Topeak Ergon’s Robert Mennen will return to the Absa Cape Epic this year, which will take place from March 15 to 22 in from the University of Cape Town to Meerendal Wine Estate in the Western Cape.
Robert Mennon (front) and Kristian Ynek of Team Topeak Ergon Racing during stage 6 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race. Photo: Greg Beadle
The 29-year-old German was forced out of the race in 2013 when he hit a duiker and broke his collarbone.
He came back with a vengeance last year, however, when he and Czech Kristian Hynek, who he joined after Hynek’s partner Alban Lakata snapped his achilles tendon in a skiing accident, claimed victory.
This year Mennen will be riding with American Jeremiah Bishop as Topeak Ergon’s second team.
Bishop has a formidable record in endurance racing in the United States and boasts a Pan American Games gold medal in the cross country discipline.
He competed in the 2008 Absa Cape Epic – the longest ever at 966km – and finished in 11th place overall with partner Chris Eatough, also American.
He is a relatively new recruit to the Topeak Ergon squad and will ride in a competitive event with Mennen for the first time from February 22 at the six-day Andalucia Bike Race in Spain.
Mennen said they would be riding the Canyon Lux CF 29er this year, the same bike that bore him to victory in 2014.
