The CAPE EPIC 2006 is the first ever team mountain bike race at which UCI
points will be awarded - the points will be shared between the two riders in
the team in the same way that a road
team would share points awarded in a team time trial. It is also the only MTB
race in Africa to feature on the UCI calendar for 2006 and only the second
cycling race in South Africa to achieve this status,
after the Giro del Capo (a 5-day road stage race).
?This is doubly exciting for the race?, says Cape Epic director, Kevin Vermaak,
?as we'll be getting more top riders from around the world coming to South
Africa and it also gives South African riders the chance to earn points on
their home turf before embarking upon a season of racing in Europe in the
northern hemisphere summer. The World Cup riders that rode Cape Epic 2005 went
on to do extremely well in the World Cup season and the Cape Epic is
increasingly becoming the race that many riders are using to get their season
off to a flying start.?
The Cape Epic is working together with the UCI to formulate team mountain bike
racing rules, as the Cape Epic is the first race with a 2- person team format
to feature in their rule book. A further advantage for the Cape Epic is that
the race date will be set 18 months in advance to ensure a favourable position
in the global mountain bike racing calendar. ?Due to recent adjustments in the
UCI calendar there is also no time clash with World Cup races in 2006 as the
first Cross Country race takes place three weeks prior to the Cape Epic and the
first Marathon World Cup one week after our event?, explains Cape Epic media
director Sonja G
Date:
15/11/2005