Welcome to the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC Route Preview!
Seeding happens at the familiar venue chosen for being so spectator friendly at Meerendal. Then two days in Montagu, two days in Greyton, and three days to finish in Stellenbosch. The 2026 Route of the untamed african MTB race promises to be something spectacular once again. With longer stages and maybe a bit less technical than as of late, the focus moves ever so slightly (and maybe to ensure that not too many races veer over to the new Gravel BURN?). See what is in store for the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC route below.
Venues of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
- Prologue: Meerendal (20km)
- Stage 1: Montagu (90km)
- Stage 2: Montagu (102km)
- Stage 3: To Greyton (134km)
- Stage 4: Greyton (84km)
- Stage 5: To Stellenbosch (128km)
- Stage 6: Stellenbosch (76km)
- Stage 7: Stellenbosch (58km)
Distances of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
- Pologue: SUN | 20km & 650m
- Stage 1: MON | 90km & 2150m
- Stage 2: TUE | 102km & 2250m
- Stage 3: WED | 134km & 1750m
- Stage 4: THU | 84km & 1950m
- Stage 5: FRI | 128km & 2700m
- Stage 6: SAT | 76km & 2450m
- Stage 7: SUN | 58km & 2000m
- Total: 692km | 15900m Climbing
Dates of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
- Prologue: Sunday, March 15, 2026
- Stage 1: Monday, March 16, 2026
- Stage 2: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- Stage 3: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Stage 4: Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Stage 5: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Stage 6: Saturday, March 21, 2026
- Stage 7: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Prologue of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
2.5 stars around Meerendal in Durbanville. Nerves are, more often than not, the biggest hurdle of the Absa Cape Epic Prologue. However, at Meerendal, the pace will be fierce after a calm start allows for the rapid finding of rhythm. The Stairway to Heaven Climb leads to the unforgiving pitches of Dorstberg, where fans and supporters will line the trails, their cheers echoing across the lands. Distance: 20km | Climbing 650m
- Burry Stander
- Dam trail
- Pomegranate trail
- Mineshaft
- Stairway to Heaven
- Dorstberg
- Esther Suss berms
- Sauser sprint
Stage 1 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
4.5 stars to and from Montagu schools. Stage 1 will be a roller coaster through the Klein Karoo that trends upward just as much as it does down. The main protagonists of the race will likely find themselves together until the Dead Man’s descent separates those who are willing to risk short term gain with long term success. An arduous set of climbs and descents follow, driving home the fatigue under the burning African sun. Distance: 90km | Climbing 2150m
- Doringlaagte
- Marietjie’s monster
- Koos’ roller coaster
- WP: Abrikooskloof
- Signal hill
- TOYOTA: Dead man’s
- WP: Stemmet
- Rooibaard
- The Cascades
- WP: Badenfontein kamp
- The Slog
- WP: waterpoint
- The Ruins
- Drie Bergsig
- Drie Berge
- WP: Golf course
- Cape Dry
- Montagu trails
Stage 2 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
4 stars to and from Montagu schools. Stage 2 asks questions that build on those asked in Stage 1. The climbing begins immediately, and cold legs will ache all the way to the summit of Ouberg Pass. At the top, a long ridgeline stretches out as far as the eye can see, though if the wheel ahead is dropped, the teams ahead may disappear out of sight, out of mind, and out of reach. Distance: 102km | Climbing 2250m
- Cape dry
- Recycles
- Joubertskloof
- WP: Stemmet
- Ouberg pass
- TOYOTA: Slagkloof
- AGL single
- Karoo trail
- BB descent
- WP: Abriskloof
- WP: Doringlaagte
- Montagu trails
Stage 3 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
