First-timers from far-flung parts…

2015-08-31

As March approaches most riders taking part in the Absa Cape Epic have those butterfly in stomach moments. But one particular group gets them a lot more often: the first-timers.

In 2016, 55% of the field are newbies. Many come from far-flung parts of the world.

• 
• 
• 

What inspires them to travel all the way to South Africa to take on the world’s premier mountain bike stage race? 

Chile’s Chichi Garcia, a veteran of the World Cup cross country circuit and former national champion, says she wants to “experience racing one of the hardest stage races in the world, and, of course, in that great country”.

Canada’s Sonya Looney, a professional endurance racer from Canada, explains: “I have been wanting to come race the Cape Epic because I’ve heard it’s one of the best stage races.  I’ve been to Africa and raced in Morocco, but never in South Africa. I can’t wait to meet all the people and race against some of the best women in the world.”

And Norway’s Monika Valm  saw a television programme about the Absa Cape Epic “and could not put it out of my mind”. 

She adds: “I like to achieve goals for myself and the Cape Epic was a perfect candidate. I have previously summited some high and cold mountains (Denali, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Mt Blanc) and tested my limits. 

“This time I want to test my limits on a physically and mentally tough team stage race. Besides, I will turn 40 in March 2016 so what a better way to make entering into the forties more (or less?) painful,” laughs Monika.  

“I am glad I did not study the race in too much detail before we went after Early Bird entries,” she adds. “Now we have gathered as much information as we can and talked to people who have been though this. It is often referred to as the toughest MTB challenge there is, and it makes me very humble ... but then again they said the same about climbing Denali (in Alaska), the coldest mountain on earth.” 

Chichi says she had heard that many Olympic and World Cup competitors had taken part and that made it “a good goal to follow”.

The veteran of six Cross Country World Championships has also done the six-day TransAndes Challenge – with stages ranging from 60 to 90km – six times, finishing second in the mixed category this year.

She will be riding with countrywomen Florencia Marinovic in next year’s Epic and hoping to do as well as they did in the United States’s six-day Breck Epic, which they won earlier this year.

Sonya says: “I’ve heard that it’s hot, it’s easy to get flat tyres, the stages are long, it’s dusty, and there are some road-race tactics involved. I also heard that it’s the most organised, best-run race on the planet.”

She has been a professional rider for eight years and has raced in 15 countries: “I’ve won some US National titles, 100-mile events, and have some big stage race wins around the world. I love travelling and seeing the world from my bike.  The community that goes to stage races is very special and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

Sonya has raced many stage races in North America, which are generally shorter than the Cape Epic “but a lot of them involve over 50% of technical singletrack”. 

And her objective for the Cape Epic: “It’s my first time at this race, but when I line up with a number board my objective is always to win.”

Monika has competed in one-day mountain bike races with “comparable distance and elevation, but the Cape Epic will be my first stage race”.

“My riding partner (Lena Halvari, also Norwegian) and I have a goal to finish with style, do our best along the way, have fun in the process and remain friends.” She did her first serious mountain bike race five years ago and “have been riding in the mountains and gradually upgrading my bikes since”.

Chichi has been to South Africa before for the Cross Country World Championships in Pietermaritzburg in 2013, but both Sonya and Monika will be visiting for the first time. Sonya says she “can’t wait” to see the country and Monika added that “this makes the adventure even more exciting”.