Defending Cape Epic champ leads new team

Matt Beers returns to the Cape Epic on the same bike, but with a new team structure and support.

Racing as Toyota Specialized, with the support of Ninety One Asset Management and benefitting songo.info, this new team will target mountain bike and gravel races.

At the Cape Epic, Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje will team with America’s Christopher Blevins and Britain’s Cameron Mason.

Matt Beers became gearing up for a hectic local and international race season. (Photo: Ray Cox/Specialized)

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Racing with big expectations 

The 28-year old Beers holds both the current South African marathon mountain biking and Cape Epic titles.

Beers will be riding to defend his Cape Epic title with Blevins before competing in North American gravel events. The UCI Marathon World Championships in Haderslev, Denmark, is another scheduled goal for the season.

Tristan Nortje powering ahead during the Tankwa Trek. (Photo: Ray Cox/Specialized)

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A new South African mountain bike star in the making 

Despite being only 20-years old, tristan Nortje will be racing the Cape Epic alongside the internationally experienced Mason. The South African/British team will be riding as support for Beers and Blevins.

After the Cape Epic, Nortjie will journey to select UCI mountain biking events, building his global racing experience.

Motocross developed the Matt Beers riding skillset, before he switched to cycling in his early 20s. (Photo: Ray Cox/Specialized)

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Tankwa prep for the Epic 

Beers and Nortjie raced together at the Tankwa Trek and will team-up again, later in the season, for some local stage races. 

Rolling through testing Koue Bokkeveld conditions, the Toyota Specialized team won the event’s Queen Stage on their way to second overall, behind Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo.