The 2015 Absa Cape Epic route and stages were announced at the launch on October 22 in Cape Town.
Tracks in the mud during stage two of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race. Photo: Sam Clark / Cape Epic / SPORTZPICS
The prologue will start and end at the University of Cape Town after taking riders over several Table Mountain climbs and enjoyable single-track sections.
In the first stage riders will tackle the Groenlandberg climb, followed by some difficult ascents and lots of single-track on stage two.
Stage three – the longest of the race – will take mountain bikers through Karoo-like terrain, eventually ending up at the new race village in Worcester.
Riders will travel on rough and rocky terrain during stage four, which cuts through the Fairy Glen private game reserve. The end of the stage presents three steep climbs named the Skyscrapers.
Stage five will have a few tough climbs en route to Wellington, but riders will be able to relax a bit as they travel through some great trails at Welvanpas.
Stage six features 30km of single-track and is the shortest of the event, but it offers some intense climbs.
The Paardeberg climb in stage seven, which gains 600m elevation in almost six kilometres, has been included for the first time. From there riders will travel on a relatively flat route to Meerendal where they will climb Dorstberg before ending on a single-track section to the finish line.
Stages
Prologue:
Table Mountain
20km and 600m climbing
Stage one:
Oak Valley Estate to Oak Valley Estate
113km and 2 800m climbing
Stage two:
Oak Valley Estate to Oak Valley Estate
92km and 2 300m climbing
Stage three:
Oak Valley Estate to Worcester
128km and 2 300m climbing
Stage four:
Worcester to Worcester
111km and 2 000m climbing
Stage five:
Worcester to Wellington
117km and 2 500m climbing
Stage six:
Wellington to Wellington
71km and 2 000m climbing
Stage seven:
Wellington to Meerendal Wine Estate
87km and 1 500m climbing
