The 2015 Absa Cape Epic entry list boasts a variety of world champions and former winners.
(L to R) Lukas Fluckiger, Hannes Genze, Christoph Sauser, Tim Boehme and Frantisek Rabon sprint to the line for second place. Photo by Shaun Roy/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Team Investec-Songo-Specialized’s Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy are among the pre-race favourites.
Switzerland’s Sauser and Czech Kulhavy raced and won the Epic in 2013 and are two of the most decorated mountain bikers ever.
This year the pair will face perhaps the strongest field the Absa Cape Epic has ever seen.
Joining them will be Germany’s Karl Platt riding with Swiss strongman Urs Huber in Team Bulls again this year.
Another heavy-hitting pair will be Topeak Ergon’s Kristian Hynek and Alban Lakata.
Hynek, from the Czech Republic, won in 2014 with German Robert Mennen, but has teamed up with super powerful Austrian Lakata this year.
Among the list of potential winners is the Meerendal Centurion-Vaude pairing of Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess.
The German pair are highly regarded by their fellow competitors as strong contenders.
Adding some spice to the battle at the front of the field will be the spirited Multivan Merida team of José Hermida and Rudi van Houts.
The popular Spanish/Dutch duo are highly talented riders who have been unlucky in previous years.
With such a strong field, the top all-South African teams will do well to finish in the top five.
The leading challengers will come from RECM’s Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell, Scott Factory Racing’s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes, and Biogen/Volcan’s Kevin Evans and Max Knox.
Also in the bunch will be Epic first timers; current South African cross country champion Rourke Croesser and partner Travis Walker of team Full-Dynamix PRO.
