The entire country has a population smaller than Kimberley. Its 150 000 residents is about the same as that of Potchefstroom or Paarl.
But the tiny southern Caribbean island state of Curaçao – it covers a total of 444 square kilometres – will have no less than five riders in the 2016 Absa Cape Epic. Corrine Bos, John Ottevanger, Hans Bensik, Marc Brummelhius and Johannes van Egmond will become the first riders from the former Dutch colony to take part in the Cape Epic.
They will be among riders from 47 countries taking on the world’s foremost mountain bike stage race in 2016. The only other country being represented in the Cape Epic field for the first time will be The Phillipines, with two riders.
For the rest the field will come from Afghanistan, Andorra and Angola through the rest of the world to Venezuela and Zambia.
With registration having closed but with the professional teams and charities to confirm their entries, a total of 40,5% of the field will be from outside South Africa.
More than half of the registered entrants – 54,8% – will be riding the Absa Cape Epic for the first time. Only 12,4% are existing Amabubesi club members, or riders who have finished the event three or more times.
The oldest rider on the start line will be 63-year-old Ray Farrenkothen of South Africa, and the youngest will be 19-year-old Josep Colomina Tomas of Spain. The oldest and youngest women are both South Africans – 57-year-old Veronica Napier and 25-year-old Kristina Murray.
Colomina Tomas will be the youngest rider for the second year running and will again be riding with his father.
“It makes me feel proud and special because it is an honour to be the youngest one,” he told the Absa Cape Epic from his home in Barcelona. “It gives me strength to do it another time this year.”
He added that “in 2010, my father (found out about) the Absa Cape Epic, one of the most important races in mountain biking, and he promised me that one day we would do it together”.
“Last year, I accomplished my dream with him. It makes me feel like a professional rider to go with the best riders of the world on this type of course,” said Colomina Tomas.
A total of 90% of the field will be male and 10% female. As things stand, the percentage of entries in each category are: Men’s 47,68%, Women’s 1,96%, Mixed 14,91%, Masters 27,63% and Grand Masters 7,82%.
The 2016 Absa Cape Epic takes place from 13 to 20 March and the much anticipated route will be announced at the official route launch gala dinner on 14 October 2015. The 2016 race will host the 100th stage in the history of the event on Tuesday 15 March.
Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser win NTT Masters category in fine style
