In 2004, riders of the inaugural Cape Epic covered 788 kilometres, on the second longest route in the history of the event. The total altitude gain over their eight days of riding was an equally impressive 17,380 meters and in true mountain-biking fashion, the names and numbers don’t tell even half the story.
Although the participants prepared for a tour between the coastal holiday town of Knysna and the Spier wine estate just outside Stellenbosch, they did not really know what to expect. The inland riders were in a slight state of shock over the length of the climbs (the first day between Knysna and the Saasveld University campus outside George over 120 kilometres included 3 050m of climbing, and the first of those 600 metres were gained almost immediately as they left Knysna).
Riders During the 2004 Cape Epic
The international riders had touring experience and were used to plenty of climbing, but the race took place earlier than usual, finishing in the first week of March. The second and third stages, from the verdant coastal town of George over the mountains to the Calitzdorp spa, 123 kilometres away in the arid Little Karoo, and then to Riversdale over 110 kilometres away in the Overberg allowed some bunch riding, but the riders battled extreme heat and high winds on the open dirt roads. Even well-trained locals like Hanlie Booyens (eventual winner of the women’s category with Sharon Laws in team Yellow Jacket) found the going tough - they expected a few marathons like the popular Karoo to Coast race between Uniondale and Knysna back-to-back!
Then came Stage 4, over a modest distance of 110 kilometres between Riversdale and Swellendam. Many still claim this as their hardest day on a bike as torrential rain had turned the tracks in the forested hills above Swellendam into a mud sufferfest. Their laid-back and friendly route designer had revealed a talent for finding a sting in the tail to link any two points you might care to find on the map, and he was christened Dr Evil the following year. Riders in subsequent editions of the Cape Epic wouldn’t dream of bypassing a water point just 20 kilometers from the end as they did on that occasion.
Muddy Riders during Stage 4
The last three days took the riders from Greyton to Franschoek over 89 kilometres and then on to the winelands around Stellenbosch in two sixty kilometre hops. Despite the mountainous terrain and their fatigue, nearly everybody enjoyed the riding, which included plenty of singletrack and dual-track.
Over the years, commentators have succumbed to an impulse to find “the hardest Epic ever “ and the inaugural event hardly ever gets mentioned. Before we rule it out, we should perhaps remember that many participants were riding hardtail bikes fitted with V-brakes and tubes. Supple tubeless tyres and 29-inch wheels were yet to be invented in 2004. Not many would volunteer for that ride now.
Winners of the Inaugural 2004 Cape Epic
Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser win NTT Masters category in fine style
