For former WorldTour riders Jaco Venter and Jacques Janse van Rensburg this year’s Cape Epic, which starts on March 15, will be a truly special one.
The two, who used to race for Dimension Data but have now formed a new team called First Move Sport, completed the Epic together when they were both 19 way back in 2007.
That was not their only encounter with the Epic, as both tackled it over the following years. But this year they return to mountain-bike stage racing after long, successful careers on the road – and their first big goal is the Epic.
Jaco Venter and Jacques Janse van Rensburg’s first big goal for 2020 is the Cape Epic, which starts on March 15. Photo: Raymond Cox
“Returning to the race is very special for us because we rode the Epic together years ago when we were 19,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“Coming back after all we’ve done since then is quite cool. We’ve raced all over the world in the biggest road races out there. So to be on the start line at a race in South Africa of this magnitude, on mountain bikes, will be something new for us.”
Venter said they had both raced the Epic before and it was definitely a special race for them.
“It has grown a lot since 2007, but so have we. I’m really looking forward to racing it again after all these years. The route looks tough, but we’ll be ready for it.”
Venter and Janse van Rensburg will be joined on the start line by two current WorldTour riders.
“Lachlan [Morton of EF Education First] was a teammate of ours at Dimension Data in 2018, so it will be good to catch up with him and his partner, Alex Howes, after a few brutal stages,” said Venter.
“March is always a busy period on the road side [of cycling] and a few riders have shown that if you plan your schedule it’s possible to mix the disciplines.
“My race season never gave me the option to race the Epic, but it shows that the race has become valuable to the professional road teams if they are willing to make riders available for these events.”
