Finish Line Proposal

Denver Knoetzen (32) from Stellenbosch who participated in the 2012 Absa Cape Epic as part of team Hamburger Perlen, proposed to his girlfriend, Katryn Schoon just after he crossed the finish line at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West on Sunday, 1 April. Knoetzen only heard that he’s taking part in this year’s race on Saturday, 24 March, the day before the Prologue.

Denver Knoetzen Proposes at the Finish Line 

Knoetzen, who works in the IT industry, participated in his 3rd Absa Cape Epic this year.

Even though Knoetzen has been planning to ask his girlfriend to marry him for a couple of months, he only decided to do it at the finish line when he heard he got in. “I’ve been planning to ask her for a few months and I’ve had the ring for a while. On Saturday when I found out I’m going to do the Absa Cape Epic, I decided that I’m going to use this opportunity to propose. The Cape Epic has been as much a part of her life as it’s been of mine, so I thought it would be the perfect moment,” explains Knoetzen.

Knoetzen and Schoon (26), who is doing her Masters, have been together for 1 year and 10 months. He asked his friend to pick up the ring from his house and bring it to Lourensford. “I stopped as I got into Lourensford and my mate brought me the ring. As I crossed the finish line, Katryn was waiting for me and I got down on my knee and asked her to marry me,” says Knoetzen.

Commenting on this year’s Absa Cape Epic, Knoetzen says: “The race was really tough this year. The fact that I didn’t have time to prepare for the race obviously played an important part. The weather conditions made the race really difficult.”

Knoetzen finished the race as an individual finisher, after his partner had to withdraw during Stage 3. Explains Knoetzen: “The heat during Stage 1 and 2 got to him. He got dehydrated at the 3rd waterpoint during Stage 3, so he decided to withdraw. I decided to go on and see if I can finish in time – I crossed the finish line 20 minutes before cut-off.”