Absa Cape Epic 2018 - Teaser

The Cape Epic 2018 will take riders through 658 km of South Africa’s Western Cape countryside and up a lot of hills: the accumulated vertical gain will be 13,530 m. The race attracts professional and serious amateur entrants from across the planet that participate in two-person teams. From the Prologue on the iconic Table Mountain, the 2018 Cape Epic will visit Robertson, Worcester and Wellington, and finish at the Val de Vie Estate. The Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike stage race in the world and the only 8-day mountain bike stage race classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). This official UCI status makes it a highlight on the professional racer’s calendar.

Prologue: Cape Town – Cape Town. Distance: 20 km. Climbing: 600 m
From the imposing buildings of the University of Cape Town riders will be sent up the most vicious climbs of one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Some may be left wondering about their legs after the first climb that has been given a name we dare not print in public, just 100m long with sections ramping up to unforgiving, steep gradients. Table Mountain has one last punch for the riders, up to Dead Man’s Tree, before they loop back to the finish. One last challenge awaits, the eye-wateringly quick descent of Plum Pudding.

1st Stage: Robertson – Robertson. Distance: 110 km. Climbing: 1900 m
Stage 1 is never easy at the Cape Epic. A roll around district and farm roads to start is followed by some sharp kickers and the rock ’n roll descent on the rocky, rutted descent of Con’s Singletrack. Takkap Climb comes into play just before halfway and will be the biggest challenge of the day, brutally steep and rocky. The “Hidden Cliff” of Skuilkraans is part of a 14km uphill slog before some small reprieve and a few testing climbs through the Elandskloof Reserve.

2nd Stage: Robertson – Robertson. Distance: 110 km. Climbing: 2000 m
A series of climbs will await the riders at the 2nd stage: The Balboa, the Cow Climb, Kat se Pad, Kat de Stert, Neil’s Folly, One-Two-Three Combo, Suckerpunch Climb and, when you think it is all over, the Counter Punch Climb. There will be some fun with the 10km Bosvark singletrack swoop after 82km, which for many will be the highlight of the day.

3rd Stage: Robertson – Worcester. Distance: 122 km. Climbing: 1800 m
The transition day will be the longest stage of the 2018 Cape Epic, but will not be the most challenging in terms of terrain, except for the Porcupine Trap, a flat-out section through sandy fynbos trails toward the Saggy Stone Brewery that has porcupine dens that could swallow a man whole. The first 20km includes three climbs, but it is Penn Hill that is the main challenge of the day, a 3.5km brute of a climb that comes after 12km of uphill graft.

4th Stage: Worcester – Wellington. Distance: 111 km. Climbing: 1800 m
The Queen Stage. This will include two of the toughest climbs of the 15th Cape Epic and the terrain will leave riders exasperated at