Cape Epic NOT the Toughest MTB race in South Africa.

[willem.dup]

What is the toughest MTB race in South Africa ?

According to Chatgpt:

The Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa (RASA) is widely considered the toughest mountain bike race in South Africa—and arguably one of the hardest in the world. It spans approximately 2,150 km from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal to Wellington in the Western Cape, covering incredibly diverse and rugged terrain, including mountains, valleys, and remote farmlands.

Key Reasons Why It's the Toughest:

1. Navigation Required: Riders must navigate using only maps and compasses—no GPS is allowed.

2. Unmarked Trails: There are no route markers; getting lost is common, and part of the challenge.

3. Extreme Conditions: Weather ranges from freezing mountain passes to scorching valleys.

4. Remote and Isolated: Riders are often far from civilization with limited support.

5. Self-Sufficiency: Cyclists must carry their own gear, repair their own bikes, and find their own way.

6. Time Limits: The race must be completed in 26 days, with time cutoffs at various checkpoints.

 

_____
If so why aren't more people doing this race or just the smaller Freedom circuit ? or Tours ?

I would like to hear more from people opinions.

 

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:54 PM by willem.dup

[Ozzie NL]

"Toughest " is such a multi facetted thing rather than a one dimensional measure; No doubt Freedom Challenge is very tough but in a very different way to Epic.

Epic is more about technical, single track riding, absolutely no self navigation and a chance to recover each day. RASA and to some extent Munga are more about the mental toughness to just keeping going on the correct route.

My summary is that RASA is about being able to die slowly whereas Epic is trying to make sure you do not die here and now. What's toughest is very much a function of what you're better at

[willem.dup]

@Ozzie NLThank you for the reply, Have you done a cost comparison R/km on events?

🏁 Cost Comparison Table

Race Name Distance Entry Fee (2025)Cost per km (approx.)

Freedom Challenge RASA2,150 kmR53,000 (standard entry)R24.65/km Included Accommodation

Trans Baviaans230 kmR3,747 (2-person team, per rider)R16.29/km

Absa Cape Epic658 kmR56,875 (per rider)R86.45/km Included Accommodation

Sani2C265 kmR10,000 (approximate)R37.74/km Included Accommodation

[dave303e]

You can debate toughness for hours. Munga was also marketed as toughest. So are a million other events in the world. You never hear a Gurkha saying they are the toughest soldier in the world, but if you read the stories you never doubt that they are.

My issue with freedom is that it is cheaper to fly to Kyrgyzstan and race Silk Road Mountain race than it is to just enter freedom. And if we going to argue about toughness(which is pointless), the first climb at Silk road this year is 90km long 3600m of elevation gain. After that you still have 1750km with over 20 000m of climbing to go in temperatures ranging from -10C to +40C...

You also have to align tough to the person doing it and their experience. For example I have a sub 24 hour time for a 100mile(160km) trail run. I honestly found that running a normal road marathon on a flat course last year was a much bigger challenge for me. Just operating outside of my normal intensity and out of my wheel house really was a challenge. I have run 42's at ultra marathon pace more that In care to admit. In prep for my last 10 miler, the shortest Sunday run over a 4 month period was 38km. But I found hammering 42km at 100% chasing a pb was ridiculously tough. In fact for me I would find it easier to chase a 100mile pb than a marathon pb. Both are tough, but in very different ways and find what you enjoy and gives you a good reason WHY to do it. If you are chasing "the toughest race in the world" then that is your WHY, but realise that tough is different for everyone...

[Zebra]

Morning, Willie, it almost seems like you have an ‘agenda’, both with the 1st post, and then with the 2nd…? Or maybe i just READ it that way! 😁 Price per kilometre? Now THAT is a whacky metric! 🤯

With all due respect to Chat GPT, Freedom Challenge is more - for me - of a Life Challenge/life ‘event’ than an out and out ‘race’, whereas the Cape Epic is 8 days of pretty-much surviving it, if you race it hard…

…and then few people get 28 days off work to do one event, so i DO think ACE is still PRETTY MUCH one of the toughest MTB races worldwide, with Freedom Challenge and the brilliant Munga being in a different category, as it were…

For me, its almost comparable to say an 8-day gruelling foot race, versus say someone doing a foot race -over 28 days say, they are BOTH tough, one likely with more INTENSITY, the other foussed on ENDURANCE and getting the body to last…

I think for the regular guy & gal, the ACE is one of the most gruelling, with a few other SPECIAL challenges being arguably harder, but then not really a mass event?

Chris: ACE 3-peat. (the easier ones, to be fair: ’06, 07 & 08; they are tougher-still these days…)

Edited yesterday at 06:52 AM by Zebra
Added detail…

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Zebra pretty much nailed it. Two very different races, raced at very different intensities.

I've been wanting to do the Freedom Challenge for the longest of times but getting 30days leave a year and having two kids makes it very selfish to use all my leave on myself. It's even worse for those who run their own business.

 

[willem.dup]

@dave303e Thank you for the reply.

First off, i am not arguing just getting answer for my question and Chatgpt statement.

I dont think this is the place to argue.

Also I didn't ask about running races or gravel races only Mtb races in south Africa 

Please dont get me wrong on other races as they all have unique strategy and endurance all over the world.

My point is that Cape Epic is not the toughest race and is way over rated for the local market but lucrative for internationals and pros which is good for South Africa economy.

Relax, I am not challenging you do the Freedom😉.

 

 

 

[Ozzie NL]

5 minutes ago, williedup@gmail.com said:

@dave303e Thank you for the reply.

First off, i am not arguing just getting answer for my question and Chatgpt statement.

I dont think this is the place to argue.

Also I didn't ask about running races or gravel races only Mtb races in south Africa 

Please dont get me wrong on other races as they all have unique strategy and endurance all over the world.

My point is that Cape Epic is not the toughest race and is way over rated for the local market but lucrative for internationals and pros which is good for South Africa economy.

Relax, I am not challenging you do the Freedom😉.

 

 

 

More than 50% of the filed is still South African so that challenges your statement I would think.

 

Whether you like it or not. Epic is by far the best known and most referred MTB stage race (talk to an overseas MTB-er and Epic will come up).... and thus people want to have the medal

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Has ChatGPT raced either of them? 😉🙈

[DieselnDust]

29 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Has ChatGPT raced either of them? 😉🙈

But is ChatGPT amaboepensi!? 
if not it must go sit in the corner

Edited yesterday at 07:21 AM by DieselnDust

[BuffsVintageBikes]

4 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

But is ChatGPT amaboepensi!? 
 

This is GOLD 😄😄😆

[willem.dup]

ChatGPT and other AIs are certainly hitting the right nerves here.

 

The truth seems to be unsettling for some users on this forum.

 

Hey, if you want to pay R100/km for a race that isn't the toughest MTB challenge, that's entirely your choice.

 

As Elon Musk pointed out, the AI singularity will begin to reveal human flaws and expose real truths—even when it means scrutinizing its own creators.

[Mongoose!]

Maybe the “toughness” of Epic can be measured on the % of entrants completing it successfully.

If 90% +(not sure – can be more?) of entrants (weekend warriors / corporate invites / ex Springbok forwards, local “celebrities”  etc.) can complete it, the question arise : is it maybe more tough on the wallet than the legs…😜

[J Wakefield]

A race is as tough as you make it 1 or 21 days. 

[tubed]

FC is one that challenges and changes me like no other

 

Edited yesterday at 10:31 AM by tubed
*simple reply - dont want to be called dumb :)

[willem.dup]

@Mongoose! Couldn't say it better 👍