The Absa Cape Epic or 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 with some of climbing. Mountain bikers from around the world encompassing over 700 teams compete in teams of two. To qualify for a finish, teams have to stay together for the duration of the race. The Professional race is by invitation only, with the amateurs able to who enter a lottery in order to gain a slot. The times taken to finish each stage are combined 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 race was acquired by The Ironman Group in August 2016. Advance Publications bought The Ironman Group in March 2020.
Origins Kevin Vermaak founded the Absa Cape Epic in 2004 at a time when there were no similar events in South Africa and mountain biking was in its infancy in the country. Today, the Absa Cape Epic is routinely referred to as "the Tour de France of mountain biking". The growth of the Absa Cape Epic has been paralleled by an explosion in the popularity of mountain biking in South Africa, and there are now more than 50 stage races. Vermaak, a Capetonian and UCT electrical engineering graduate, worked in IT in London in the early 2000s and, as a passionate mountain biker, took part in events across the world, including two mountain bike crossings of the Himalayas. He conceived the Absa Cape Epic while taking part in the La Ruta de los Conquistadores in Costa Rica in November, 2002. By February 2003 he was back in South Africa after eight years in London to establish the Cape Epic. Vermaak rode the Absa Cape Epic for the first time in 2016, and again in 2019.
Route The route starts and finishes in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is redesigned every year. The race lasts eight days and typically covers around . The shortest Absa Cape Epic took place in 2016 at , the longest route being in 2008 at . The route originally was a point-to-point race, beginning in Knysna and ending in the winelands of the Western Cape. This format changed in 2009, when riders spent multiple days in each stage location to ensure the route could fully explore the best mountain biking that the region had to offer.
Race concept Two person team All riders must enter as a two-person team. Initially the team concept was developed because stage racing often takes riders through some very remote areas, and having partners who are bound by the race rules to look after each other serves a safety function. Riders in a team must remain within 2 minutes of each other at all times during the race or face a one-hour penalty. This is enforced by means of timing mats places through the stage. After a third offence, the team is disqualified. Teams are expected to reach the finish line by the specified maximum stage time, team dynamics therefore are a major part of the race.
Categories and leader jerseys All riders aim to win stages, but mostly they want to win in their category. There are six categories: Elite (19+ years), Open (19 - 39 yrs), Mixed (19+ years), Master (40 - 49 years), Grand Master (50 - 59 years) and Great Grand Master (60+ years). The colours denoting the category leaders are: Yellow - Elite Men; Orange - Elite Women, Green - Mixed (1 woman and 1 man), Blue - Masters, Purple - Grand Masters and Grey - Great Grand Masters. The category leaders competition is decided by totaling the time each team takes on the daily stages. The team with the lowest overall time at the end of each stage receives ceremonial leaders' jerseys and the right to start the next stage of the race in those jerseys.
There are also two special jerseys: Absa African for leading all-african team, and the Exxaro jersey for the leading development team.
Blue numbers boards Any rider who does not complete a stage within the maximum stage time for the first time will be classified as a blue board rider. Blue board riders will be entitled to continue the race (they may start the following stage), but will not be classified as official race finishers. Should any blue board rider fail for the second time to finish a stage within the maximum stage time or fail to start a stage, he or she will not be allowed to continue the race.
Leopard Jersey Elite licensed riders who lose their partners will be allowed to continue riding but without influencing the outcome of the race. They are required to ride in the Leopard Jersey. Riders in this jersey may not interfere with any team still currently in the race. Any rider or team accepting mechanical or any other assistance from the outcast rider will be penalised. This will give the rider the opportunity to finish the race, be it unofficially, but still be part of the experience.
Internal technical and tactical support It is allowed - any rider, including riders from the same sponsor (but not in the same 2-rider team) can provide technical assistance and equipment from his own bicycle to support another rider. Teams can also form alliances with other riders and teams, even if they are not of the same sponsor.
Pro-Am aspect of the race Amateurs use the same chute, ride the same course and stay in the same race village as the UCI registered riders, which include world and national champions and Olympic medalists.
History
Timeline from 2002