24 MARCH
STAGE 7
TECHNICAL
TERRAIN
1000
800
Jonkershoek
Trails
600
Fiona’s
Beast
Sugarbowl
OFFICIAL GRAND
FINALE VENUE
400
70KM BREAKDOWN
200
0
0
10
20
Stellenbosch
30
RATING
WHERE TO WATCH
Race start: 08.00am
Val de Vie (70km)
With the fi nal stage kicking off later
there will be a festive atmosphere in
the race village. Fans are encouraged
to make their way straight to Val de
Vie to ensure the riders receive the
world class reception their Herculean
eff orts deserve. Arrive early to secure
a prime seat on the pavilions. Stroll
through the food and Absa Cape Epic
partner stalls. Or book a VIP Grand
Finale experience and watch from
alongside the fi nish line while
sipping a cold beer.
www.valdevie.co.za
Distance from race village: 27km
Leading men fi nish: 10.40am*
Leading women fi nish: 11.15am*
Last rider fi nish: 13.40pm*
40
50
60
70
Val De Vie, Paarl
Singletrack: 22.4km, 32%
Farm road: 40.5km, 58%
Tar road: 7.1km, 10%
RACE PREDICTION
Any teams that have lost major time during the week will have adjusted
their goals to hunt for stage wins, and there’s none as prestigious as the
Grand Finale, the Champs-Élysées of mountain biking. It’s near impossible to
predict a winner before the race unfolds, yet come Saturday afternoon fans
will be able to narrow it down to only a few teams – the likely winners will
have held back during the week, saving the legs, targeting this auspicious
day to stand on the podium.
That’s the beauty of stage racing. They off er second and third chances at
glory, even if bad luck strikes. Riders know that on the Grand Finale, a brave
attack at a key point in the race is what it takes to win. An attack on the
Fiona’s Beast climb is too early for a single team
to survive until the end, but it may see a small
group escaping (provided none are a threat to
the GC contenders) and taking it to the line for
an exciting sprint fi nish in Val de Vie.
Final awards presentation: 13.00pm
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 161