The 2015 Absa Cape Epic will mark the end of his professional career in the race of a man who has inked his name indelibly into its folklore: four times winner Christoph Sauser.
But the Swiss master, who also boasts marathon and cross country world championships, is not planning to ease gently into post-professional life over the eight days of the 2015 event: he has teamed up with Czech powerhouse Jaroslav Kulhavy (Team Investec Songo Specialized) and is aiming to become the first five time winner of the event.
“For me it is all about winning it this year. We had very good preparation this year and now it is all about winning this one,” Sauser said at a press conference Thursday (March 12).
The normally taciturn Czech was himself clear about their aims: “Our goal is the victory. I mean, we are one of the favourites and Christoph would like to win his last Absa Cape Epic (as a professional).”
The fight for the 2015 Absa Cape Epic men’s category podium might, however, prove to be the most intense ever, with at least four teams having a good shot at it and several more harbouring ambitions of a top three finish.
The favourites when the prologue gun goes off at the University of Cape Town on Sunday, March 15, will be Sauser and Kulhavy. They won it in style together in 2013 and both have an array of world titles to their names. Kulhavy is also the reigning Olympic Games cross country gold medallist.
Sauser’s experience and Kulhavy’s firepower make them a near flawless partnership.
But they will not have things all their own way, and every competitor in this event knows that mechanical problems, crashes or illness can upset the best laid plans. If a bookmaker was drawing up odds, he might place another three teams just outside the favourites.
The obvious one is Team Bulls’s Karl Platt (Germany) and Urs Huber (Switzerland). The former has four wins to his name as well and will be keen to beat Sauser to a fifth, while Huber is a renowned strongman and has been in excellent form for the past year or so. Platt is a canny strategist and his wins have been built on staying patient and then capitalising on others’ mistakes.
“This year is very special because there are five or six teams that can go for a win,” said Platt. “It is going to be very exciting.”
Another pair who have the combination of skills needed to win the eight-day event are the powerful Czech/Austrian pairing of Kristian Hynek and Alban Lakata (Topeak Ergon). Hynek is the defending champion after having won last year with German Robert Mennen, while Lakata is a former Marathon World Champion who has lots of experience in the Absa Cape Epic. The Austrian has been dogged by bad luck over the years and will feel he is due some good luck.
Asked what it took to win the race, Hynek said: “I think it is a combination of a lot of things. Luck is part of it, but you need to be steady throughout the race.”
Lakata added: “We are both feeling very good. We won the Andalucia Bike Race and showed we are in good shape and work well together. Hopefully the luck is on my side this year.”
Then there’s the dark horses, Spain’s Jose Hermida and the Netherlands’ Rudi van Houts. These two have twice worn yellow in the past only to fall foul of problems the next day, but proved that they can beat the best. If they can add consistency to their undoubted talent (and famous sense of humour), they could be overall contenders.
Asked what his ambition was for the year, Hermida laughed: “Probably that people take me seriously as a rider … we’re not here to monkey around this year. We are coming back to change our luck from the past.”
Talking about the standing of the Absa Cape Epic, Hermida said it was the “world championship” of marathon stage racing: “In the past you would stop for a pee pee after one hour. Now you ride for four hours and only stop once you’ve crossed the finish line.”
German Jochen Kaess and Daniel Geismayr of Austria (Centurion Vaude) will also be near the front of the field. Kaess is a formidable competitor and will get the best out of Geismayr: they may spring a surprise or two.
“We did the Swiss Epic together last year and finished second, so we make a good team,” said Kaess.
Over the years it has become evident that back-up teams are critical to success. They can donate parts/assist with mechanicals and generally lend a hand to a leading team when they run into trouble.
In terms of Absa Cape Epic experience, the Bulls enjoy formidable back-up in young German Simon Stiebjahn and his countryman Tim Boehme. They finished third in 2014 after Platt pulled out because of an injury and will be close to the front of the race and ready to lend a hand should the leading team falter.
Sauser and Kulhavy will be able to lean on the experienced South African pairing of Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell (RECM), while Lakata and Hynek will look to Mennen and his American partner Jeremiah Bishop for support. Mennen is a cool customer and likely to be an excellent support rider, although it does seem a little unfair that a defending champion is relegated to this role.
Kaess and Geismayr will be banking on the support of youngsters Hermann Pernsteiner (Austria) and Matthias Pfrommer (Germany).
Sadly, the yearning for an all-South African team to win the Absa Cape Epic for the first time seems unlikely to be fulfilled this year. Kleinhans and Bell might have a shot at the podium if they aren’t held back by their support responsibilities, and the strong pairing of Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes (Scott Factory Racing) have the talent to spring a surprise.
Then there’s Kevin Evans and Max Knox, the former bidding to finish for a 10th time and the latter in striking form recently. They have signalled their desire to end up on the podium and might just be fired up enough after last years’ time penalty – for a shortcut – to upset the odds.
*This year’s race takes place from 15 to 22 March and will once again take 1 200 riders through some of the Western Cape’s most unspoilt territory. The race kicks off with the Prologue in Table Mountain National Park, starting from the University of Cape Town, and finishes eight days later at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville.
Meerendal will host the finish of the race and the Grand Finale celebrations for the first time. The Grand Finale will kick off with live entertainment, a farmer’s market, great food and wine and unmatched scenery. Vantage points will be accessible to the general public. Entrance is free.
