UCI-registered women mountain bikers will get their own start group for the 2016 Absa Cape Epic, race organisers have announced.
Absa Cape Epic spokesperson Chris Whitfield explained that the new start batch would improve the women’s race as a spectacle and “ensure that the women professional teams start on an even footing each day”.
The race has also changed the rules regarding sponsors’ logos, allowing teammates to have different logos on their kit, although the shirt colours must still match.
This should eradicate past problems where women from different trade teams could not ride together.
Top female riders have welcomed the changes, which started when equal prize money for men and women was introduced in 2014.
Two-time women’s category winner Ariane Kleinhans, who won in 2014 and 2015 with Denmark’s Annika Langvad, said it was great to see the event responding to rider feedback.
“They are willing to improve the race to make it a more competitive and interesting in the women’s racing.”
For more news, pictures and results see Cape Epic.
