The fifth prologue in the eleven year history of the Absa Cape Epic set the seeding order for tomorrow’s stage one of the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race.
Jose Hermida and Rudi van Houts of Multivan Merida during the Prologue of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town. Photo: Nick Muzik / Cape Epic / SPORTZPICS
Following the resounding success of the 2012 and 2013 Prologues, the eleventh edition of the race kicked off with a 23-kilometer prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in the Durbanville Wine Valley – the mountain biking Mecca on Cape Town’s doorstep.
The event saw 1 200 excited riders from 50 countries enjoy cool weather with the first group of riders starting their 8-day journey at 06:45.
Short and filled with loads of purpose built single track, the Prologue was the first test for man and machine for the week to come.
Rolling off the start ramp, the route took riders through the historic Manor House after which a surprising twist awaited before riders faced the challenging single track climb up “Stairway to Heaven” to the top of Dorstberg, a mountaintop which boasts magnificent 360 degree views of world famous landmarks such as Table Mountain, Robben Island and Cape Point.
Pressed for time, teams had to forgo sight-seeing as they dove straight into a rugged, Renosterveld lined trail that descended into the quarry and adjacent Hoogekraal farm, where sweeping single track forming part of the Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club trail system lay in wait.
Well bermed turns made for a fun roller coaster descent as the route ultimately headed back through steep vineyards and a steady climb past dairy fields onto the picturesque Meerendal Wine Estate, finishing off with some more single track, ensuring that riders finished their first day with big smiles on their faces.
This time trial was a race against the clock to decide the seeding in the field and which teams will wear the coveted leader jerseys at the start of stage one in Robertson.
The Spanish/Dutch team of José Hermida and Rudi van Houts (Multivan Merida Biking) will wear the sough-after yellow zebra-striped leader jersey in the Men’s category.
Ariane Kleinhans and Annike Langvad (RECM 2) will be leading the women in the orange leader jersey, with Bart Brentjens and Abraao Azevedo of BETCH.nl Superior Meerendal wearing the blue Masters leader jersey.
The Grand Masters purple jersey will be worn by Andrew Mclean and Heinz Zoerweg (Cycle Lab Toyota).
The Absa African special jersey will be worn by Kevin Evans and Max Knox (FedGroup Itec), and the Exxaro special jersey worn by Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile of team Meerendal Songo Specialized 16.
To view more information on the Absa Cape Epic event, click here.
