Cape Epic

The Absa Cape Epic takes place annually in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Over the course of the eight-day stage race, riders traverse rugged terrain through the mountains and vineyards surrounding Cape Town. The route changes every year to offer new challenges.

The Cape Epic is strictly a team time-trial stage race, meaning competitors must enter and race in teams of two. Both team members must cross the finish line together, as their daily time is recorded based on the second rider to finish. If one rider withdraws due to injury or mechanical failure, the other is also disqualified.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) designates the Cape Epic as "hors categorie" (beyond categorization), which is the highest classification for a mountain bike stage race. This makes it roughly equivalent to the Tour de France in terms of prestige within the off-road cycling world. It awards significant UCI ranking points to the professional participants.

Over the eight days of racing, teams typically cover a grueling distance of around 650 to 800 kilometers (roughly 400-500 miles). The route includes massive amounts of elevation gain, often forcing riders to climb more than 15,000 meters in total. It is widely considered one of the most physically demanding mountain bike races in the world.