Absa Cape Epic 2025: The Ultimate MTB Stage Race in South Africa
The Absa Cape Epic is considered the toughest mountain bike stage race in the world. The 21st edition of this prestigious event will take place in South Africa from March 16 to 23, 2025. Thousands of cycling fans are eagerly looking to the Cape of Good Hope, where 600 two-person teams will face the ultimate challenge.
Speed Company Racing wins on the shortened final stage of Cape Epic 2025
Lukas Baum and Georg Egger from Speed Company Racing concluded the Absa Cape Epic 2025 with a victory on Stage 7. Due to the weather, the organizer shortened the course to 40 kilometers.
Stage victory: Lukas and Georg raced to victory in 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Improvement in overall standings: The triumph catapulted Speed Company Racing to 5th place in the overall standings. The stage victory is a well-deserved reward for hard work and a great performance to conclude the race.
Bulls Racing Team highlights of Stage 7 of the Cape Epic 2025
The Bulls Racing Team completed the 7th and final stage of the Absa Cape Epic 2025. The riders gave their all once again and showed strong performances to conclude the race.
Results overview:
Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat reached the finish line as the 17th team after 1 hour and 38 minutes. They dropped to 19th place in the overall standings.
Karl Platt and Calle Friberg defended their 1st place in the overall standings and thus won the race in their category. They finished 2nd on Stage 7.
Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay finished the race in 8th place in the overall standings.
Stage 6 - Results
Speed Company Racing defies adverse conditions on Stage 6
Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic 2025 challenged both man and machine. Due to bad weather, the start at Lourensford Wine Estate was delayed. Lukas Baum and Georg Egger from Speed Company Racing showed fighting spirit.
Stage result: After 4 hours of racing, Lukas and Georg reached the finish line in 14th place.
Improvement in overall standings: The effort paid off! Speed Company Racing improved from 7th to 6th place in the overall standings.
Bulls Racing Team impresses on Stage 6 of the Cape Epic 2025
The Bulls Racing Team delivered a strong performance on Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic 2025. The riders battled hard on the stage and achieved remarkable success.
Results overview:
Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat finished in 8th place after 3 hours and 57 minutes. They improved to 15th place in the overall standings.
Karl Platt and Calle Friberg triumphed in the Masters category and reclaimed the blue leader's jersey.
Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay defended their 8th place in the overall standings.
Stage 5 - Results
Speed Company Racing: Strong performance on the queen stage of the Cape Epic 2025
Lukas Baum and Georg Egger displayed their skill and endurance on the 5th stage of the Absa Cape Epic! The queen stage, known for its toughness with 103 kilometers and 3050 meters of climbing is a real challenge.
The Speed Company Racing team mastered it with flying colors. After 4 hours and 23 minutes, Lukas and Georg reach the finish line in 8th place. This performance brings them from 8th to 7th place in the overall ranking.
Highlights
Top performance: 8th place on the toughest stage.
Improvement: Jump to 7th place in the overall classification.
Team spirit: Strong together on the challenging trails.
Team BULLS impressive on the queen stage
Team BULLS put in an impressive performance on the 5th stage of the Absa Cape Epic, the queen stage! Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat crossed the finish line in 6th place after 4 hours and 20 minutes. This improved their overall classification from 20th to 17th.
In the Masters class, Karl Platt and Calle Friberg shine with a 2nd place. They move up to 2nd place overall. Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay defended their 7th place in the women's overall standings.
Highlights
Top ten: Schneller/Roudil-Cortinat finish in 6th place.
Masters power: Platt/Friberg in 2nd place in the Masters classification.
Consistency: Lützelschwab/Nay maintain their 7th place.
Stage 4 – Results
Speed Company Racing Battles Through Stage Four
Stage 4 of the Absa Cape Epic 2025 demanded everything from Lukas Baum and Georg Egger of Speed Company Racing. On the 74-kilometer course with 1750 m of elevation around Fairview, the two riders displayed a fighting spirit.
Result: After 3 hours and 10 minutes, Lukas and Georg finished 10th. The team maintains its 8th place in the overall standings.
Bulls Racing Team Fights on Stage Four
Stage 4 proved once again the Absa Cape Epic is no walk in the park. Our riders from the Bulls Racing Team gave their all on the demanding course around Fairview.
