The Absa Cape Epic, now in its sixth year, has fast become one of the leading institutions on the global mountain biking calendar. As the largest team stage mountain bike race in the world and the only team stage race to be added to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar, the race annually hosts the world's most accomplished and legendary mountain bike riders. This year, the women’s division is set to be as exciting as the men’s.

Yolandi du Toit (23) of Heidelberg in Gauteng will be participating with team mate Janneke Leask as Team DCM Chrome. Du Toit finished first in this year’s Sabie Classic and third in the Sani2C (mixed category). In 2008, she finished in third place in both the Barberton and Forest to Falls (Mazda Drifter Series 1 and 2), first in the Rooiberg (mixed category), third in the Induna (Mazda Drifter Series 3), first in the Subaru Lost city, first in the Dirty Harry (Mazda Drifter Series 5) and second in the Down and Dirty mountain bike race.

Says Du Toit: “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to do, and seeing as I couldn’t finish last year, I have unfinished business with the Absa Cape Epic. I really hope to complete the event this year – everything else will be a bonus.” She trains every day with one rest day a week. “I focus on specific areas such as endurance, interval, and more. I don’t follow a specific diet but try to eat balanced and healthy meals.” And to the question of what keeps her motivated, she answers simply: “There is just something about the sport that attracts me - the beauty of it, the challenges, hardness and discipline. I truly enjoy riding my bike.”

Thirty five year old Hanlie Booyens, who lives and trains in Stellenbosch, will be participating with team mate Sharon Laws as Team Absa Ladies. They finished first in the Ladies division in 2004. She also finished third in the TransAlp in 2004, second in the Absa Cape Epic in 2005, was South Africa’s Cross-country champion in both 2003 and 2004 and the Drifter Champion in 2004. Last year she finished first in the Totalsport Challenge as well as the Sani2C and was also a finalist in the G4 Challenge.

Says Booyens: “This year is a reunion race for us. Sharon and I are great friends, but seldom see each other as she lives in England. The Absa Cape Epic was a good, albeit rather painful, excuse to have some fun together. We expect to hurt, suffer, cry - and hopefully not die! Above all we want to have fun no matter what the end result. Our motto as a friend put it: The 2009 Absa Cape Epic is not for profit, it’s not for pride. It’s simply for pleasure.”

With regards to her training programme and diet, she has tried to cut back on the huge volume of previous years and to do more quality workouts. “I’ve done more stuff such as LT’s and power climbs. Hopefully I’ll be a bit less fatigued in the beginning and maybe ride myself into the race instead of out of it. In the end I ride because I love being on the bike and will keep on training for as long as that remains the driving force. Obviously I watch what I eat and try to maintain a good power to weight ratio.” Booyens is very positive about the new route. “I hated the big open bunch riding roads of the Karoo. I’m counting on a more technical race this year with good technical climbs.”

Heike Jakins (43) lives and trains in Hout Bay. She only started cycling 4 years ago, getting there slowly and finished in the top 100 ladies and 5th in her age group in this year’s Pick ‘n Pay Argus Cycling Tour. She participated in the Absa Cape Epic last year as well as the Cederberg Escape. She will be riding with Nikki Haywood.

“I promised myself after the first day of the Absa Cape Epic last year never to do it again. I’m back to fight the challenge. Last year I was a late entry and did not have the hours of training necessary. This year I’ve done the best I can. I think this year’s Cape Epic will be a little easier, but still challenging with more technical and less district roads. Women must be strong physically and mentally - there are always little surprises along the way, having to carry or push your bike, handling the different terrain from steep climbs to technical down hills and riding single tracks that are usually for hikers.”

She gets her training programme from the Sports Science Centre which consists of recovery rides to interval training. “My best training I did was the Absa Cape Epic training camp with Day Trippers and 3 days later I cycled from PE to Cape Town on a road tour. I also don’t follow a special diet and have recovery drinks after a workout and protein shakes before I go to bed.”

From 21 to 28 March, all eyes will be on the Western Cape as the world's top riders vie for position in what is billed to be the most competitive event in the race’s history. Covering a distance of 685 kilometres, up approximately 14 663m of climbing, the race will finish eight days later at Lourensford Wine Estate.


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