How many stars from Montagu the Middelplaas in Greyton. Cogmanskloof where partnerships will be key. The small town of Bonnievale will welcome the courageous as they cross the Breerivier, before the test of Drecaso threatens to break the day apart. Teams will need grit, focus and determination with more than half the journey still ahead. Open roads stretch ahead with unsurpassed views of vineyards and orchards, and the Langeberg Mountains on the horizon. Distance: 134km | Climbing 1750m
- Kogmanskloof
- Railroad
- Mooivallei
- WP: Bonnievale
- Welteverede
- Breerivier
- TOYOTA: Drecaso
- Kampala
- WP: waterpoint
- Stormsvlei
- WP: waterpoint
- Riviersonderend
- Khomsedrif
- WP: waterpoint
- WP: waterpoint
- Reenen
Stage 4 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
3.5 stars to and from Middelplaas in Greyton. Beware. A line taken too boldly over a moment of caution may result in immediate consequence. The final quarter of the stage looms heavy in the distance as the UFO climb and its infamous ramps are part and parcel of MTB legend in the region. Teams who overcome burning lungs and legs will have no time to rejoice as the Toyota Tough section arrives immediately after on the descent to Middelplaas. With the end in sight, will this be the time to roll the dice and hope for glory — or not? Choose wisely. Distance: 84km | Climbing 1950m
- WP: waterpoint
- Second bench
- WP: waterpoint
- First bench
- Sand pit
- WP: waterpoint
- Loerkop
- WP: waterpoint
- WP: Oom Barrie se huis
- UFO
- WP: waterpoint
- TOYOTA: Mideelplaas
Stage 5 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
Full 5 stars from Greyton to Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch. The race leaves Greyton with its sights set on Botrivier. Once reached, KatPas stands guard of the Cape Floral Kingdom in Grabouw. Here, trails abound before the portage down the historic Gantouw Pass tests minds and legs alike. The descent will lull teams into a false sense of security, but all they need to do to remind themselves that they’re in the Absa Cape Epic is to cast their eyes across the Helderberg basin to the wall that is the Lourensford Nek. And then begin the grind to the top. Distance: 128km | Climbing 2700m
- Middelplaas pad
- Donkerhoek pad
- WP: Beaumont
- Katpas
- Houwhoek link
- TOYOTA: Pofadder
- Protea
- WP: waterpoint
- A-Z trails
- Rooipad
- Gantouw pass
- Idiom
- WP: Lourensford
- WP: klim
- Dornier
- WP: Waterpoint
- Montmarie
- Eden
Stage 6 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
4.5 stars to and from Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch. Strong legs will be vital from the gun as the climbing begins almost immediately up Botmaskop. Banhoek Berms, Nick Naks, Klipwerf and Old Rocky follow. The sawtooth profile relents lightly for a few kilometres near halfway before relaunching itself up and down through famed trails like Porcupine, Inferno and through Idas Valley before a check-in with The Doctor and a descent back to Coetzenburg. This is the stage for the racers and the trail lovers. Distance: 76km | Climbing 2450m
- TOYOTA: Gum run
- Banhoek berms
- WP: waterpoint
- Nicknaks
- Klipwerf
- Afterburger
- Old Rocky
- WP: waterpoint
- Porcupine
- Sugar bowl
- Inferno
- WP: waterpoint
- Idas valley
- WP: Waterpoint
- The Docter
- WP: waterpoint
Stage 7 of the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
3 stars to and from Coetzenburg to FIN in Stellenbosch. Grand finale with the Jonkershoek trail network, hundreds of spectators chanting teams onwards, from the very front of the field to the very back. For the racers, the trail-laden route will make it tough to pull away. If the title is up for grabs this late in the day, there’s no telling what will happen. If the Jersey wearers start the Grand Finale with a healthy gap, then the title is theirs to lose. Distance: 58km | Climbing 2000m
- Saaltjie
- Contour
- Neverending
- WP: waterpoint
- TOYOTA: Red Phoenix
- Valley trail
- Bosluis
- Quarry road
- Fire hut
- WP: waterpoint
- The Dentist
- WP: Ertjieskloof
- Gum up
- Gum traverse
- Eden
- Eden pines
- G Spot
- WP: waterpoint
- XCO(!)
Bicycle transport to the 2026 ABSA Cape EPIC
Want to send your bicycle to the EPIC? Let’s go! Right here…
