HermanusTimes

The Absa Cape Epic is set for a dramatic revamp for the 2009 event. New plans for this tremendously popular international event have been revealed at a meeting with Cape Epic officials at Wine Village. Since its inception five years ago, organisers have introduced innovations annually in order to build the race into what it is today, and next year?s race will be no exception.

Most of the greatest cycling stage races in the world use a different route and a different start venue every year. In the early days of the Absa Cape Epic it was important to give context to the event by saying it was an ׆-day mountain bike race from Knysna to Cape Town”.

Since 2004, the race has offered a completely different route from Knysna each year, and most riders would say that it evolved for the better, albeit tougher each year. But there are only so many different routes that exist between Knysna and Lourensford. Says Kevin Vermaak, director and founder of the Absa Cape Epic and Cape Odyssey: “During this year's race, we were challenged about how to continue down the road of innovation for 2009. However, within 3 weeks of the race we'd hatched a plan for next year that has led to the most frenetic post-event period of researching, planning and permission in order to be ready to announce our exciting changes in time for the lottery results in July. It's been about as challenging as it was before the first race.”

By starting the race in a different location to Knysna, the organisers could introduce even more exciting stages and routes to the race. Says Vermaak: “We could ride in areas that had never been possible before due to the constraint of starting in Knysna and getting to Lourensford in 8 days of riding.”

The prologue time trial, which was introduced for the first time this year represents a unique opportunity to “bring the race to the people”. Vermaak continues: “The 2009 Epic will therefore have a prologue on the mountains in the greater Cape Town area and the first stage will start on Sunday morning from Gordon's Bay.”

Riders will then ride 7 stages from Gordon's Bay through the Western Cape to the traditional finish venue at Lourensford. Although Hermanus was voted Best Stage Location at the 2008 Epic, the changes to the route will not allow the race to return to the town.