And EPIC FINAL for the ABSA Cape EPIC Stage 7 in Lourensford!
Conclusion of the race that measures all with the last day that is the ABSA Cape EPIC Stage 7 in Lourensford. With relentless rains overnight they organisers het to make the call and shorten the stage distance from the original 64km with 2100 meters down to 40km with half of the original climbing.
When I bumped into William (yes, the one and only from William’s bike shop in Somerset West) and mentioned that I would be slightly less than impressed if I was lying in 2nd place on GC just ½ minute down on the leaders and then wake up to find out the stage had been considerably shortened. But he was right, it is about rider safety. And, come to think of it afterwards, the SWISS team of Nino and Fillipo worked all week to gain those valuable 32 seconds, deservedly so. And here is the final update for the ABSA Cape EPIC of 2025.
Chris for Carrol Boy(es)
We drove back from Struisbaai early morning and the delayed start meant we could high-five Chris before he goes into the start chute. And MIA even made him a poster for today he was about to complete his 9th ABSA Cape EPIC. Which means he has done around 6500 kms of the toughest MTB racing in the country over they years. Hats off. And for riding solo for most of the week. He starting looking very relaxed and crossed the line looking untaxed. Well done, sir.
Joyride Jennifer
Jen completed her first EPIC and said it was one of the hardest things she has ever done. Period. Well done Jen. We hope you come back to sunny South Africa for more of the Bolandcycletour and more of the ABSA Cape EPIC.
Karl Platt
The GC rankings for BULLS Masters Legends team of Karl Platt and Calle Friberg looks like a perfect bell curve as their daily GC positions over the 8 days of racing were; 1,1,2,3,3,2,1,1. Well done indeed in finished in top spot for the Masters Men this year. and doing so in style yet again. May we say where they stayed, now?
The Germans
Lucas Baum and Georg Eggar had their best day of the race so far and crossed the lined in first place ahead of the chaps in the yellow jersey behind them. And I’m very happy for these two to have finally done it and grabbed a stage win during this year’s ABSA Cape EPIC. Orbea Leatt Speed Company Racing finished in 5th position on the GC this year.
Matt Beers
Hold my beer. Matt and partner came steaming across the finish line in third position for the day and when he stepped onto the podium next to the German due, he was just as tall as them (albeit standing on the lower 3rd step iso the top 1st step). Well done. Outride Specialized Songo of Matthew Beers and Keegan Swenson. They finished in 12th position overall this year.
Nino and Fillipo
The all-SWISS Scott/SRAM team played it safe and finished in second place for the day but most importantly hung on to their ½ minute lead and wins the 2025 edition of the ABSA Cape EPIC! Well done champs. Like a good red wine, Nino wins at 36 years of age. This was his 3rd EPIC win and the first for teammate Fillipo. And they took just over 23 hours I total to win the EPIC this year.
Marco & Tristan
Well done ABSA All African champs and 3rd place overall this year for Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje of team IMBUKO chem champ A in the ABSA Cape EPIC 2025 edition. I can’t wait to see where this team leads us next and they have done us proud.
Other mates
Michael Meyer had a brilliant photo, bombed by Chris Norton from Hellsend/Stellenbosch and the former finished 58th and the latter 68th for Grand Masters Men. Mark Oliver was a valiant solder for Valor Sentinals and individual finisher this year. Fishing Buddies Jacques van Deventer and Riaan Scheinder (who likely needs surgery later this week) finished in 92nd for Masters Men.
FIN
And that was that for the 2025 ABSA Cape EPIC. Where legends are made. It was a funny feeling looking from the sidelines after 3 consecutive years racing with a friend. Who knows what the future holds. Anyway, if you want to send you bicycle to the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC, you know where to find #bicyclecouriers!
