned
 

 

[Danger Dassie]

7 hours ago, Irvin85 said:

At R300 000(US$16 000) for the winning team I see why there is not more teams lining up for the TdF of Mtbing. If they are really serious in getting the best of the best to ride there should be much bigger price money. That price money just covers the race entry and they might have some change left for a KFC bucket. 

Yes they probably do not pay the entry fee as elite racers but after splitting the winnings with the team manager, mechanic, physios, dieticians and doctors there might not be enough left for that KFC bucket.  

Nothing to do with the prize winnings, no cycling event in the world has anything really significant Ito prize money. TdF is a running joke given it’s scale as a sports event.

Besides which, the world is suffering a cost of living crisis post lockdown and compounded by numerous wars. We see the effects this has in the cycling and event’s industry across the world as an example. Then there’s the fact we’re in an Olympic year as well. 

[Danger Dassie]

Vera Looser also paired up with US Marathon Champ Alexis Skarda 🍻

[babse]

Grotts any good these days? 

Havent seen him since he was last here and dont really follow any racing in the US. 

Real pity Beers and Alex won't be teaming up.

 

Who's in the fight for Red? 

Imbukos Joubert is flying, who will he partner? 

I assume honeycomb will compete with Tristan and Pritzen?

[DieselnDust]

21 minutes ago, babse said:

Grotts any good these days? 

Havent seen him since he was last here and dont really follow any racing in the US. 

Real pity Beers and Alex won't be teaming up.

 

Who's in the fight for Red? 

Imbukos Joubert is flying, who will he partner? 

I assume honeycomb will compete with Tristan and Pritzen?

I'll post the race register as soon as they republish it. It appears to be down atm.

Best duo for African Jersey is likely Miller and Van Zyl. Strong pairing although Phil and Pieter will be fighting for GC, they may have too much pressure and have the tiger jersey snactched by the Toyota pair.

[DieselnDust]

https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-riders-register

its back up. What a schlep to to try and extract this as a workable file!!! FT

[babse]

36 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-riders-register

its back up. What a schlep to to try and extract this as a workable file!!! FT

is candice officially on the factory team or just for epic?

[DieselnDust]

9 hours ago, babse said:

is candice officially on the factory team or just for epic?

No this is just for Tankwa and Epic. 
 

Candice had a good race in Greece. Beat Kate. She’s shaping up to have a great season. CFR currently only cater for one female rider

Edited March 1 by DieselnDust

[Irvin85]

Interesting to see Kulhavy back at the Epic, did he come out of retirement for this? 

[DieselnDust]

Looks like it. Not sure he’s in it too win it but yeah he’s planning to be in Lourensford on the 17th

[TeamBaja]

On 2/29/2024 at 3:54 AM, Irvin85 said:

At R300 000(US$16 000) for the winning team I see why there is not more teams lining up for the TdF of Mtbing. If they are really serious in getting the best of the best to ride there should be much bigger price money. That price money just covers the race entry and they might have some change left for a KFC bucket. 

Yes they probably do not pay the entry fee as elite racers but after splitting the winnings with the team manager, mechanic, physios, dieticians and doctors there might not be enough left for that KFC bucket.  

Pro teams, the real pro teams don't go there for money. That cash pays for the lunch they eat. They go there for exposure, which in MTBis second to none. What to be pro guys use it for exposure to get into a real pro team. Look what speed company got after winning the epic.  On the Nino and ont Andy, well we all know the only reason he is there is because of dad. I doubt any real pro (olympics) will skip the epic, because of the olympics I think 5 months is plenty of time to recover. Partnerships at the epic are tricky, the only guy thats been with the same partner at most epics is Bart. 

Anyway enough rambling, going back in 2025.