the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[Lynskey]

So for me personally I am not interested in all the stats. The front 10 teams are what counts. They are all on their best game. No waiting for single track, no sitting under a bush to cool down and almost no stopping at the water points. There is also a funny clip somewhere of when a guy didn't stop at a water point and Karl made it his mission to catch that team and inform them how it works.

These guys are there to win. They have the best of everything. So in my opinion... the quicker they go the less demanding the race becomes. Maybe less demanding is the wrong word. I also don't want to say easier as that is not what I mean. 

You can't count on Billy Bob Joe as a stat. Too many variables. But to each their own. I really enjoyed it when I did it. But I was young and not a fatty then. At this stage of the game I would still be doing the prologue right now.

[Danger Dassie]

1 hour ago, deonkretch said:

You won't go wrong with Cape Pioneer - the race organisers really do understand how to put on a challenging route (This is not a Sani2C - you need to be fit) and they look after the riders! It's the only race that I have done that has perfect sosatie's at the last waterpoint. 

Read that as souties at first, was about to say well yes, souties kan ook lekker mense wees!
But also, sosaties, at a water point! Throw them at my face!

[ikerarri]

My report on my 2025 Cape Epic.

Having completed the 2021 Cape Epic successfully, with 8 months of training, better numbers than in 2021 and a younger and strong(er than me) riding partner ... all looked good when we travel to Cape Town from home Basque Country. 

We had some days for acclimatization. 1^st day testing in Meerendal and 2^nd day in Bloemendal Trails … where I crashed badly on my right side against the rocks in the Lombard’s Terra’s gap-jump (which I unintentionally took). Pain was bearable so far, so I took the start of the prologue which we completed at a very slow (and painful) pace in less than 2 hours. Yes, I was one of the riders walking up some of the steep climbs … I felt like a knife stabbing my side / lower back in all the a-frame fence ramps where a had to kick-pedal through. Could not stand up on the bike and could not push harder than some 200w … could see the stars in daylight.

Side note: do not criticise riders that walk up steep climbs in the prologue, there might be some story behind you do not know (and not necessarily undertraining). 😊

Stage 1 was long and hard. Again, better than in the prologue but still limited in my breathing and power in the legs. Pain was intense in the right side lower back,… but legs also got pretty tired. Finished the stage in less than 7 hours and a half,… but starting to worry about things not getting better, pain not diminishing and legs not being able to deliver what they had.

Stage 2 time trial was a relatively easy stage on paper. 62 km and mainly flat. I felt quite OK in the first kms so we decided to open gas and made very good progress in the first hour.  From P170 to p124 in our category in the first 15km. We were back! … but happiness lasts little in the house of the poor (Spanish saying). My power and strength started to drop like a stone as the heat increased. I was toasted, … soon all our progress went overboard, my heart rates high and my power numbers low,… reached WP2 with heat stroke symptoms. Got checked by in the medical tent, drank a lot of Coca Cola, got cooled down and hydrated, blood pressure checked, sugar levels, temperature, etc… and after 40 minutes I was good to continue. Finished stage 2 with fatigue and dehydration symptoms … and with intense heat forecasted for the already hard stage 3, I decided I would take a day off to rest, recover and attempt to continue as blue rider on stage 4. My aim was to enjoy the Cape Epic (rather than suffer to be a finisher), so that seemed the best route to follow.

On my rest on scorching hot stage 3, I made a visit to Paarl hospital to discover I had a broken rib. End of the game for me. Changed my role and mindset to assistant of my teammate + videographer.

More on the drama from stage 3 later in another post.

So, I went on camping mode the rest of the Cape Epic, watching the pros, supporting my teammate (that made it as individual finisher), following the race as a spectator. Not what I have trained for, not what I have desired, but adapting to circumstances. Enjoyed it in a different way.

I also had the chance to meet personally @DieselnDust, which I knew from the forum and had been helped by him in various questions I asked. I had a high opinion and respect about him, which I keep after meeting him in person in Lourensford.  

Will there be another Cape Epic in the future for me? Early to say. Mixed feelings and need some time to reflect and settle down things. Not in 2026, I think.

 

Edited March 27, 2025 by ikerarri

[ChrisF]

13 minutes ago, ikerarri said:

My report on my 2025 Cape Epic.

