Why is the field of women in cycling and more specifically, mountain biking, so small? Well, there are several reasons, one of them being access. Absa has been the Title and Exclusive Naming Rights Sponsor of the Absa Cape Epic, the race that measures all, since 2006. A little more than two years ago, the proudly African bank, Absa, announced its commitment to growing the #SheUntamed initiative, a programme designed to improve women’s access to the sport of mountain biking through women’s increased participation in the Team Absa line-up.
Paid Partnership with Absa
This is one of several initiatives created to drive transformation, diversity and inclusion and, in turn, is part of Absa’s ambition to be an active force for good in everything that they do. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Absa was denied the opportunity in 2020, did a light touch in 2021 and reignited #SheUntamed at the 2022 event through a focused event, a dedicated PR, media and broadcast plan as well as five incredible ambassadors who all participated in the 2022 event. Closing out the year, the #SheUntamed duo, Remofilwe Moeketsi and Nontobeko Beauty Buhle Ngobese, set off to represent South Africa at the Spar Swiss Epic, a gruelling five-day mountain bike event that took place in August 2022 in Switzerland’s Graubünden region.
Absa has played a pivotal role in the growth of the #SheUntamed initiative by empowering women in the field of cycling, and with a particular focus on 2022/2023, Absa has stepped up. In the lead-up to the 2023 event, Absa is shifting gears and committing to not only have 20% of the Team Absa line-up be women riders that will participate in the Absa Cape Epic, but is also dedicating a session of the Epic Trippers – a hugely popular, active spectator programme that allows a select group of participants to experience the Absa Cape Epic, enjoying world-class hospitality while riding their bikes and cheering on the world’s best mountain bikers and fellow avid amateurs – to women riders for the second year.
A feat like no other – this challenge will be taken on by a community of women who are ready to test their limits, mental resolve and prove that they have what it takes to take on the globe’s toughest, most gruelling and testing mountain bike race.
But it’s not that straight forward. You see, in order to prepare for – and complete – an Absa Cape Epic, you need intense cycling conditioning that comes from many months of training indoor and outdoor, a high level of competence on technical terrain, adjustment to riding for hours in extreme conditions – heat to rain, quality supplementation for energy and recovery, an appropriate bike that can handle the rigors of the eight-day race and gear to make the experience as comfortable and controlled as possible, a coach and, more importantly, a riding partner who becomes an extension of you.
All this and more comes at a cost. But perhaps more significantly, time, serious dedication, support and partnerships. The following 2023 Team Absa #SheUntamed squadron of women are all focused on getting to the start of the 2023 Absa Cape Epic and completing it, scheduled for 19 to 26 March 2023: Nicola Bianca Biani, Kerry-Lee Pienaar, Carli Cooke, Natasja Kask, Amelia Dieperink, Zintle Gantsho, Pontso Mohoaladi, Caroline Matsimela, Manti Manganye, Remofilwe Moeketsi, Baveesha Naran, Mpho Nyiko Mutaung, Nontobeko Beauty Buhle Ngobese, Andisiwe Skeyi, Marisa van der Linde, Brigitte Joubert, Hannele Steyn, Lesego Mary-Jane Mokone, Des Moj, Sarah Hill and Elricka Harmzen.
Among the #SheUntamed line-up is Hannele Steyn, the only woman and one of just four people to have completed all Absa Cape Epics since its inception. In the Book of Legends, Steyn is part of an exclusive group known as the Last Lions or, more apt, Last Lioness. With her dogged determination and unwavering enthusiasm, she has cemented herself as an icon of South African sport. By contrast, around half the women in this line-up will not only be tackling their very first Absa Cape Epic, but their very first mountain biking stage race!
Whether a last lioness or a cub ─ so different, yet so united, with one thing in common: their passion for mountain biking. They are in full commitment mode in a sustained effort to not only arrive at the start of the Absa Cape Epic brave, passionate and ready, but complete this race that measures all victoriously and, without knowing it, possibly without claiming it, stand up for all girls and women in sport.
As has been a consistent thread throughout the #SheUntamed campaign, since it was launched in 2020, there’s a strong support network among the women as well as behind the women.
So what does behind the scenes look like?
As preparations for the 2023 Absa Cape Epic gain momentum, Absa hosted a #SheUntamed welcome event at Helderberg Nature Reserve Environmental Centre on Thursday, 27 October 2022, where the brand-new #SheUntamed Ciovita rider kit was unveiled. This event was organised to celebrate the selected community of untamed women who begin their five-month journey toward competing in the world’s premier mountain bike race, the Absa Cape Epic, scheduled for 19 to 26 March 2023.
This rider kit reveal comes shortly after the bank announced its commitment to have 20% of the Team Absa line-up at the race dedicated to women riders, securing and covering their entry fee. As part of their five-month training for the gruelling race, Absa has identified and covered the cost of the entry, and supported with logistics in upcoming events in which the #SheUntamed women will participate while donning the seasonal kit.
These events include the three-day 2022 FNB Wines2Whales, which took place in late October 2022 and the 2023 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, a tough four-day stage race just five weeks before the 2023 Absa Cape Epic, as preparation events. They will also be fully accommodated on the three-day Absa Cape Epic training camp in Karkloof, KwaZulu-Natal, in January.
The 11 all-women teams consist of returning members and new recruits who are training under the guidance of the #SheUntamed coaches and ambassadors who will also be participating in the event; the Last Lioness, Hannele Steyn, the only woman who has completed all Absa Cape Epics since its inception; Erica Groenewald; Sarah Hill and Phillimon Sebona.
“The 2023 Absa Cape Epic will see Absa continuing to make a difference as we create more opportunities for women to participate in top events in cycling through our #SheUntamed programme,” said Geoffrey Lee, Absa Group Chief Executive, Product Solutions Cluster. “This is one of several initiatives created to drive transformation, diversity and inclusion and, in turn, is part of Absa’s ambition to be an active force for good in everything that we do.”
Because the Absa Cape Epic is such a formidable race – undoubtedly one of the toughest mountain bike events in the world – there are various benchmarks that the #SheUntamed riders need to satisfy to be considered ready to take on the race that measures all in late March.
In 2022, women made up 9.4% of the total Absa Cape Epic field. Despite introducing equal prize money to women in 2013, the percentage of women entrants hasn’t really increased. It’s not due to lack of interest – many women would love to tackle the iconic event – but rather lack of opportunity. And with the Absa’s #SheUntamed initiative shifting up a gear, that will start to change from the 2023 edition…
About Absa Group Limited
Absa Group Limited (Absa Group) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups with a presence in 15 countries.
Absa Group offers a universal set of products and services across retail, business, corporate, investment and wealth banking, as well as investment management and insurance solutions.
We own banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia as well as insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. We also have representative offices in Namibia, Nigeria and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as an IT Specialist Office in the Czech Republic.
For further information about Absa Group, visit www.absa.africa
