STREAKS ARE FUNNY THINGS, IN SPORT. They capture the imagination of the public by the very fact of their unlikeliness.
The two riders who have finished every single Absa Cape Epic to date dice with disaster every year, just to make the finish of an event in which so many succumb to illness, injury or a catastrophic crash. And you couldn't find two more different people to have as the Last Lions of what is rightly billed the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race.
In 2024, there were three Lions; but Cape Town businessman Mike Nixon was unable to ride that year - which now leaves former Springbok triathlete, duathlete and mountain biker Hannele Steyn (the Last Lioness, i.e. the only woman to have ridden every event); and John Gale, the quiet Cape Town accountant who enters every year and sleeps in the tented village.
Part of Gale's success has been keeping it simple. As an accountant, his world revolves around minimising risk; and that's the only reason, he believes, that he's managed to notch up a full rack of finishes.
"There's an element of luck - or an absence of bad luck. I think it's in your head, too. I've had to accept over the years that I find it difficult not to finish things, to walk away from things.
"But sometimes there's no real reason. An Epic day is always bigger and harder than you would do ordinarily - you get to the point where it's bigger than anything you've done. You get halfway, and your mind goes, 'That's enough'. But you carry on and do it.
"These days, we go in prepared. And I've always made these races a family affair, including Beth and the kids. The early days were harder, having to get out of the house by 5am to be back to help with the kids. But they're much older now, so I can manage that better."
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Denne historien er fra Absa Cape Epic 2025 Race Guide-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra Absa Cape Epic 2025 Race Guide-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PAINT YOUR BIKE
A DIY GUIDE TO CUSTOM- PAINTING YOUR BIKE AT HOME
THE CASE AGAINST STRAVA
I'LL BEGIN BY SINGING SOME PRAISES. Without Strava, I'm not sure I'd have re-engaged with cycling at the level I did. Coming from just occasionally messing around on mountain bikes as a teenager to trying my best to race at an elite level, Strava has played a role in pushing me to ride faster, harder and longer than I'd ever done before.
OVERBERG MEANDER
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF THE SOUTHERN CAPE.
THE RIGHT TO RIDE
THEY LED A CYCLING REVOLUTION IN AFGHANISTAN, WHERE WOMEN WERE FORBIDDEN TO RIDE. WHEN THE TALIBAN RETURNED TO POWER, THEIR ONLY HOPE WAS A HARROWING ESCAPE TO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
ONE MAN'S CRUSADE TO TAKE DOWN ZWIFT CHEATS
INDOOR CYCLING AND VIRTUAL RACING ARE BOOMING - AND SO ARE THE RANKS OF DIGITAL DOPERS ABUSING THE PLATFORMS.
The Contenders
Matt Beers is undoubtedly the most popular cyclist in South Africa.
The Czech Mates
THIS YEAR, BLIND ATHLETE ONDŘEJ ZMEŠKAL and his tracker Marek Peterka will tackle the Absa Cape Epic riding a tandem. And far from being daunted, the duo are excited about the challenge ahead.
Beyond The Trails
Over the past two decades, the Absa Cape Epic's impact on South African cycling tourism has been nothing short of phenomenal. The race not only attracts professional and dedicated amateur riders from across the globe, but also plays a pivotal role in boosting local economies and showcasing South Africa as a premier destination for adventure seekers. Let's delve into how the race achieves these feats:
The Fixers
EVERY DAY, WHEN YOU FINISH A STAGE of the Absa Cape Epic, it's your chance to recover and recharge for the next day.
