“WesternCape” tag's highlights of related matches, posts & more...
LIVE | GRAND FINALE | 2023 Absa Cape Epic
The Trail to Val de Vie The Grand Finale is no easy ride to Val de Vie. Rather it is a rite of passage that has been hard-earned over eight days of limit-testing racing on the Western Cape’s Untamed trails. The 78 kilometre long Stage 7 takes in 2 400 metres of climbing, making it one of the toughest Grand Finales in Absa Cape Epic history. Beginning with a grind to the Lourensford Nek there is climbing from the gun, before thrilling singletracks lead teams through Mont Marie, Eden, G-Spot and the Stellenbosch World Cup Course. Then Botmaskop provides the second major test of the day and the final significant climb of the 2023 race. Banhoek and Boschendal’s famed trails then ensure that the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race ends on a singletrack high, before the trails of Val de Vie provide a moment for reflection on the previous seven days. It is not over until riders cross the line, however, and the final 500 metres on the estate’s polo fields are where emotions overcome teams as they’re beckoned home by deafening crowds as heroes of the Untamed. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Stage 7 | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
The Trail to Val de Vie After 8 days of limit-testing racing, there is a return to the good life, for those who can complete Stage 7. The Grand Finale takes teams to Val de Vie, the Valley of Life, and does so in style. On the way to Val de Vie via Idas Valley towards Stellenbosch’s most famous farms, including Rustenberg, Morgenhof, Muratie and Babylonstoren are traversed on the way to the final finish line. It is not all downhill, however, as altitude has to be gained first before the fun can start. This is achieved by climbing through Rustenberg and onto the Simonsberg Trails. Muratie’s Never Say Neverending thrills, before the route heads north. Crossing fabled farms on a mix of dual and singletrack the race steadily winds down. A last chance to empty the tank is provided by Val de Vie’s estate singletracks, then it’s onto the polo fields and under the Absa Cape Epic’s arches. The finish line appears, too soon for some but just at the right time for many others. 8 days of Untamed racing completed. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Stage 6 | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
By Hoek or by Crook Boasting more singletrack per kilometre of racing than in any other 2022 Absa Cape Epic stage, Stage 6 is one for the mountain biking purists, as it explores the famed Banhoek, Idas Valley, Stellenbosch Trail Fund and Jonkershoek valleys. The route departs Stellenbosch by climbing Botmaskop, mixing dual- and singletrack, before dropping into the Banhoek Valley along a series of tightly twisting switchbacks. In the valley itself rocky trails await before the climb back out, via Tokara and the lower slopes of Botmaskop. The route to Jonkershoek traverses high, above a castle in the sky, then snakes up and down, climbing Irish, descending Armageddon and Red Phoenix, then up Bosluis and Firehut before a last descent. Racing home to Stellenbosch, the trail follows the Eerste River and includes a trying final ascent before the finish line on the Coetzenburg fields beckons. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Stage 4 | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
Vale of Grace The second day on the trails of Greyton wastes no time in introducing the teams to the region’s spectacular trails. A district road start provides a quick warm-up before the dual tracks into the mountains above Genadendal spread the field for the trails to come. The mission station’s singletracks are raw and rugged, requiring absolute focus at all times. Luislang, before Greyton, and Mad Dog, after, are free flowing. Bakenskop, meanwhile, is not. A mountain biker’s mountain bike trail, worthy of entering Absa Cape Epic folklore, Bakenskop is a 9-kilometre-long ascent, ridgeline traverse and descent; all on shale singletrack. After the thrills of Bakenskop, the trail heads uphill once more, ascending the UFO climb before a last singletrack descent returns the teams to the Riviersonderend Valley floor and the grind back to the Elandskloof race village for the final time. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Stage 2 | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
An Untamed Odyssey Stage 2 of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic heads due east, taking the teams on an African Odyssey from the luxury of Lourensford Wine Estate into the heart of the hinterland. The route crosses the Helderberg basin, sweeping through Vergelegen, and ascends the Gantouw Link and the Gantouw Pass portage. Once on the Elgin plateau, the forge east continues, but takes in the Waterfall, Witklippies and Pofadder trails. Kat Pas and the new JK’s Switchbacks singletrack leads into the Overberg and onto Van der Stel Pas. From here the route rolls onwards towards a climb that will carve its way into Absa Cape Epic lore in one single encounter. But from the summit, spectacular views await before undulating dual tracks sap the final reserves from the legs on the way to Elandskloof. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Stage 1 | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
The View from the Throne The first marathon stage of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic leaves nowhere to hide. Scaling King’s Climb is the first order of the day. A brutally long and steep ascent from Lourensford Wine Estate to the heights of the Helderberg Mountains, it will stretch the field for the long Red Route descent of the Helderberg Trails. Following soon after are the virgin trails through Ernie Els and Alto wines which traverse the foothills of the Helderberg towards Dornier. Once inside Dornier’s boundaries playful singletracks provide an adrenaline boost ahead of the day’s most challenging climb, Die Nek. Crossing Die Nek takes the teams back into Lourensford, where a final brutal climb and scintillating singletrack challenge and reward await on the way to the stage’s finish line. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Prologue | Live Broadcast | 2022 Absa Cape Epic
A New Beginning After eight years the Absa Cape Epic returns to Lourensford Wine Estate. In 2022, Lourensford Wine Estate serves as the starting point for another edition of The Race That Measures All. What a race it will be, especially if it lives up to the highlight filled billing of Prologues passed. Packed with singletracks, but optimised for overtaking, it sets the tone for the seven stages that follow. Stunning mountain and ocean views await those who can lift their eyes from their stems. The first half drags steadily uphill, driving heart rates ever-upwards, before the second phase of the day is packed with roller-coaster downhills on manicured singletrack. Dual track links provide ample overtaking opportunities and allow the fastest teams to set the best possible times and secure start batches for the week of white-hot racing. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic
Grand Finale | Live Broadcast | 2021 Absa Cape Epic
Between Wellington and Val de Vie lie a final 68 kilometres of Untamed mountain biking. The Grand Finale is one last test to ensure that no finisher’s medal is handed over without the realisation being driven home that it was hard-earned. Patatskloof, Beulah and the Hawequa Climb roll neatly into one right from the off. At the summit of Hawequa, the final Dimension Data Hotspot provides a reward for the fastest to the top. Hugging the dizzyingly steep slopes of the Hawequa Mountains, the route loses hard earned altitude only to ascend again, up the Protea Climb. Undulating dual tracks tick off vital kilometres before the Freedom Struggle Climb and the Bone Rattler, which also forms the race’s final Land Rover Technical Terrain. Then, finally, onto the spectacular grounds of Val de Vie. Each Absa Cape Epic finisher will have had to earn his or her place with grit and determination. It is after-all the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race; the Absa Cape Epic; The Race That Measures All. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeepicMTB/ 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.cape-epic.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeepic