Oliver Munnik of Team Red Mongoose and Erik Kleinhans of Mr Price GT have teamed up for this year’s Absa Cape Epic, and with only a day to go before all mountain biking hell breaks loose in Knysna, the pair knows that their attitude will be the difference between success and failure.

Friends away from all things with pedals, Munnik and Kleinhans decided to team up for this year’s Absa Cape Epic after finishing first and second in last year’s three-day Cederberg MTB Experience.

“We are good friends and that will help us during the race. When the going gets tough it’s better to have someone you know to rely on,” says 22-year-old Munnik.

The Cape Epic is one of the toughest endurance races in the world and the reliance one must inevitably place on one’s partner can make or break teams, something Munnik is fully aware of.

“It’s really important to have a good attitude going into this race. It can’t be won on the first day, but it can be lost on the first day” an invigorated Munnik ventured.

With all those kilometres in front of them (966 to be exact), one can blame riders for having a seriously gung-ho attitude and wanting to lead from the front for the nine days.

However, this may be exactly what causes major blowouts of top riders early on in the race. And with some 18 529 metres of climbing over some of the toughest terrain South Africa has to offer, the name of the game at the Epic is endurance.

Munnik and Kleinhans know that this year’s Epic is bound to be even tougher than last year's due to the serious assault that renowned international riders plan to make.

Riding under the colours of Team Red/Mr Price, the pair are hoping for a top ten placing, but know they have their work seriously cut out for them. Last year Munnik teamed up with Max Knox and the pair finished in eleventh place, while Kleinhans partnered Namibian Arno Viljoen and managed to finish a respectable 20th overall.

iafrica.com will be catching up with Munnik and Kleinhans at the end of every stage.

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