March 23, 2007 — The 2007 Absa Cape Epic starts in Knysna on Saturday, March 24 and finishes at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, on Saturday March 31, 2007.

Pedal hopes to have regular reports from this grueling MTB event from BC’s Jean Ann McKirdy who is competing.

Absa Cape Epic Fast Facts

Within four years the Absa Cape Epic has become not only the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world, but also, globally, the most televised mountain bike event of all time.

Since its inception the Absa Cape Epic has generated more than 3,500 hours of international TV coverage in Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa.

42 nations will be represented at the 2007 Absa Cape Epic and riders travel from as far as Brazil, Canada, Norway, Hong Kong and Australia to join this unique team race.
Amongst the entrants are Olympic gold medallists, world champions and reigning UCI World Cup champions.

Riders compete in teams of two in one of four categories: Men, Ladies, Mixed and Masters (both riders must be 40 years or older).

The Absa Cape Epic was the first ever team mountain bike stage race at which UCI points were awarded.

The Absa Cape Epic and Exp. Sponsorship, Absa’s sponsorship agency, were awarded the Gold award in the medium budget sponsorship category at the 2006 Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards.

The 2007 Absa Cape Epic covers a total of 886 km over eight days and 1,086 riders will complete a total climb of 15,045m, which is the equivalent of riding nearly twice up Mount Everest.

A new route is designed each year and is entirely off-road from Knysna to Lourensford Wine Estate.