Having completed the 2021 Cape Epic successfully, with 8 months of training, better numbers than in 2021 and a younger and strong(er) riding partner ... all looked good when we travel to Cape Town from home Basque Country. 

We had some days for acclimatization. 1^st day testing in Meerendal and 2^nd day in Bloemendal Trails … where I crashed badly on my right side against the rocks in the Lombard’s Terra’s gap-jump (which I unintentionally took). Pain was bearable so far, so I took the start of the prologue which we completed at a very slow (but painful) pace in less than 2 hours. Yes, I was one of the riders walking up some of the steep climbs … I felt like a knife stabbing my side / lower back in all the a-frame fence ramps where a had to kick-pedal through. Could not stand up on the bike and could not push harder than some 200w … could see the stars in daylight.

Side note: do not criticise riders that walk up steep climbs in the prologue, there might be some story behind you do not know (and not necessarily undertraining). 😊

Stage 1 was long and hard. Again, better than in the prologue but still limited in my breathing and power in the legs. Pain was intense in the right side lower back,… but legs also got pretty tired. Finished the stage in less than 7 hours and a half,… but starting to worry about things not getting better, pain not diminishing and legs not being able to deliver what they had.

Stage 2 time trial was a relatively easy stage on paper. 62 km and mainly flat. I felt quite OK in the first kms so we decided to open gas and made very good progress in the first hour.  From P170 to p124 in our category in the first 15km. We were back! … but happiness lasts little in the house of the poor (Spanish saying). My power and strength started to drop like a stone as the heat increased. I was toasted, … soon all our progress went overboard, my heart rates high and my power numbers low,… reached WP2 with heat stroke symptoms. Got checked by in the medical tent, drank a lot of Coca Cola, got cooled down and hydrated, blood pressure checked, sugar levels, temperature, etc… and after 40 minutes I was good to continue. Finished stage 2 with fatigue and dehydration symptoms … and with intense heat forecasted for the already hard stage 3, I decided I would take a day off to rest, recover and attempt to continue as blue rider on stage 4. My aim was to enjoy the Cape Epic (rather than suffer to be a finisher), so that seemed the best route to follow.

On my rest on scorching hot stage 3 a made a visit to Paarl hospital to discover I had a broken rib. End of the game for me. Changed my role and mindset to assistant of my teammate + videographer.

More on the drama from stage 3 later in another post.

So, I went on camping mode the rest of the Cape Epic, watching the pros, supporting my teammate (that made it as individual finisher), following the race as a spectator. Not what I have trained for, not what I have desired, but adapting to circumstances. Enjoyed it in a different way.

I also had the chance to meet personally @DieselnDust, which I knew from the forum and had been helped by him in various questions I asked. I had a high opinion and respect about him, which I keep after meeting him in person in Lourensford.  

Will there be another Cape Epic in the future for me? Early to say. Mixed feelings and need some time to reflect and settle down things. Not in 2026, I think.

 

 

Ouch ....  Respect for getting that far with a broken rib !!

 

SUCKS that your races ended before it even started.

[Ozzie NL]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

2025 drop out rate as heavily influenced by Stage 3 cancellation that allowed a lot of riders to come back in Stage 4, and the lengthening of cut off of Stage 5&6 and shortening of Stage 7

Agreed ... if they would have stuck to the all who made it to WP3 rule the drop out rate would have spiked

[Ozzie NL]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

i think you need to simplify that and just use individuals dropping out. The IF's are part of the finishers group, just not timed

I do not NEED to do anything🤪

All can use their own definition but to me this is a team event and if the team did not make it, you're out. Finish and klaar!

[DieselnDust]

6 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

I do not NEED to do anything🤪

All can use their own definition but to me this is a team event and if the team did not make it, you're out. Finish and klaar!

okaaaaaay , need was the wrong word........lets try "I would like...."😂

[Lynskey]

27 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

I do not NEED to do anything🤪

All can use their own definition but to me this is a team event and if the team did not make it, you're out. Finish and klaar!

You NEED to calm down 🫡

[Mamil]

I NEED a drink

[Paul Ruinaard]

https://en.brujulabike.com/tragedy-at-the-absa-cape-epic-2025-a-rider-dies-during-the-competition/

 

Not sure if it has been discussed but if it has sorry for the re-post however here is some details of the fatality that was rumoured but now confirmed. RIP the rider. Very sad.

