MATT BEERS and co: It’s not over yet…
Sitting at presentation dinner after stage 6 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC in Stellenbosch. Listening to Paul Kaye congratulating the Wilier Vittoria team of Luca BRAIDOT and Simone AVONDETTO in the yellow jerseys. And asking the crowd to make a noise for all jersey winners on the final evening. But there was a sense of to be continued. Or just you wait and see. Because we don’t have a pair of South Africans in the men’s leaders jerseys just yet. and this is a bit of home ground advantage. The stage was set for something big on the last day. Just 13 seconds in it. Go for it Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje…
How cool was that!
And that is exactly what we got. Early on Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje made their intentions clear. And they opened up a huge gap to take the win with over a minute in the end. What a day. What a week. And what a team. Congratulations MATT & Tristan – it was awesome seeing how you did it. Both riders also members of the Amabubesi club, having completed 3+ Absa Cape EPIC’s.
Says Specialized,
Spanning 8 days, across rugged terrain, under the relentless South African sun, the Cape Epic has a reputation of pushing the rider and machine to the limit. In 2026, previous winner Matt Beers returns and, fellow South African, Tristan Nortje return to the Cape Epic in search of becoming the first all-African team to win. There’s no mystery what machine they’re choosing to help carry them to their goal: S-Works Epic 8.
All done and dusted
And now we can all get some rest. Stellenbosch is beautiful this time of the year. all the winds have died down. The leaves aren’t moving. And it is pure bliss to be outside and on your bicycle this easter weekend.
