Description
March 23, 2025
MTB Cape Epic 2025 🇿🇦 – Stage 7 – Lourensford Wine Estate – Lourensford Wine Estate : Distance 64km | Climbing 2100m
The Absa Cape Epic,
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March 23, 2025
MTB Cape Epic 2025 🇿🇦 – Stage 7 – Lourensford Wine Estate – Lourensford Wine Estate : Distance 64km | Climbing 2100m
The Absa Cape Epic, founded by Kevin Vermaak and also known as the Cape Epic, is an annual mountain bike stage race held in the Western Cape, South Africa. First staged in 2004, it has been accredited as hors catégorie (beyond categorization) by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The eight day race consists of a prologue and seven stages, and typically covers more than 680 km (420 mi) with some 16,900 m (55,400 ft) of climbing. Professional mountain bikers from around the world encompassing up to 650 teams compete teams of two. To qualify for a finish, teams have to stay together for the duration of the race. The race is also open to amateurs, who enter a lottery in order to gain a slot. The times taken to finish each stage are aggregated to determine the overall winning team in each category at the end of the race. The course changes every year, but the race has always taken place in the Western Cape.
The Pinnacle event of the Epic Series is also the first race of the calendar year. It is the event which pioneered mountain bike stage racing as a team sport and helped create an ethos of ultra-endurance riding in South Africa. Famed for its tough routes, which change for every edition, it is a bucket list challenge which transcends off-road racing and reaches into the consciousness of cyclists around the world. In 2025 the 608 kilometre long route features 16 500 metres of climbing.
“You’re either the last one standing, or the last one to fall…” The Grand Finale is the last chance to fly. And fly each team must as they ascend towards glory and swoop through the singletracks for the final time during the 2025 Absa Cape Epic. A circumnavigation of the Helderberg Dome ensures it will be a difficult day, complete with a return from a different direction to the highest point in the race. There will be reasons to celebrate aplenty too, however, with the singletracks of Ernie Els, Dornier and the famed Helderberg Trails all providing parting gifts. The last descent, through exquisite fynbos in reserve on the urban edge, brings the 21st Absa Cape Epic full circle. Closing with cheers, nerves replaced by elation, and a slot in the Book of Legend.
Results :
 by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The eight day race consists of a prologue and seven stages, and typically covers more than 680 km (420 mi) with some 16,900 m (55,400 ft) of climbing. Professional mountain bikers from around the world encompassing up to 650 teams compete teams of two. To qualify for a finish, teams have to stay together for the duration of the race. The race is also open to amateurs, who enter a lottery in order to gain a slot. The times taken to finish each stage are aggregated to determine the overall winning team in each category at the end of the race. The course changes every year, but the race has always taken place in the Western Cape.
The Pinnacle event of the Epic Series is also the first race of the calendar year. It is the event which pioneered mountain bike stage racing as a team sport and helped create an ethos of ultra-endurance riding in South Africa. Famed for its tough routes, which change for every edition, it is a bucket list challenge which transcends off-road racing and reaches into the consciousness of cyclists around the world. In 2025 the 608 kilometre long route features 16 500 metres of climbing.
“You’re either the last one standing, or the last one to fall…” The Grand Finale is the last chance to fly. And fly each team must as they ascend towards glory and swoop through the singletracks for the final time during the 2025 Absa Cape Epic. A circumnavigation of the Helderberg Dome ensures it will be a difficult day, complete with a return from a different direction to the highest point in the race. There will be reasons to celebrate aplenty too, however, with the singletracks of Ernie Els, Dornier and the famed Helderberg Trails all providing parting gifts. The last descent, through exquisite fynbos in reserve on the urban edge, brings the 21st Absa Cape Epic full circle. Closing with cheers, nerves replaced by elation, and a slot in the Book of Legend.
<strong>Results : </strong>)
