Alessandra Keller will make her debut at the Cape Epic 2026 partnering with Candice Lill

The Swiss rider Alessandra Keller will be at the start of the Absa Cape Epic for the first time in 2026. Considered the most prestigious stage race in the world of MTB, it will mark a new sporting focus in Keller's season planning, as she will compete alongside South African Candice Lill within the Thömus maxon – Sabi Sabi team.

Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller, confirmed pair for Cape Epic 2026

The Cape Epic 2026 (692 kilometers and 15,900 meters) will take place from March 15 to 22, and with this decision, Keller will join the group of big names in XCO who have decided to make the leap to long-distance racing in the most emblematic event on the calendar. This will be her absolute debut in this event, but far from being an anecdotal participation, it seems that it will be one of her main objectives of the year.

“I am really excited about the Cape Epic. I have been following this race for many years, but until now it has never fit into my calendar. In 2026, the moment has finally arrived. For me, it is one of the three major moments of the season and a race that I want to pay a lot of attention to,” explains Keller herself in the statement released by the team.

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Although she will be a debutant at the Cape Epic, Keller faces the challenge alongside one of the riders with the most knowledge of the event. Candice Lill has participated in eight editions and has finished in second place in five of them, a background that brings experience and detailed knowledge of the race's particularities.

The collaboration between the two riders is also linked to the equipment. Starting in the 2026 season, Candice Lill will also compete on Thömus bikes within her own structure, reinforcing the coherence of the duo's sports project.

Keller is currently training in South Africa, taking advantage of the concentration to adapt to the terrain and spend time with her future teammate outside the competitive context. “I know Candice from the World Cup circuit. Now that I am in South Africa, we can exchange ideas more intensely. With her experience as a regular on the podium at the Cape Epic, she can provide me with very valuable information for this special race,” says the Swiss rider.

For her part, Lill approaches the new partnership with clear motivation: “After eight participations and five second places, winning the Cape Epic is still at the top of my list. I am convinced that Alessandra and I have very good conditions to succeed together. At the same time, we know how demanding this week of competition is.”

With Alessandra Keller's debut and Candice Lill's accumulated experience, the Thömus maxon – Sabi Sabi team will arrive at the Cape Epic 2026 as one of the top favorites for victory.