Cape Epic 2026

[Zebra]

@Stephan some very valid comments you make there, and well done on your second C.E.!

I very much like your idea (idea No. 7?) whereby the overall medal contains the 8 'segments' of the previous (completed) 8 stages - I think that is worth pursuing with the organizers, as an idea!

(the organization is so very Corporate now, that getting ideas across might be difficult, whereas in the Kevin Vermaak/Katy days, there seemed to be more willingness to listen to good suggestions...)

Nice to read your thoughts - well done!

Chris

[Stephan]

Thanks @Zebra. Most of what I shared in my post I said in the rider survey that came out last Friday. So let's see. 

I really think the 8/8ths medal idea, where you build it stage by stage, would be very cool and unique. They could even do two medals: a 6/6ths medal for Stages 1 to 6, and then the usual ACE medal for the Stage 7 Grand Finale — so you still incentivise people to make it to Sunday.

As for my proposal to add two numbers to the race bib — one for how many Epics you’ve started and one for how many you’ve finished — the inspiration is simple. A mate who has done (I think five Epics now) says the hardest part about the Epic is making it to the start line. It reflects months of discipline, focus, and commitment. I agree to some extent, although the race itself is still very, very hard. 

The other inspiration came from a guy I passed with “NEWBIE” written on his bib, which he had scratched out and replaced with a “3” in black marker. He said he was still trying to finish his first ACE, and this was his fourth attempt. He made it to the finish line, by the way. The fact that he kept pursuing his dream shows true grit and deserves recognition, and I’m sure there are many others like him out there.

[Shebeen]

5 hours ago, Zebra said:

@Stephan some very valid comments you make there, and well done on your second C.E.!

I very much like your idea (idea No. 7?) whereby the overall medal contains the 8 'segments' of the previous (completed) 8 stages - I think that is worth pursuing with the organizers, as an idea!

(the organization is so very Corporate now, that getting ideas across might be difficult, whereas in the Kevin Vermaak/Katy days, there seemed to be more willingness to listen to good suggestions...)

Nice to read your thoughts - well done!

Chris

Agreed. Is there even someone who is the "face" of the race organisation anymore? Kevin was very much the "guy" at gravel burn, and farmer Glenn/wappo/JK/Henco et al have always been part of their race brands.

[DieselnDust]

21 hours ago, Shebeen said:

Agreed. Is there even someone who is the "face" of the race organisation anymore? Kevin was very much the "guy" at gravel burn, and farmer Glenn/wappo/JK/Henco et al have always been part of their race brands.

That is not the Ironman way.

[Danger Dassie]

23 hours ago, Shebeen said:

Agreed. Is there even someone who is the "face" of the race organisation anymore? Kevin was very much the "guy" at gravel burn, and farmer Glenn/wappo/JK/Henco et al have always been part of their race brands.

Very different dynamic nowadays, that’s not a good or bad thing. There are pros and cons attached to any growth and/or evolution of an event. 

TdF for example has seen large changes over its 120 odd years of existence.

For Cape Epic and the Epic Series, it’s headed up by local Saffer Jonathan Meintjies.