The dramatic new route of the ninth edition of the Absa Cape Epic, which takes place from 25 March to 1 April 2012, will be as challenging as previous years. Both local and international mountain biking enthusiasts will be taking on the demanding eight day mountain bike adventure of 781km with 16 300m of climbing from Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanvilla to Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.

The route, which changes significantly each year, will lead 1 200 cyclists through vast distances of virgin territory, previously untouched by the race. With its challenging and exhilarating landscapes, the stage locations of Meerendal, Robertson, Caledon  and Oak Valley  (Elgin Valley) await the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world, before riders again finish at the Lourensford Wine Estate as has been tradition for the past 6 years.

You can only ride the route of the Absa Cape Epic as a participant in the race or as a member of our Epic Trippers programmes. A significant part of the route is on private land that belongs to landowners that support the Absa Cape Epic and open up their land for the race once a year. Their land is NOT open to general mountain biking and riders that trespass at any time of the year will receive a lifetime ban from riding the Absa Cape Epic. Trespassers can expect the justified wrath of landowners and the law and their names will be forwarded to the race office for us to implement this lifetime ban.

The race traverses through several sections of land which belong to MTO Forestry, Cape Nature and South African National Parks, some of these reserves are accessible to the public for mountain biking. For permits, please contact MTO Forestry, Cape Nature and South African Natioanal Parks directly. Stage towns and the route change each and every year. Daily stages are typically between 80 and 140km. There is always a combination of single track, rugged jeep tracks and fast flowing gravel roads, and as little tarred road as possible.