The Absa Cape Epic delivers eight days of globally relevant mountain bike racing drama each year. Drama because, well, it’s mountain biking; and the riders are human. We’ve been publishing details on the rider stats after each edition. Here’s a look at the rider stats after the 2016 event, including insight on training, rider weight and a record of the most successful competitors to date.
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Average weight in kilograms
| Male | Female | |
| 2007 | 78 | 60 |
| 2008 | 79 | 59 |
| 2009 | 79 | 60 |
| 2010 | 78 | 55 |
| 2011 | 77 | 58 |
| 2012 | 78 | 59 |
| 2013 | 79 | 59 |
| 2014 | 78 | 60 |
| 2015 | 79 | 59 |
| 2016 | 78 | 59 |
| Average | 78.3 | 58.8 |
During preparation for the 2016 Cape Epic:
75% followed a prescribed training plan
23% followed a prescribed nutrition plan
63% used specific sports supplements
59% used a power-training indoor facility
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Months of preparation:
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | >10 |
| 10% | 19% | 16% | 29% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 10% |
Hours a week training on average:
| 1-5 hours | 6-10 hours | 11-15 hours | 16-20 hours | >20 hours |
| 0.5% | 31.2% | 56.4% | 9.5% | 2.4% |
Biggest training week:
| <10 hours | 10-15 hours | 16-20 hours | 21-25 hours | >25 hours |
| 3% | 28% | 43% | 18% | 8% |
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Years of being a mountain biker before entering first Cape Epic:
| 0
years |
1-5
years |
6-10
years |
11-15
years |
15-20
years |
20-25
years |
>25
years |
| 11% | 34% | 28% | 15% | 8% | 3% | 1% |
General statistics after 2016
Most stage wins
Men:
36 Christoph Sauser (SUI)
20 Burry Stander (RSA)
17 Karl Platt (GER)
12 Bart Brentjens (NED)
10 Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)
6 Mannie Heymans (NAM)
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Women:
17 Hanlie Booyens (RSA), Ariane Lüthi (SUI) and Annika Langvad (DEN)
14 Sharon Laws (GBR)
9 Esther Suss (SUI) and Hannele Steyn (RSA)
8 Anke Moore (RSA), Yolande de Villiers (RSA) and Sally Bigham (GBR)
Mixed:
18 Nico Pfitzenmaier (RSA)
15 Ariane Lüthi (SUI), Erik Kleinhans (RSA)
10 Barti Bucher (SUI), Paul Cordes (RSA), Yolande Speedy (RSA)
Masters:
24 Bart Brentjens (NED)
23 Abraao Azevedo (BRA)
18 Shan Wilson (RSA)
17 Andrew McLean (RSA) and
14 Linus van Onselen (RSA)
13 Doug Brown (RSA)
12 Nico Pfitzenmaier (RSA)
11 Carsten Bresser (GER) and Udo Boelts (GER)
10 Robert Sim (RSA)
Grandmasters
24 Heinz Zoerweg (AUT)
18 Barti Bucher (SUI)
8 Andrew McLean (RSA)
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Africans (and South Africans) in the Cape Epic overall top 10 since 2006:
2016 – 3 (3 SA)
2015 – 8 (8 SA)
2014 – 5 (5 SA)
2013 – 4 (4 SA)
2012 – 8 (8 SA)
2011 – 3 (1 SA)
2010 – 5 (5 SA)
2009 – 5 (3 SA)
2008 – 6 (5 SA)
2007 – 4 (3 SA)
2006 – 10 (6 SA)
South African Cape Epic overall stage winners – men:
Burry Stander 20
Kevin Evans 4
Shan Wilson 3
David George 3
Philip Buys 3
Matthys Beukes 2
Brandon Stewart 2
Jacques Rossouw 1
Gert Heyns 1
Photo: Dino Lloyd
Multiple overall winners:
Men
5 Christoph Sauser (SUI), Karl Platt (GER)
3 Stefan Sahm (GER)
2 Burry Stander (RSA), 2 Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)
Women
3 Ariane Lüthi (SUI), Annika Langvad (DEN)
2 Hanlie Booyens (RSA), Sharon Laws (GBR), Sally Bigham (GBR)
South Africans that have won Cape Epic titles:
Men: Burry Stander x 2
Women: Hanlie Booyens x2, Zoe Frost, Hannele Steyn, Anke Moore, Yolande de Villiers, Karien van Jaarsveld, Yolande Speedy
Mixed: Yolande Speedy/Paul Cordes x2, Erik Kleinhans x 2, Nic White/Anke Moore
Masters: Doug Brown x 3, Andrew McLean x 2, Frank Soll, Duncan English, Fred Coleske, Linus v Onselen, Geddan Ruddock, Shan Wilson, Damian Booth
Grand Masters: Andrew Mclean, Robert Sim
Photo: Dino Lloyd
*Originally published in TREAD Issue 40, 2016 and can be found on Zinio – All rights reserved
