#SHEUNTAMED’S 20FOR20 IN 2024 – HIT OR MISS?

If you have been following the journey of the #SheUntamed movement, you would have noticed lots of hype and build-up before and during the 2024 Absa Cape Epic. The primary goal was to have 20 all-female Absa Teams on the start line, with the Number 1 rider in each team being a woman of colour. Here’s how it panned out.

By Joanne Badenhorst | Photography: AC Media

From the outset, we knew this was a long shot, a tall order, not a mission impossible, but definitely mission improbable. The #SheUntamed initiative has been in existence for four years now. Some riders have been along for the full journey so far, and some have come and gone. The one thing that has remained is the passion and resolve of Absa’s Tina Venter and her team, to make this project a success.

How do you measure success? Getting the teams to the start line? Absolutely. It was a mammoth task getting 40 women from around Southern Africa paired up in suitable teams of two, and in one piece, physically and mentally for the start at Lourensford on Sunday 17 March 2024.

Getting the teams to the finish line? Absolutely. Of the 20 #SheUntamed teams that started, 12 complete teams and seven individual riders crossed the finish line to claim their special 20th edition Absa Cape Epic finishers medals.  That’s 31 of the 40 ladies and a 77.5% success rate. More about this a bit later.

Getting Media Coverage? A big success. Just about every mountain bike media and media outlets in general loved the feel-good positive stories that this movement has generated.  It has been so good for the sport in general, for women in general and for female mountain bikers in particular.

WhatsApp group size? We are including this as a measure of success, as it is where the pool of female riders (not limited to Cape Epic riders only) encourage, support and advise each other before, during and after an event. A communication platform where all achievements are celebrated and the ladies are reminded of how inspiring they all are. The group is ever growing and evolving, so definitely a success. It can only lead to greater things.

The goal of increasing the women-of-colour riders? Maybe this was not a complete success this year, but honestly it takes more than commitment and the opportunity to become an Absa Cape Epic rider. Of the 40 starters, only eight were women of colour. Less than 50% of the ideal target absa set for themselves. And only five of these ladies finished. This just shows that it can be done. Hopefully it fuels the flames of the future crop of #SheUntamed ladies.

In a bid to grow the base of potential Cape Epic riders, Absa has, over the past three years, invited women mountain bikers to take part in the 3-day, 2-night Female-only Epic Trippers experience. This year was no different, except 30 of the 40 strong contingent were women of colour. This is an exclusive invitation-only opportunity where the riders can sample the Cape Epic, as they ride on a small section of the route and visit the event’s race village. It is a place where possible future Cape Epic riders can be identified. This is the type of event we need more of, nationally. As an Epic Trippers guest myself, it was clear to see that a lot of work still needs to be done, at the foundation level, to create and prepare our future #SheUntamed Cape Epic riders. This is where the hard work needs to be done to unearth the potential that we are sure is there.

But more about the successes. Within the Absa #SheUntamed squad, all the teams and riders that finished, deserved and earned their medals with some blood, loads of sweat and a few tears.

Here are a few that that stood out for me:

Mamello Letsie and Martha Koekemoer

Mamello is a true one-in-a-million human. An exception to the rule. A statuesque, athletic woman who was a fierce road cyclist until November 2023, when she was asked “would you be keen to do the Absa Cape Epic?”. She put in all the necessary work in the gym, on her MTB skills and time on the bike. Was it easy? No. But her pin-point focus and dedication to her goal could be witnessed on every  single stage on the finish line. The importance of partnering is evident in no better place than with Martha and Mamello. Martha was calm yet firm, caring and motivating and guided Mamello with perfection to achieve their combined goal, which was never out of sight. The finisher’s medal for them both.

Carli Cooke and Mikayla Benkenstein

These two slight and quiet ladies, just got on with the job at hand, each and every stage.  Having only ridden briefly together in January this year, and Mikayla only having two months to prepare, is something quite remarkable. A testament to the pedigree of both riders. To top it off they received a champagne shower on the final podium when receiving their third-place prize in the Amateur Women’s Category.

