Cape Epic presented toughest of challenges

Namibians again delivered a memorable representation at the biggest mountain bike stage race in the world, as the eight-day Absa Cape Epic concluded at Stellenbosch last Sunday.

Both the full tour (707 km with 15900 metres of climbing) and the elite women’s 560 km (13350 m climbing) demanded physical and psychological endurance from every competitor.

Unfortunately the elite women’s pairing of Vera Looser (Namibia) and Rosa van Doorn (Netherlands) saw their initially strong challenge end prematurely when Van Doorn injured her knee in a crash near the end of the fourth stage. Looser, a member of the 2023 champion team with Kim Le Court of Mauritius, managed to finish as a solo rider on Sunday after 30 hours 13 minutes.

• Anri Greeff (Namibia) and Kelsey van Schoor (RSA) was placed 11th among the elite women at the end of stage 4, but only Van Schoor managed a solo finish in 29 hours 43 minutes. Greeff had a hard fall during stage 5 of her debut tour and was unable to continue, but yesterday informed that she is already mending fast.

• Julika Pahl (Namibia) and Linda Detering (RSA) ended 14th of the 18 elite women finishing teams (28 hours 48 minutes), representing Royally Exhausted | Seawork Cares.

Tristan and Freyer’s strong ride

Martin Freyer and Tristan de Lange (Danste Racing) completed their open men’s challenge in third position (31 hours 32 minutes) after holding second position on its general classification (after stages 2 and 3) and recovered well despite being placed sixth after stage five.

Freyer said: “We had great fun and great weather. Even the rainy days were fun in a way.

“Tristan and I have been racing each other since we were 12 years old, so we know each other really well, we’re good friends and it's been a long time coming for us to do the Epic together. Him obviously being an ex-pro, I've done the Epic twice before; this was his third start but he's only finished one and so last year we decided to do it.

“Tristan is an incredibly strong rider even with the little training that he does and with both of us actually having a full-time job obviously meant that we're gonna have to manage our time and training very well to be able to line up.

“Initially we wanted to start with the elite men, but didn't manage to get into that category.

“The race started really well, we were almost always amongst the top three open men in every stage, but later on the race definitely got a lot tougher.

“The Queen Stage (stage 5) was probably ... I mean I've done three Epics now and that was probably the hardest stage I've done in an Epic in terms of distance and the amount of climbing. It was 134 kilometres and we did something like 2750 meters of climbing, so really a monster stage.

“It was also tough weather on that day and a lot of people didn't make the cut-off, so tough stage and definitely tough for us who don't get that much time to train.

“We lost a few positions there, so towards the end of the Epic it was for us really a survival thing, but we worked well together and were able to kind of punch back and recover for the last two days and had a great last day to defend our third place overall finish for the open men.

“I think in a race like this the partnership is obviously crucial. It’s often the biggest reason why teams don't make it or pull out or don't do well, because the partnership doesn't work. So in that sense Tristan and I, knowing each other, we managed to work together quite well. I think that played in our favour and we had amazing support from back home.

“We wouldn't have been able to do this Epic if it wasn't for companies like Danste and King Price and Megabuild supporting us. And then the messages, everything coming from home and so for the support was also obviously amazing and pulling us through.

“It's great to see more Namibians doing the Cape Epic, Jackie Shipena and Jana von Backstrom also doing the open ladies category and coming second there overall.

“Leodolf Swanepoel, one of my athletes that I coach, finished with Rheeder van Wyk (42 hours 34 minutes; 73rd masters men) and obviously the two Frielingsdorf brothers Karl and Klaus (90th, grans masters men).

“So quite a lot of Namibians doing it, great to see and you also see each other in the village, so that's always fun. A tough week, definitely one of the harder Epics in terms of the route and we're happy to be able to finish it off well and be on the podium to represent Namibia as well as the companies that are supporting us.”

Podium for Shipena and Von Backstrom

The Namibian pair of Jacky Shipena and Jana von Backstrom rode the full 707 km distance, finishing second in the women’s open category as team SheUntamed Namibia after 50 hours 56 minutes.

Their determination shone through in the mammoth Queen Stage 5, when they finished the gruelling 134 km after nine hours 50 minutes.

Von Backstrom said: “Absa’s #SheUntamed project is there to give women the opportunity to complete big events such as the Absa Cape Epic. A dream came true for Jacky and I and we got a podium bonus with it all.

“Our intention was to enjoy the ride and to finish safely, within the cut-off time. After the prologue we realised we could compete for the podium if we apply ourselves, which we did.

“As in any stage race, we experienced ups and down in our energy levels and emotions, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. When you’re having a tough time, your team mate could support and cheer you up.

“The eight days of the Epic are unique and they don’t call it ‘Untamed’ for nothing. The climbs were relentless, the scenery out of this world beautiful and weather wise, we had all the elements thrown at us. The experience makes you stronger physically and emotionally.

“We are happy to be safe and to have finished well. Now to rest and recover!”