Mountain Bike Magazine MTB Autumn 2019 | Page 101

SS1607 - the formidable Dreyers will not have it all their own way, however. They’ll need to look out for Antonio Moreno Ortega and Ramona Gabriel Batalla of Garmin Ixcor. Ortega has one Cape Epic under his belt, having fi nished 132nd in the GC in 2018. Batalla, like Fischer, would be comfortable within the women’s fi eld, but as it is her fi rst attempt at the race, has chosen to test the waters in the Mixed category. Her best result of 2018 was second at the European Continental Ultra XCM champs so, if anything, even the longest stages might be too short for her to really show off her prowess. Another formidable team are the husband and wife pairing of Sebastian and Laura Stark. The German combination will be riding in the colours of TBR-Werner, and given Sebastian’s history in the Cape Epic, they are certainly in contention for a category podium. In his two previous attempts at the race, Sebastian has placed 52nd and 17th in the GC. Laura is fi ercely competitive too, and together the pair placed second in the mixed category at the Tankwa Trek in February. Rustig_MBC Advert (230x150mm).pdf 1 2019/01/28 2:04 Given the strength of the women in the Virgin Active Mixed category fi eld this year, the race could well come down to who proves to be the strongest man in the line-up over the eight days. Despite his lack of mountain biking experience, Freire’s three-week Grand Tour know-how will surely place him and Fischer atop Bike Hub’s Absa Cape Epic Fantasy League selection list. One thing is for sure, it should prove an exciting category in 2019. Message from Virgin Active The Absa Cape Epic is an extraordinary event made special by the spectacular and challenging route, and by the people involved – organisers, participants and supporters. This is Virgin Active’s second year as a headline sponsor and offi cial health club partner of the race, and we’re delighted to be part of it once again. Cycling is growing all the time as a key feature of our members’ fi tness regimens and we continue to add to our world-class stationery bike technology and Ride classes to meet that demand. Many more of our members are setting themselves, and achieving, big fi tness goals, and they don’t come any bigger than the Absa Cape Epic. I wish all the riders the very best for your preparation and participation and I’ll be keeping a special eye out for the teams racing for the Virgin Active Mixed category leader’s jersey, and on our members who won entries through the Virgin Active Epic Battle. PM ROSS FARAGHER-THOMAS, Managing Director