An accident leaves Kate Courtney without a partner for the Cape Epic

The Absa Cape Epic 2026 has taken an unexpected turn just hours before its start. The duo formed by world XCM champion Kate Courtney and multi-discipline athlete Melisa Rollins, who were among the favorites for victory, will not be able to start together after Rollins suffered a serious fall that leaves her out of the race.

An accident leaves Melisa Rollins out of the Cape Epic and Kate Courtney without a partner

It was Rollins herself who explained what happened through her social media. The American recounted that she suffered a “strange fall” that ended with her in the emergency room and a diagnosis of a broken elbow and a possible wrist fracture. The injury will prevent her from starting the Absa Cape Epic on March 15.

The news is a heavy blow for the pair, who had been preparing for this goal for months. “It’s hard to put into words everything it took for us to get here. We were really prepared,” Rollins explained, visibly affected by having to withdraw from the race after all the work done in recent months.

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Kate Courtney also publicly reacted to her partner's accident with an emotional message showing her support. The American confessed to feeling “heartbroken” upon seeing her friend injured and realizing how the sports project they had built together for this Cape Epic would not be able to materialize.

Beyond the sporting aspect, Courtney wanted to highlight the personal bond they had built during their preparation. “We may not line up together at the start, but what I have gained from this experience goes far beyond any starting or finishing line,” she wrote.

Although Rollins' accident definitively closes the participation of the original duo, Courtney's message suggests that her presence in the race is still not ruled out. The world XCM champion did not confirm whether she will start, but her words suggest that she might try to compete with another partner if she finds a new teammate in time.