Here’s your visual feast of the week that was the 2026 Absa Cape Epic.
Prologue
A giant fireball in the sky as Cape Town’s already week-long heatwave greeted riders at Meerendal’s Prologue stage.A last kiss before the week of pain begins.Inside the start chute, riders were focused on staying cool.Chilled and casual, Candice Lill has a final wave and smile to adoring fans.The Prologue begins and ends in the vineyards of Meerendal.The views from the mid-section of the Prologue are insanely beautiful.Kate Courtney uses every and any opportunity to reduce drag. #XCsendsWorld Cup heavy hitters Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller took the win on the Prologue and would go into Stage 1 with a 56 second gap over P2.Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje stomped to a 6-second victory and the leaders jerseys.
Stage 1
Onto Stage 1, with the Women’s Race now punchier than ever the warm up is even more important for the professionals.SA Champ Marc Pritzen set the pace early on before slowing to rejoin his teammate, who struggled today.Hayley Preen and Haley Smith took P5 in the Women’s Race and were all smiles on the finish line.After a flat cost Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje more than 3 minutes, the pair rode like 10 men to make it back to the front of the race. A remarkable effort by the Saffas.Unathi Nxumalo and Thabiso Zindela would end the day in a solid P32 in the Elite Men’s field. “It was so tough. So very tough!” said Unathi.Vera Looser begins the recovery process.
Stage 2
Stage 2 and the temperatures dipped before the humidity ramped up.At the front of the Elite Men it was a bigger bunch than what we’ve seen at the Epic, maybe ever. The powerhouse from Sweden, Jenny Rissveds looked to be enjoying the trails of Montagu.Gaze and Schwarzbauer controlled the race by turning the gas on, then off, at exactly the right moments.Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer would not be denied their maiden stage win.Another day, another clinic by Lill and Keller. They are in a class of their own.#pumpforpeace crew of Unathi Nxumalo and Thabiso Zindela celebrate another day done at this most brutal race.Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje – letting the body language speak.
Stage 3
The stage began with a considerable amount of tarmac as that’s the only way out of Montagu.By tea time, the rain arrived.The toil.There goes the white kit.140km is a biggie. What a ride by these two. Slipping off the front with ±40km to go they put everything into it and just as it looked like they would be caught, the gap opened again. Chapeau you two. A brilliant and entertaining ride.Tired, muddy but not grumpy – after a long day in the mud everyone’s excited about making it to the finish.
Stage 4
A chilly start in Greyton.It was a short stage with lots of singletrack and more than a few crashes.Gods country.This crash in the elite men’s bunch brought at least three riders onto the ground. Elation for Kate Courtney as her She Sends Foundation team finally gets a stage win.Today was a day that stage winners Luca Schwarzbauer and Sam Gaze overcame many setbacks to take the win. Never say die.
Stage 5
The Queen Stage gets underway with heavy clouds around.The route from Greyton to Stellenbosch was just as spectacular, as it was brutal.Up on the pass, riders dealt with poor visibility, slick trails and chilly weather.Loic Blanc takes a moment on the finish line to reflect on the mudfest.
Stage 6
Moments after the stage began, Greta Seiwald who was clearly unwell, retired from the race.The workforce making this race tick is massive and committed to the cause, ensuring all the riders have what they need, when they need it.Keller and Lill drop out of the main Banhoek line. The pair would finish the penultimate stage almost 50-minutes up on P2.Steeze.Stellenbosch delivered sun, amazing trails and hero dirt.
Grand Finale
Day 8, the final chapter and the glittering prize.The final stage was a brutal tour of the finest trails in Stellenbosch, including this the Red Phoenix of Jonkershoek.Stellenbosch is an insanely beautiful place to ride.There’s multiple ways to celebrate the finish but perhaps nothing finer than a one-wheeled salute to all.World Series XC teammates Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller dominated the women’s race and will be pumped with this result.Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje fought for every millimeter and edged out the Italians on the final day to take a historic win — the whole of South Africa is pumped on the win.Chapeau to all the riders.Cheers!