Results at a Glance:
Simon Schneller & Axel Roudil-Cortinat: The duo finished 38th after 3 hours and 36 minutes. This currently places them 20th in the overall standings.
Karl Platt & Calle Friberg: In the Masters category, they showed class and finished in a strong 4th place, maintaining 3rd place in the overall standings.
Irina Lützelschwab & Alessia Nay: Our ladies keep their 7th place in the overall standings.
Stage 3 – Results
Tough Stage 3 for Speed Company Racing
Lukas Baum and Georg Egger from Speed Company Racing tackled Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic today. The 78 kilometers and 2450 meters of elevation in Fairview demanded everything from the riders. After 3 hours and 38 minutes, they finished in 20th place.
Key Information:
Stage 3 Result: Lukas and Georg finished in 20th place.
Overall Standings: The team dropped to 8th place.
This stage shows how unpredictable the Cape Epic is. Lukas and Georg are not giving up and are looking ahead. Let their fighting spirit inspire you and stay tuned – it's going to be exciting!
Team Bulls battles through Stage 3
Team Bulls experienced a day of ups and downs on Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic.
Key Information:
Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat finished in 16th place after 3 hours and 36 minutes. They dropped from 12th to 14th place in the overall standings.
Karl Platt and Calle Friberg finished 3rd in the Masters category and are now in 3rd place in the overall standings.
Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay continue to perform strongly and are in 7th place in the overall women's standings.
The Cape Epic is a tough race. Team Bulls showed how important teamwork and endurance are. Follow how the team performs and let their dedication inspire you! Whether you ride yourself or just cheer them on, the fighting spirit of Team Bulls is motivating!
Stage 2 - Results
Lukas Baum and Georg Egger from Speed Company Racing put in a strong performance on stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic 2025. The duo reached the finish in Fairview after 2 hours and 14 minutes, taking 5th place.
Stage two result:
5th place for Lukas Baum and Georg Egger
Overall placing: 3rd place, 4 minutes and 32 seconds behind the leaders.
This is what it means for the overall standings:
Baum and Egger remain in an excellent position at 3rd place overall at this stage in the race. Their top form and ambitions are being highlighted for the rest of the race. The team is highly motivated to reduce the gap to the leaders in the coming days.
Team BULLS in action
Team BULLS showed commitment on the 2nd stage of the Absa Cape Epic 2025. The riders fought for every second on the clock and gave their all.
Results:
Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat finish in 15th place after 2 hours and 19 minutes and are sitting in 12th place overall.
Karl Platt and Calle Friberg cross the finish line in 4th place in the Masters Category and are now in 2nd place overall.
Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay finish in 6th place and hold 8th place in the overall standings.
Looking at future stages:
Team BULLS is optimistic about the upcoming stages. The riders are highly motivated to improve their positions and successfully finish the race. They want to play to their strengths and master the challenges of the stages ahead.
Stage 1 - Results
Speed Company Racing impresses on stage one!
Great start for Lukas Baum and Georg Egger at the Absa Cape Epic 2025! After finishing sixth in the prologue yesterday, the boys show what they're made of on today’s first stage.
The facts:
Strong: In the leading group until kilometer 73
Dramatic: Technical issues for Lukas set the team back
Result: Third place with a gap of two minutes and four seconds
Overall: Moving up to third place, three minutes and four seconds behind the yellow jersey
Speed Company Racing fights! The team rides in the lead group until shortly before the finish. Then technical issues force Lukas and Georg to drop back. Nevertheless, they secure a strong third place finish on the stage and third place in the overall standings. The race is long and the competition is strong. Lukas and Georg will attack again tomorrow!
Team Bulls fights its way to the front!
Team Bulls displays a fighting spirit in today's stage of the Cape Epic. Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat reach the finish in ninth place (+3:34min). Karl Platt and Calle Friberg finish 2nd in the Masters class.
The facts:
Schneller/Roudil-Cortinat: Ninth place on the stage
Platt/Friberg: Riding in the leading jersey of the Masters class
Overall: Ninth place for Team Bulls, improvement of five places
Gap: 6:16 minutes behind the leaders
Karl Platt and Calle Friberg defend their blue jersey in the Masters class with a strong performance. Schneller and Roudil-Cortinat improve significantly and finish ninth overall. The competition is tough, but Team Bulls is ready for the next stages!
