After the route launch of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic, we had a look at some of the stats and numbers associated with one of the world’s toughest mountain bike races.
Riders make their way through the farmlands during stage six of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin. Photo: Karin Schermbrucker / Cape Epic / SPORTZPICS
The eight-day event – which consists of a prologue and seven stages – covers a total distance of 739km while ascending 16 000m.
Riders from 45 countries will be training around 20 hours a week to prepare for the race, which starts on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town this year.
A survey shows that this year’s entrants trained for an average of just more than five and a half months, peaking at 18 hours a week and averaging 11 (according to Polar’s training technology specialist Peter Figg, 16 hours is optimal in peak times).
The average speed of last year’s fastest rider was 23.9km/h (30:31:59) and the slowest 12.3km/h (59:23:29).
Nine out of 10 riders completed the race and the oldest and youngest finishers were 68 and 18 years respectively. More than 2 100 Mediclinic consultations were performed during the event to get these participants to the finish.
In 2014, 79% chose full suspension bikes, 90% had 29-inch wheels and 62% bought a brand new bike for the race.
