For the first time this year, the Absa Cape Epic will match the Women’s prize purse to the Men’s prize purse. The event is already the largest total prize purse in the world for mountain biking and the increase to R700 000 for the Women’s category now takes the race’s total prize purse for all categories to R1 600 000.
This makes it the highest prize purse for women’s cycling globally (including road races).
It is thanks to headline sponsor Sasol Oil that the Absa Cape Epic can now boast with this latest achievement. Says Alan Cameron, MD of Sasol Oil: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the legendary Absa Cape Epic. This grueling race demands exceptional performance from all riders, regardless of their gender. We believe the prize money should reflect this and we’re therefore proud to be increasing the 2014 women’s prize, to equal that of the men.”
At the Prologue, Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad of RECM 2 won the Women’s category in a time of 1:10.07, ahead of Sally Bigham and Esther Süss (Meerendal) in 1:12.16,3. Jennie Stenerhag and Theresa Ralph (Cape Brewing Company) finished third in 1:15.43,3, with Milena Landtwing and Hielke Elferink (Meerendal Wheeler) in fourth place (1:16.12,9).
Yolande de Villiers of SasolRacing who (together with her riding partner Ischen Stopforth) finished in fifth place in the Women’s category at the Prologue (in 1:19:12,9), says: “I think it’s really great and exciting that Sasol came on board in a big way this year to make women’s racing so much more exciting. We also put in a lot of effort and we’re grateful that we’re finally getting that recognition. I’m just glad the Prologue is now over as it was nerve wrecking. I’m ready for the real race to start now! I’m very excited with the prospect of what might happen this week.”
Adds Stopforth: “In previous years the field wasn’t nearly as strong as this year and I believe it’s because of the prize money Sasol has put on the table. The competition is going to be very tight and I’m happy to be part of it all. It’s going to be a very exciting seven days!”
In seventh position was team SasolRacing 2 (Yolandi du Toit and Leana de Jager) in a time of 1:22:10,8. Says du Toit: “We’re getting more exposure and there’s a lot more focus on the women’s racing this year. It’s really good for the sport and it feels nice. The competition is also tougher than previous years.”
De Jager agrees: “We work and train just as hard as the men and to finally get the kind of recognition we deserve is really great. It changes our attitudes and our approach is different than previous years. Really looking forward to the week ahead.”
Kevin Vermaak, founder of the Absa Cape Epic, says: “I believe prize money lends credibility to a professional sport. Even just a few years ago, a few hundred thousand Rand was a big pay-out for mountain biking – not only in South Africa, but for mountain biking all over the world. I'm happy that with the help of our sponsors, we have been able to consistently and substantially increase the prize money at the Absa Cape Epic, which in turn stimulates other MTB races to also increase their prize money, and thereby increase professional mountain bikers’ earnings. South Africa must be the only country in the world where road cyclists switch to mountain biking because they can potentially earn more off-road. I'm proud of the role we have played in uplifting the professionalism of our sport in South Africa.”
Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser win NTT Masters category in fine style