Edited March 26, 2025 by Paul Ruinaard

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

https://en.brujulabike.com/tragedy-at-the-absa-cape-epic-2025-a-rider-dies-during-the-competition/

 

Not sure if it has been discussed but if it has sorry for the re-post however here is some details of the fatality that was rumoured but now confirmed. RIP the rider. Very sad.

At length, but Interesting to see the international perspective. 

[Scary Rider]

7 hours ago, Lynskey said:

You NEED to calm down 🫡

Ouens, please calm down: it is not Friday yet, I NEED to go buy popcorn, and some of us unfortunately have to work...

Even though I would like to read Le Hub all day long🤭😎

[love2fly]

On 3/25/2025 at 10:18 PM, saturdayknight said:

Yip I worked hard before the epic last year to kickstart ketone metabolism - I think this helps for various reasons

I've been following a Keto diet and IF since Jan with great results. I'd be interested to know how far you took Keto or did you come off it before ACE?

CHEERS

[sirmoun10goat]

Thinking back to 2017, I think it was stage 1 where they where they extended the time, and stage 2 got cut off at an earlier water point. My ex at the time nearly suffered kidney failure, the medic tents were overrun and there was concerns the hospitals would not be able to cope. People scoffed and joked about ‘the toughest race/untamed Africa/etc’.

2025 the race was allowed to continued, which lead to a tragedy. This time people are condemning the organisers for not stopping it earlier.

No matter what the event organisers do, people will either agree or disagree. They are between a rock and a hard place. 
 

I did not partake in this epic, so I cannot comment on the mistakes that were made. But even as a participant, it’s hard to know what discussions were held and how the decision to continue was reached without having been at these discussions.

As an event organisers, it’s not possible to tell how people will react/handle extreme weather.

From what I gather, there was a shortage of water - big mistake. But there is no guarantee more water/water points would have saved the life lost.

[DieselnDust]

35 minutes ago, sirmoun10goat said:

Thinking back to 2017, I think it was stage 1 where they where they extended the time, and stage 2 got cut off at an earlier water point. My ex at the time nearly suffered kidney failure, the medic tents were overrun and there was concerns the hospitals would not be able to cope. People scoffed and joked about ‘the toughest race/untamed Africa/etc’.

2025 the race was allowed to continued, which lead to a tragedy. This time people are condemning the organisers for not stopping it earlier.

No matter what the event organisers do, people will either agree or disagree. They are between a rock and a hard place. 
 

I did not partake in this epic, so I cannot comment on the mistakes that were made. But even as a participant, it’s hard to know what discussions were held and how the decision to continue was reached without having been at these discussions.

As an event organisers, it’s not possible to tell how people will react/handle extreme weather.

From what I gather, there was a shortage of water - big mistake. But there is no guarantee more water/water points would have saved the life lost.

I wanted to comment but decided to delete and just say, you were not there. I have a personal anecdote from 2017 too. A friend was placed in induced coma for over a week when he collapsed during stage 2 2017. He survived. It was a 9 month recovery journey and every year at DC we celebrate the fact he's still with us, If the stage had been stopped earlier, Hermanus mediclinic would no have been overwhelmed to the point where Vergelegen had to accept overflow.

[sirmoun10goat]

8 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

I wanted to comment but decided to delete and just say, you were not there. I have a personal anecdote from 2017 too. A friend was placed in induced coma for over a week when he collapsed during stage 2 2017. He survived. It was a 9 month recovery journey and every year at DC we celebrate the fact he's still with us, If the stage had been stopped earlier, Hermanus mediclinic would no have been overwhelmed to the point where Vergelegen had to accept overflow.

I was not there, but my ex was. I had to help with her physical and emotional recovery.

2017 I believe it was still under Kevin’s supervision. 

My comment is that back in 2017 when organisers did shorten a stage, there was a lot of negativity about making the world’s toughest race too easy and accommodating less accomplished riders.

Had current event organisers shortened stage 3 this year, people would have said the same thing.

The organisers are between a rock and a hard spot. Any decision made will be praised/criticised, depending on what side of the fence people are on.

I’m not here commenting about right/wrong or good/bad. Just saying that it’s not easy making these decisions, and it’s not fair to say the organisers do not care about the participants.