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PICTURES: ABSA Cape Epic a true endurance test

This year's Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race which saw 600 teams tackle 603km with 16 500m of climbing over eight days, ended last Sunday.

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 6

United States rider from Team Outride | Toyota | Songo, Keegan Swenson, after stage 6. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

The race includes UCI pro riders and amateurs and is considered by many to be the ‘Tour de France’ of mountain biking.

Photographer Kim Ludbrook documented this year’s race.

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — The elite UCI men race after Stage 4 of the ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race over 80km from Paarl to Paarl, South Africa, 20 March 2025. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — Belgium’s Wout Alleman from Buff Megamo 1 recovers after Stage 4. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — Race leader, Switzerland’s Filippo Colombo takes a ice bath after Stage 4. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — The Cech Republic’s Martin Stosek of Buff Megamo 1 recovers after Stage 4. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — The elite UCI men race during Stage 4. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 4 — A rider relaxes in the rider chill area after Stage 4. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 5 — Switzerland’s Nino Schurter wheelies his bike as he races through a river with the lead men’s UCI professional riders after during Stage 5. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 6 — Team Imbuko ChemChamp A rider Tristan Nortje from South Africa shares his emotions after winning stage 6. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 6 — Elite Women’s racers from team Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM, Vera Looser from Namibia (L) and team mate Alexis Skarda (R) from the United States after stage 6 in Cape Town. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 6 — Competitiors in action during stage 6. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike race - Stage 7 — The elite UCI men race from the start line during the final stage 7 in Cape Town. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE

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