„You should never underestimate the heat and the terrain. I felt super good until the first big climb. At some point it was the plan to destroy the others a bit riding in the front. We lost a bit of time but at the end of the day we had a good day anyway and the others were super strong but we are looking forward to fight them again tomorrow.“
Where does the Cape Epic start?
The starting gun for the Cape Epic 2025 will be fired at the Meerendal Wine Estate northeast of Cape Town. From there, the route leads through various regions of the Western Cape, on challenging terrain. The course includes over 300 kilometers of new trails that have never been ridden in previous editions of the race.
When does the Cape Epic 2025 take place?
The Cape Epic 2025 starts on Sunday, March 16, and ends on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Eight intense days await the participants in the picturesque landscapes of South Africa's Western Cape. The event begins with a prologue and then includes seven main stages.
How long does the Cape Epic last?
The race spans eight days. Each day brings new challenges and spectacular routes. Participants not only cope with physical exertion but also changing weather conditions and technically demanding trails.
How many kilometers is the Cape Epic 2025?
The total distance of the Cape Epic 2025 is 608 kilometers. This distance is spread over eight stages, with the longest stage measuring 98 kilometers. The course promises a perfect mix of technically demanding trails and fast sections.
How many meters of elevation gain does the Cape Epic 2025 have?
Participants must conquer a total of 16,500 meters of elevation gain. These are spread over the various stages and still present an immense physical and mental challenge. Especially the 5th stage, the "Queen Stage," also called Killer Queen, promises to push the athletes to their limits.
Where can I follow/watch the Cape Epic?
The Cape Epic offers extensive media coverage. Fans can follow the race through various channels:
- Official Cape Epic website
- Cape Epic Facebook page
- Epic Series YouTube channel
- EPIC Series App (available for iOS and Android)
- SuperSport (South African TV channel)
- Livestreams on MTB-News.de
These platforms offer spectacular helicopter and on-board footage of the riders, daily updates, and live broadcasts of all stages.
The Stages at a Glance
The route of the Absa Cape Epic 2025 covers a total of 608 kilometers and 16,500 meters of elevation gain. The race consists of a prologue and seven main stages:
- Prologue (March 16): 27 km, 750 m elevation gain, Meerendal Wine Estate
- Stage 1 (March 17): 96 km, 2,450 m elevation gain, Meerendal Wine Estate
- Stage 2 (March 18): 58 km, 800 m elevation gain, Meerendal to Fairview, Paarl
- Stage 3 (March 19): 90 km, 2,600 m elevation gain, Fairview, Paarl
- Stage 4 (March 20): 74 km, 1,750 m elevation gain, Fairview, Paarl
- Stage 5 (March 21): 103 km, 3,050 m elevation gain, Fairview to Lourensford Wine Estate
- Stage 6 (March 22): 92 km, 2,850 m elevation gain, Lourensford Wine Estate
Stage 7 (March 23): 68 km, 2,250 m elevation gain, Lourensford Wine Estate
The route leads through the wine regions of the Western Cape, including Durbanville, Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Somerset West. More than 300 kilometers of the route have never been ridden before in the Cape Epic. The race starts in Durbanville, then leads to Paarl, and finally ends in Somerset West. The compact route allows Table Mountain to be visible from almost every high point.
The Challenge of the Cape Epic
The Cape Epic demands everything from the participants. Dusty trails, rocky passages, and steep climbs characterize the route. The combination of distance, elevation gain, and changing weather conditions makes this race one of the greatest challenges in mountain biking.
Which Ergon riders are participating?
The Cape Epic attracts the elite of mountain biking year after year. For 2025, renowned athletes who use Ergon products have already announced their participation.
- Speed Company Racing with Lukas Baum and Georg Egger
- Team Bulls with Karl Platt, Simon Schneller, Axel Roudil-Cortinat, Irina Lützelschwab and Alessia Nay
Conclusion: The Ultimate Mountain Biking Experience
The Cape Epic 2025 is a highlight in the cycling calendar for mountain bikers. With its challenging course, strong competition, and unique atmosphere, it offers riders the chance to become part of a living legend. Whether as a participant or a spectator – the Cape Epic 2025 is an unforgettable experience for all cycling fans.
For ambitious mountain bikers, the Cape Epic represents the pinnacle of their careers. The combination of physical challenge, mental strength, and team spirit makes this race a unique experience. Those who take on this challenge will be rewarded with unforgettable memories and the pride of having mastered one of the toughest races in the world.