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SPORT & OUTDOOR
Cape Epic 2009
Venue: Throughout the Cape Peninsula and Western Cape
Time: -
Price: -
Performances: 21 - 28 Mar 2009
Genre: Moutain biking
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The Cape Epic, the biggest race of its kind in the world,
offers local and international mountain biking enthusiasts the opportunity
to participate in an eight day mountain bike race of 743 km, which again
finishes at the Lourensford Wine Estate.
The route, which has changed significantly, will lead 1
200 cyclists through vast distances of unspoilt nature and up
approximately 16 650m of climbing over some of the most magnificent
mountains and passes in South Africa.
One of the most famous natural landmarks in Africa, Table
Mountain, marks the beginning of the pioneering, tough and beautiful
mountain bike race. The race then heads into the Overberg region in search
of the most exciting, beautiful and challenging routes. Always innovating,
the 2009 Absa Cape Epic visits stage locations in which riders will be
staying for 2 consecutive nights, allowing them more time to experience
the single-track and technical routes that make this race legendary.
Table Mountain will host the prologue,
which was introduced at this year’s race, on the first day of the event.
The 24km ride against the clock will take riders from the edge of the City
Bowl towards Tafelberg Road. The Cobra is a steep switchback climb
averaging 15%. Once they crossed Kloof Nek, riders will climb Signal Hill
and head along the spine.
Gordon’s Bay will see the start of Stage 1, taking riders over
110km and 2 770m of climbing to Villiersdorp. The early steep ascents will
stretch out the field, just in time for some rocky single-track. The 10km
climb will start off at over 10%, but will level out near the top. Riders
will need to save their energy for the last 15km, which will take them
into Villiersdorp, where they will settle in for 2 nights.
Stage 2 will be a 120km ride with 2 108m of climbing.
Villiersdorp, the "The Pearl of the Overberg", is graced by oak trees and
surrounded by tranquil fruit and wine orchards. Sixteen degree slopes are
perfect for crafting fine wine but will make for tired legs early in the
stage.
The third stage will take riders from
Villiersdorp to Greyton, an 85km route with 1 950m of climbing. Their legs
will remember stages 1 and 2 all too clearly as they tackle a long ascent
up a rugged 4x4 trail. It will be another day of tough ups and downs,
breaking the riders’ rhythm.
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The fourth day (Stage 4) of 101km and 2 303m of
climbing will begin on the open roads with a steady climb followed by a
tricky section on fast rocky tracks, testing the reactions early in the
morning. After crossing the causeway, a windy trip through the farmlands
will take the field back towards Greyton. Much of it is rideable but with
some 20 degree slopes, testing their technical skills.
Stage 5 will take riders from Greyton to Oak
Valley, a 113km ride with 2 405m of climbing. Early on, some jagged climbs
will strike a cruel blow to the morale, but riders will be rewarded with
the beautiful flowing dual tracks alongside the railway line. This will
offer a temporary respite as Elgin / Grabouw appears on the horizon.
The second last stage (Stage 6) of the Absa Cape
Epic, will take riders on a 120km journey with 2 604m of climbing. This
stage is the most technical in the Absa Cape Epic’s history. No sooner
than leaving Oak Valley, riders will encounter more hills heading towards
the N2. Crossing over the route, they will follow the Apple Trail and
visit Kogelberg - a world-famous Cape Nature Conservation biosphere
featuring some radical descents and narrow tracks with unique Fynbos
grabbing at the handlebars. After a river crossing and more steep climbs,
riders once again find themselves in the single-track heaven of Lebanon.
They will then return to Oak Valley to cap off a very demanding day in the
saddle.
Finally the last day (Stage 7 - final) of the
taxing Absa Cape Epic has arrived and riders will end their adventure at
Lourensford. Traditionally the last stage is always the shortest, but
never easy and will take riders over 70km and 1 770 m climbing. Again,
they will see short, sharp climbs and then some longer and even steeper
ones though Nuweberg.
Says Kevin Vermaak, founder and director of the Absa Cape
Epic and Cape Odyssey: “The Absa Cape Epic has grown in popularity amongst
cyclists around the world. Every year we typically have more than 40
countries represented and 35% of the riders travel from outside Africa. In
South Africa, the race is increasingly becoming an iconic endurance event
well known beyond just the cycling community.”
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