Douglas Ryder and Jan Braai will team up to ride in the Absa Cape Epic next year.
Ryder, the Dimension Data for Qhubeka team principal, will have Jan Braai as his partner when the 658km race begins on Table Mountain on March 18.
“I’ve been talking about riding the Cape Epic for a while now and I think it is about time I actually did it,” Ryder said today.
“It’s a great race, and Kevin (Vermaak, the race founder) has always shown me and the team incredible support.
“He has put on a world-class event in South Africa, which has shown just what incredible things this country is capable of.”

Team DiData principal, Doug Ryder and Jan Braai will team up for the 2018 Cape Epic. Photo: Supplied
Ryder, 46, will participate under the banner of DiData, the official Cape Epic technological partners.
Braai is best known as the man behind National Braai Day, held annually on Heritage Day, and for his television show and cookbooks.
He has cycled thousands of kilometres this year as part of his Tour de Braai ventures.
“Doug and I intend tackling the event casually,” he said. “We want to enjoy the scenery, chat to fellow riders, stop wherever spectators are having a braai and perhaps taste some wine at some of the farms.
“In preparation, we are both following the high-protein diet of mainly braai meat.”
The race ends at the Val de Vie Estate in the Paarl Franschhoek Valley on March 25.