This year’s seventh Absa Cape Epic, will see 1,200 mountain bikers from across the globe (600 teams, each consisting of two riders) cycling 722km and climbing over 16'500 grueling vertical meters on their mountain bikes.  This is the equivalent of cycling up Mount Everest ...twice.

The route changes every year leading aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through 8 stages. The stages of the 2010 route, much of it through territory previously untouched by the event, travels through the magical and untamed African countryside and sees riders conquering mountains and pedaling their way through remote settlements along the Western Cape’s southern coastline.

The Absa Cape Epic is the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world. Race nutrition, water, and isotonic carbohydrate drinks are available at the feed zones to revive tired riders during the race. At night, all riders and race crew sleep in the tented race villages that are set up prior to arrival and taken down immediately after the start each morning by the race crew.

Opening celebrations and registration will take place at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, with the first stage starting at Diemersfontein in the heart of wine country. The race will finish at Lourensford Wine Estate.

2010 Absa Cape Epic Route
• Stage 1: Diemersfontein to Ceres (117km with 2,190m of climbing)
• Stage 2: Ceres to Ceres (90km with 1,625m of climbing)
• Stage 3: Ceres to Ceres (115km with 2,280m of climbing)
• Stage 4: Ceres to Worcester (86km with 1,640m of climbing)
• Stage 5: Worcester to Worcester (Time trial; 27km with 860m of climbing)
• Stage 6: Worcester to Oak Valley (123km with 2,240m of climbing)
• Stage 7: Oak Valley to Oak Valley (99km with 2,160m of climbing)
• Final: Oak Valley to Lourensford (65km with 1,640m of climbing)

Visit cape-epic.com for more information