Description
March 20, 2026
22nd MTB Cape Epic 2026 🇿🇦 – Stage 5 – Greyton – Stellenbosch : Distance 134km | Climbing 2750m
The Absa Cape Epic, founded by Kevin Vermaak and also known as the Cape Epic,
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March 20, 2026
22nd MTB Cape Epic 2026 🇿🇦 – Stage 5 – Greyton – Stellenbosch : Distance 134km | Climbing 2750m
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.
Stage 5 rules over the Absa Cape Epic with an iron fist. It is, without doubt, one of the biggest, meanest stages that the race has seen in years and the numbers alone tell a story of extreme distance, massive elevation, and relentless trials from Greyton to Stellenbosch.
The race leaves Greyton with its sights set on Botrivier. Once reached, KatPas stands guard of the Cape Floral Kingdom in Grabouw. Here, trails abound before the portage down the historic Gantouw Pass tests minds and legs alike. The descent will lull teams into a false sense of security, but all they need to do to remind themselves that they’re in the Absa Cape Epic is to cast their eyes across the Helderberg basin to the wall that is the Lourensford Nek. And then begin the grind to the top.
When over the Nek, a taste of what’s to come in the final two stages will cap off an epic day and guarantee a good night’s sleep for those who make it to the new race village intact.
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.
Stage 5 rules over the Absa Cape Epic with an iron fist. It is, without doubt, one of the biggest, meanest stages that the race has seen in years and the numbers alone tell a story of extreme distance, massive elevation, and relentless trials from Greyton to Stellenbosch.
The race leaves Greyton with its sights set on Botrivier. Once reached, KatPas stands guard of the Cape Floral Kingdom in Grabouw. Here, trails abound before the portage down the historic Gantouw Pass tests minds and legs alike. The descent will lull teams into a false sense of security, but all they need to do to remind themselves that they’re in the Absa Cape Epic is to cast their eyes across the Helderberg basin to the wall that is the Lourensford Nek. And then begin the grind to the top.
When over the Nek, a taste of what’s to come in the final two stages will cap off an epic day and guarantee a good night’s sleep for those who make it to the new race village intact.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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