The 2021 Absa Cape Epic delivered on all fronts. It was brutal. It was hot. It was cold. It rained. It has gone down in the history books as the first Absa Cape Epic to ever take place outside of the traditional March event period. From October 17th till October 24th TEAM BIKEHIGH conquered 8 days of #UntamedAction.
8 days. 620 kilometres and 15.350 metres of vertical ascent. Rugged mountain dual tracks and rocky singletracks through pristine fynbos. Sandy farm road between manicured orchards. Bone-rattling descents off ancient mountain ranges. This was the Absa Cape Epic 2021 route for Jasper Lefevre and Jonas Moeyaert, Team Bikehigh.
Wild and untamed. The pinnacle of mountain bike stage racing. The Race That Measures All. There are many names to call, but the route for the seventeenth edition requires absolute commitment and focus from start to finish. It is a bucket list race to many, not to say a life-changing opportunity. From the slopes of Table Mountain to Ceres, to Tulbagh, to Wellington and finally, the Trail to Val de Vie where the Grand Finale wrapped up the 2021 event in emphatic style.
The Witzenberg Valley was undoubtedly one of the most challenging playgrounds, making Stage 2 a fitting holder for the title of Queen Stage. Crossing the Ceres Valley was the first step for the team, followed by the Old Gydo Pass. On the Bokkeveld plateau the dual track climb has given way to singletrack. Snaking ever upward into the Witzenberg Mountains, the trails became increasingly technical. And as it started to weave its way between sandstone outcrops, the Land Rover Technical Terrain was there to be conquered. In the valley below there were nearly 20 kilometres of virtually uninterrupted singletrack awaiting . Only the day’s final climb brought an end to the singletrack. Followed by a final white-knuckle singletrack descent -along an old wagon trail- to finanlly drop from the heights of the Witzenberg to the Tulbagh Valley far below.
Your journey to the finish line of the Absa Cape Epic? It starts right here. Contact Bikehigh and find out everything you need to know about the race today.