Behind the success of every year’s Absa Cape Epic is an enormous team of crew, volunteers, sponsors and full time staff ensuring that the event takes place as effortlessly as possible for all the participating Cape Epic enthusiasts.

The Spanish/Swiss team of José Hermida and Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking 3) finally secured their first stage win in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Hermida boasts a number of titles including the Elite World Champion (2010), fourth place at the Sydney Olympic Games, six World Cup round victories, runner-up in the European Championships and five times Spanish National Champion.

Absa Cape Epic enthusiasts across the African continent will be able to catch the final stage of this year’s event live on SuperSport tomorrow morning from 09h00. The stretch of 59km will see the participants leave Oak Valley in Elgin/Grabouw on route to their final destination at the Lourensford wine estate in Somerset West, where a heroes’ welcome await all who complete their 2011 journey.

At the waterpoints on the route and after riders complete each stage successfully, they are welcomed by Woolies To Go – not only with friendly and outstanding service, but with beverages and food that provide all the nutritional value participants need to recover from the strenuous day’s challenge. 

Avis was proud to once again partner with the world legendary Absa Cape Epic race as the official car rental supplier and sole sponsor of vehicles for the Premium Upgrade Package. These packages are aimed at riders who have paid for the privilege of spending the night in the comfort of a hotel or guest house instead of a tent and have the privilege of their hosts transporting them as and when required. They also provided a dedicated masseur per 4 premium teams.

Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser and his South African team mate Burry Stander (36ONE Songo Specialized) dominate this year’s Absa Cape Epic by securing their 5th stage win in stage 5 of this year’s Absa Cape Epic in 5:19.30,7. They were followed by the Flückiger brothers, Lukas and Mathias, of Trek World Racing in 5:19.41,2 with the Multivan Merida team, Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss, in third place (5;19.51,1).

Local South African craft manufacturer Umlungu was entrusted with the production of 192 Stage trophies for the Absa Cape Epic this year, which is handed out to all podium finishers in the evenings after the completion of each stage.

The world’s largest, full service mountain bike stage race, the Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, will this year offer additional activities at its grand finale at Lourensford Wine Estate this coming Sunday (3 April 2011) for enthusiasts who were not able to participate in the entire challenge.

Riders in this year’s Absa Cape Epic reached the foot of the exquisite Groenlandberg during Stage 5, the grand old legend who invited the event back in 2011 thanks to Cape Nature Conservation.  As in previous years, riders were very fortunate to experience some of South Africa’s most beautiful wildlife and scenery.

Planning to get married the weekend after they complete this year’s Absa Cape Epic, Ariane Lűthi (27) and her fiancé Erik Kleinhans (28) of team Contego/Giant/Sludge, are doing exceptionally well in this year’s event (ranked in the second position overall in the Mixed category).

Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser and his South African team mate Burry Stander (36ONE Songo Specialized) are on a winning streak by again finishing first in the trial ride (Stage 4) of this year’s Absa Cape Epic. They completed the tough 32km course in a time of 1:10.01,1 and are now 7 minutes and 48 seconds in the lead. They were again followed by Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking in 1;11.34,0  with the Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing team of Sergio Gutierrez Mantecon and Carlos Nicolas Coloma in third place  in 1:12.08,0.

The first female Gripen pilot of the South African Air Force, 31-year-old Catherine Labuschagne, completed stage 4 of this year’s Absa Cape Epic with team mate Ernst Viljoen (team Absalute Mud Movers).

Green Catering, the official on site catering company for the Absa Cape Epic, is keeping cyclists and crew energised with their balanced and delicious meals. Greg van Rensburg (37), a conference caterer for Green Catering, manages the team.

Telkom Business and 8.ta have started an epic new cycle. The mobile connectivity they are providing during the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race will be used by thousands of cyclists, members of the media, crew as well as the organisers.

Visually impaired Brazilian Adauto Belli (40), a security and sniff dog trainer and multisport enthusiast, is participating in this year’s Absa Cape Epic with experienced rider Mario Roma. It is the first time in history that two blind riders, Hein Wagner and Belli, participate in this extreme endurance event.