Candice Neethling and Vera Adrian will make their Cape Epic debut when the eight-day race kicks off on March 19.
Candice Neethling and Vera Adrian will make their Cape Epic debut when the eight-day race kicks off on March 19. Photo: Ashleigh Coetzer
They will be teaming up as Dorma Kaba and have made it clear that 2017 will be a year of “getting to know” the rigours of the race.
The pair will have a good shot at another prize on offer: the opportunity to be the first all-African team across the line.
“We will see how we feel during the first few days and maybe go for some stage podiums if we are feeling strong in the later stages,” said Neethling.
Standing in their way will be six-time finisher Theresa Ralph and Yolandi du Toit (Team Galileo Risk Garmin) who has completed the race four times.
The latter pair’s experience of this event could be critical, but Neethling and Adrian won the Sani2c and Berg&Bush in 2016 and have talent to burn.
Ralph has second, third, fourth and fifth place finishes in the Cape Epic. The fifth place in 2016 was secured with du Toit, when they were the first African women’s team to finish.
“This will be our second Cape Epic and fifth stage race together – so we are still learning about each other,” said Ralph.
