Well-known international cyclists José Hermida (35) of Spain and Rudi van Houts (30) of the Netherlands will take on this year’s Absa Cape Epic as team Multivan Merida.
Rudi van Houts and Jose Hermida of Team Multivan Merida lead the way as they near the finish of stage 1 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Citrusdal, South Africa on March 18, 2013. Photo: Greg Beadle / Cape Epic / SPORTZPICS
The event, which takes place from March 23 to 30 will lead 1 200 cyclists through vast distances, kicking off with the Prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate and ending at the traditional finish line on the prestigious Lourensford Wine Estate.
Hermida and Van Houts are a fun-loving pair, but when the chips are down, they can certainly show spectators what world class mountain biking is all about.
Hermida’s palmarès speak for themselves. He has completed five Absa Cape Epics, with a total of five stage wins. He took silver at the 2004 Olympic Games and 4th place at the 2012 Olympics.
In 2010 he was Cross-country World Champion and he holds three gold medals at the Cross-country European Championships.
Fresh-faced Van Houts is no softy and has garnered some impressive titles. Apart from his five stage wins at the Absa Cape Epic (riding with Bart Brentjens and Hermida respectively), he is a two-time Dutch Cross-country Champion and has been voted Dutch Mountain Biker of the Year three times.
With two victories at the Grand Finale into Lourensford Wine Estate (in 2010 and 2013), they definitely have what it takes to get the job done.
To view more information on the Absa Cape Epic event, click here.
