The 2026 “Cape Epic” Cycle Race

The 2026 ABSA Cape Epic gruelling cycle race is about to start in Montagu.

..with Montagu High School as the hosts, with start/end point for two stages of the race. And in record high temperatures. (For example, the last record high in Cape Town was in 2015, at 42 degrees. Two days ago, it exceeded 46 degrees!)

Sponsored by ABSA bank, the Cape Epic is an 8-day, 700km+ mountain bike stage race held in South Africa's Western Cape, this year from March 15–22, 2026. It is affectionately known as the "Tour de France of mountain biking," and features two-person teams, with over 16,000m of climbing through Stellenbosch, Montagu, and Greyton. It is considered the world's premier, and one of the toughest, mountain bike stage races.

The race is also called the "Untamed African MTB Race".

Today is Friday, and the cyclists are expected here on Sunday, with a 7 am Monday departure on the first of three legs, starting from Montagu (High School).

I will create further posts as and when. I’ll be on the lookout for further moments. Stay tuned.

EDIT: Wednesday has passed, and the riders and their entourage have left. I have MANY (hundreds many!) of photos of riders, many with their team members, pelotons etc. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested, simply put your/their official number, e.g., #123 in the form below, and I’ll look to see if I have any of yourselves.

Please note that all these photos are in low resolution and subject to copyright.

I walked up the road past this spill over traffic, my interest piquing.

I saw these tents and asked some guys, sitting in the shade, if these were for the cyclists. They said no, they're for us. The riders' tents are on the field.

Oh, I said, somewhat surprised. How many riders are there? About 1600, he replied! (What?!, methinks) Well, that was a bit embarrassing, pardon my ignorance!

Anyway, the scale soon became apparent. At the cost of about R120k per team (of two), or $USD 8865 per team, then add travel costs, etc., that’s quite big numbers. For the participants, anyway. Mind you, that gets you seven nights in a two-man tent, all meals, free wifi, a bike wash, secure parking, and a free t-shirt (but only for official finishers).

But the camaraderie and exertion are priceless!

Never mind the prestige, there’s also big money for the winners. I think it is R350k per team. Nice to see there’s parity between the Men and Women’s Prize earnings.

I made my way through, acting like an official photographer..

This is just the kitchen area for the staff and crew.

And looking in the other direction. Those pots are huge!

This is the mess hall/cafetaria, still being prepared, but looks more like a banquet about to take place.

A sea of tents on the Montagu High playing field. In this heat, I bet many will rather choose to sleep under the stars.

The cyclists are then going to be torturing themselves first thing in the morning, all over the mountains in the background.

I sure hope for their sake the weather cools down a bit!