World Bike Relief announces Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race
The eighth edition of the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race is to be held from March 27 to April 3 in South Africa. The organisers have announced the route for the race.
The World Bicycle Relief (WBR) has announced a highly ambitious star-studded group, getting together to raise funds for the Cape Epic Challenge fund-raiser, which is to be held in union with the Absa Mountain Bike Race.
In the dominating names is UCI World Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Tracy Moseley, who will race with Anka Martin for the cause. Olympic Mountain Bike gold medallist Bart Brentjens will be seen back in action with his MTB racing teammates Jeroen Boelen,
Jukka Vastaranta and Jelmer Pietersma. Another shining name in the sport, Andy Ording, the founder of the Zipp Speed Weaponry, will be taking part in his first Cape Epic event along with Todd Winget.
“For the elite athletes such as Tracy, Anka, Bart, Jeroen, Jukka, and Jelmer it is fantastic to see them dedicate their time in helping us gather the resources and attention so that we can collectively create change,” Rebecca Much said on behalf of the World
Bicycle Relief. “For industry icons such as Zipp founder Andy Ording and Todd Winget, it is great to see the type of passion he brings to the table in organising an army of athletes to tackle this epic race for more than solely the personal challenge.”
The target of the group is to provide bicycles to around 1,000 children, 70% of which are girls, in 10 schools in Zambia. Initially, they will ride to raise $150,000 for the Bicycles for Education Empowerment Program (BEEP), and another $75,000 (approx)
will be chipped in by an anonymous organisation upon conclusion of the race.
Much was optimistic about the campaign. “We are fortunate enough to have an eclectic all-star roster racing in support of this fundraiser,” she said, adding that having cycling icons on the roster was important for such fundraisers because these people had
made cycling history. She said the WBR was honoured to have such people by its side in such endeavours.
The Absa Cape Epic will run over an off-road course almost 707km long and the event will go over eight days of action. The bikers will climb around more than 1,600 meters of the magnificent mountain passes of South Africa to help raise these funds.
The World Bicycle Relief has also put together appealing raffle prizes to be won, such as the World Bicycle Relief transport bike, Trek 8500 mountain bike, Zipp 101 wheel-set, SRAM XO drive-train, Camelbk M.U.L.E. and L.U.X.E. prize packs, Tracey Moseley
fan pack, Adidas Eye-ware and Lazer Helium helmets that will be given away through a lottery. People will enter the lottery with a $25 donation per ticket. Six raffle tickets will be available for $134.
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