May 7, 2006 – Rocky Mountain Business Objects’ Platt and Bresser 3rd at the Cape Epic in South Africa The 3rd Annual Cape Epic Challenge finished on April 29, 2006 in Stellenbosch South Africa.

523- two person teams, from 37 countries, started the Epic Challenge on April 22 at the waterfront in Knysna, South Africa. 824 of the original 1046 riders completed the grueling race to Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch 8 days later. They had covered a distance of 921 gruelling kilometers and climbed a total of 16,605 meters.

2005 Trans Alp Champions,(Germany to Italy across the Alps) Carsten Bresser and Karl Platt riding for Rocky Mountain Business Objects MTB Team, were among the favourites for the title. Karl Platt won the inaugural Cape Epic Challenge in 2004 with race partner Mannie Haymans. 2005 World Cup Champion and Olympic Bronze Medal Winner Christophe Sauser of Switzerland and his race partner Silvio Bundi of Switzerland were the team to beat. There were numerous other riders also capable of the win of this race which lead to exciting finishes with large groups on many of the stages.

Karl and Carsten rode consistently amongst the front runners in every one of 8 stages. They had a spectacular sprint finish win on Stage 3, when they won the team sprint from the group of 9 teams. They had podium finishes in 2nd and 3rd place on the other 5 of the 8 days. In the finale, the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Team finished 3rd overall after the Epic week of racing.

Sauser and Bundi won with an overall time of 34 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds. They had stage wins in seven of eight stages. Carsten Bresser and Karl Platt finished 3rd over all in 35 :18:21.

There are some amazing statistics surrounding what it takes to host a race like this in the wilds of South Africa. Here are just a few:

Over 420 staff worked in the background of the Worlds largest full- service mountain bike race. They pitched 1,200 tents each day, set up 1,500 chairs and 150 tables and loaded and unloaded 1,050 rider bags to transport to the next stage. The put up 21,130 square meters of dining marquees and a race village with 33 individual luxury showers and 100 toilets There were 110 race vehicles and 5-22 meter Superlink trucks and 2 tankers for food and water support. It makes one wonder if the hardest challenge is racing the Epic or supporting it..