Hannele Steyn and Janine Muller

Possibly the smallest person with the biggest heart and biggest impact on women’s mountain biking over the past two decades, how can we not celebrate and acknowledge Hannele Steyn. Yes, she has completed all 20 Absa Cape Epics and is the ‘Last Lioness’, with only one other rider with the same medal tally. But Hannele is not defined by this. She is simply one of the most humble, grateful and inspiring women you will ever meet. All mountain biking aside, to us she is defined by her kindness and perseverance. And what a partnership! Janine is a younger rider, which meant that they had to compete in a lower age category to that of Hannele’s. It seemed from the outside, that they were in sync from start to finish, once again emphasising the importance of having the right partner at this event.  Even though Hannele and Janine were competing with the ‘youngsters’, they claimed second overall in the Master Women’s Category. That’s impressive.

Ingrid Avidon & Ann Harrison

To prove that age is just a number, these two friends impressed us each day. In one of the toughest mountain bike events on the planet, Ingrid and Ann, both in their 50s, took on each stage with maximum composure, determination & smiles. Never underestimate a woman with years of experience! They finished an admirable third overall in the Grand Master Women’s Category.

Sarah Hill and Hayley Smith

The highest finishers of the Absa #SheUntamed squad, Sarah and Hayley had to work really hard throughout the eight days of racing. It’s a very different event when you are racing for the bigger categories and not just riding to finish. The pressures are different. Sarah, a more seasoned Cape Epic rider and Hayley, a newbie. This turned out to be an exciting partnership to watch as they both learned, daily, about partnerships, their limits and themselves. They weathered the ups and downs that this event hurls at the riders, and never gave up. This paid off in the final two days & they secured the win in the Absa African Women’s Category and 10^thoverall.

Fikele Jiyane and Letshego Zulu

Both of these ladies are no strangers to mountain biking, but following their tracker dot on the Epic Series app each day was enough to give the strongest of people a nervous breakdown. Cape Epic 2024 was not on Letshego’s plans until 15^th March, two days before the event, when the call came to help a friend, Fikele! Having three epic finishes under her belt, she knew what was needed to finish the event, and even though not prepared, she could not let Fikele down. Now that is brave. Each stage they found the tenacity and strength to fight to the finish. Each day they made it, just. Stage 4 was a tough one. Fikele had major issues with her bike and Letshego was encouraged, by officials, to make it to the finish – solo. The heart-breaking scenes when Fikele ran across the line with her broken bike that day, brought many to tears. It was an emotional day for both of them, only to be eased by finding out that the stage cut-off time had been extended by officials at the last minute.  Their race continued.  There was a collective sigh of relief when they both made it to the final finish line with less than a millisecond to spare!

The other teams that earned their finishers’ medals are all special, strong women.

Ricci-Lee Brookstone and Sanchia Malan, Tracey Quin and Danilee Reilly, Iliska and Tanja Schutte, Bakang Tshidi Ebudilwe and Julia Westobi, Natasha van der Berg and Lizle Rosenstein, Jane Fisher and Colette Bastard – we salute you.

We at TREAD FEMME have really connected with the #SheUntamed movement and the sisterhood over the past four years. Having some access to behind the scenes, getting to know the riders and champions of the initiative, we have come to realise that our visions for women’s mountain biking aligns. Creating spaces that show that mountain biking is not so intimidating. Where women support women, across all ages and cultures by creating opportunities for women mountain bikers to thrive and simply ride. It’s all about the communities we build and belong to, sharing the passion for mountain biking and encouraging more women to just give it a try. Who knows, a newcomer to mountain biking this month may become an Absa Cape Epic rider one day too.

Here’s the breakdown of the women at the Absa Cape Epic in recent years and historically.

Women starters at the Absa Cape Epic

Of the 180 women that started the 2024 Absa Cape Epic, 147 finished (81.66%) which is a high finisher rate at this event and something that the women can be proud of.

Considering 2021 was a Covid-19 affected edition with a reduced field that took place in October (and not the usual date in March), the Absa #SheUntamed project only really gained real traction at the Absa Cape Epic from 2022. With a 100% increase in the number of female entrants between 2022 and 2024, the impact is evident. Long may it continue!

So, to answer the question in our headline: Yes, there were challenges and reality checks. The Absa Cape Epic is an incredibly demanding race that requires entrants to have endurance, power, skill, empathy, patience, commitment, weather tolerance and courage and not everyone can achieve all of that simultaneously. But most of the #SheUntamed squad did achieve that. In the process, they became heroes and mentors for others to follow. That in itself is very much confirmation that Absa’s #SheUntamed 20for20 in 2024 was indeed a hit!