The 2016 Absa Cape Epic was one of the best of all 13 editions, race veterans have said. But what did the new professional riders in the field think?
It seems that they heartily concur and will be back in the years to come.
Switzerland’s Nicola Rohrbach, who finished second overall with German Matthias Pfrommer (Team Centurion Vaude by Meerendal 2), said: “I really enjoyed my first ever Absa Cape Epic. It was the best race I've ever done.” He added that the route was made up of “super nice stages with many kilometres of singletrack … that’s the way to go”.
Third-place finisher Damiano Ferraro, who teamed up with fellow Italian Samuele Porro (Trek-Selle San Marco), said his first Absa Cape Epic was “the best and most amazing experience of my career”.
Newcomer Adel Morath of Germany, who finished third overall in the Women’s category with Briton Sally Bigham (Topeak Ergon), added: “For me every day was like a new highlight. I was looking forward to every stage and I enjoyed each one in different ways.”
She added: “I loved the routes. Every stage’s terrain was different. That made every stage special and I was always very motivated to go out there with my bike to enjoy and suffer!”
She said the two-person team format had also been a highlight for her: “My partner was Sally and we had great time together. I liked this way of racing.”
Ferraro said his best moment had been winning Stage 4: “Winning at the Absa Cape Epic is really fantastic, with so many people there and so much media coverage.”
“This event is special and is the best and the biggest I have ever participated in,” he added. “It is covered by the media worldwide.”
Rorbach said his personal highlight had been winning the 100th Absa Cape Epic stage – Stage 2, which started and finished in Tulbagh: “There was this awesome old wagon trail we rode up near the start and and then came down it again at the end of the stage.”
He said he would be back to race the Absa Cape Epic again and to take on “the hardest MTB race … even the landscape makes it special”.
Ferraro said he would be back in 2017, hopefully with Porro, and Morath would “definitely” be on the starting line.
Brazil’s Henrique Avancini, speaking after winning the final stage into Meerendal Wine Estate with German partner Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing), said he had enjoyed the entire experience and was thrilled to have won a stage on his debut ride.
Portugal’s Tiago Ferreira, who also bagged a stage win with partner Periklis Ilias of Greece (Dolomiti Superbike), said he had been thrilled to take part in “the biggest mountain bike stage race in the world”.
Morath summed up the general sentiment when asked what it was about the event that appealed to her: “Sleeping in the Absa Cape Epic village with all the other racers. Waking up early before sunrise. Being excited for the coming stage. Taking your body to the limit. Perfect organisation. Good media work.”
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