The Absa Cape Epic 2024 Grand Finale Live

The Absa Cape Epic 2024 will be held from March 17 to 24, a very special edition that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the race and whose route has just been announced. In total there will be 700 km with 16,000 m of positive elevation gain spread over 8 stages and as in recent editions the best possible level of the modality is expected. Schurter-Fini and Egger-Baum, or Lill-Mitterwallner and Tersptra-Koller in the women's category, are the main attractions of an edition loaded with big names.

Watch the Absa Cape Epic 2024 Live

As usual, the organization will have a multimedia display that has nothing to envy to other major sporting events and the stages can be seen live and free from the YouTube channel of the race.

As the race approaches we will be updating this article so that you have direct daily access to the live broadcast of each stage.

• March 17 - Prologue
• March 18 - Stage 1 08:30 – 12:30
• March 19 - Stage 2 08:30 – 12:30
• March 20 - Stage 3 07:30 – 12:30
• March 21 - Stage 4 07:30 – 12:30
• March 22 - Stage 5 07:30 – 12:30
• March 23 - Stage 6 07:30 – 12:30
• March 24 - Grand Finale 07:30 – 12:30 WATCH LIVE

 

2024 Absa Cape Epic Route

Prologue Stage - Sunday, March 17 

• Sunday, March 17
• Distance: 26 km |Elevation gain:  1050 m
• Start & Finish: Lourensford Wine Estate

The race starts with the classic time trial of the Prologue, a 26 km stage that this year increases in elevation gain and could make important differences from the first day.

Stage 1 - Monday, March 18

• Monday, March 18
• Distance: 90 km | Elevation gain: 2450 m
• Start & Finish: Saronsberg

The organization warns that stage 1, which runs on trails and roads new to the race, will be one of the hardest of the event and therefore decisive. On the last climb, big differences can be made if any of the favorite teams arrives touched there.

Stage 2 - Tuesday, March 19

• Tuesday, March 19
• Distance: 93 km | Elevation gain: 2200 m
• Start & Finish: Saronsberg

Stage 3 - Wednesday, March 20

• Wednesday, March 20
• Distance: 94 km | Elevation gain: 2100 m
• Start: Saronsberg - Finish: Wellington

Stage 3 will have long stretches of asphalt that the more experienced riders could take advantage of to punish the rest, but in principle it is a transition day towards the queen stage.

Stage 4 - Thursday, March 21

• Thursday, March 21
• Distance: 88 km | Elevation gain: 3000 m
• Start & Finish: Wellington

For the 20th anniversary of the race, the organizers have chosen the fifth day to place the queen stage. A day of 88 km with 3000m of elevation gain that ranks as the stage with the highest elevation gain in the history of the Absa Cape Epic.

Stage 5 - Friday, March 22

• Friday, March 22
• Distance: 70 km | Elevation gain: 1750 m
• Start & Finish: Wellington

The organization describes stage 5 as a rare and fun, a loop full of trails created by wildlife where participants can continue to enjoy the best of the Absa Cape Epic.

Stage 6 - Saturday, March 23

• Saturday, March 26
• Distance: 87 km | Elevation gain: 2300 m
• Start & Finish: Stellenbosch

The penultimate stage will surely be remembered by the participants for its continuous climbs and descents. A day that is expected to be hard and in which the favorites will surely still have chances to compete for the general classification.

Stage 7 - Sunday, March 27

• Sunday, March 27
• Distance: 65 km | Elevation gain: 2000 m
• Start & Finish: Stellenbosch

The Cape Epic is characterized by not offering easy last stages and its 20th anniversary was not going to be less. Something that we have been grateful for a couple of editions since they have allowed us to maintain the excitement until the finish line of the last day.

It is true that the Cape Epic is a race that is highly valued by the fans, but we could also say that the last two editions have been one of those that create fans. The level of participants and the success of the routes have made us live a new race almost every stage and all we ask for the 20th anniversary is that history repeats itself.

 

Favorites to win

Less than a week before the start of the Cape Epic 2024, the names of the most prominent participants of the edition have been revealed. As expected, the lineup of favorites is headed by top riders who will pedal with the intention of inscribing their names in one of the most spectacular races of the season.

Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini will leave their respective teams to join forces under the umbrella of the World Bicycle Relief charity. Schurter has won nine stages and conquered the race twice; Fini has only one Cape Epic under his belt, but he's both excited and excited to share a goal with a legend who "I've admired for many years".

The Orbea Leatt Speed Company will be back in the saddle with Georg Egger and Lukas Baum. The magical story of these riders with an offensive and uncomplicated style brought them glory in a 2022 edition to remember. After being less fortunate last year, they are back again with renewed strength and ready to fight to the end.

Matt Beers and Howard Groots will be another of the main attractions, who in their case will try to return Specialized to the top of the podium. The outstanding résumé - Beers has won twice and Groots once - is the best letter of introduction for a course that could adapt quite well to Groots' conditions.

In the women's category, the presence of Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill stands out above the rest. The current XCM champion and runner-up will be the rivals to beat. Lill has a long track record in the event, although, despite having signed portentous performances, the final victory has eluded her; Mitterwallner will barely make her debut, although this circumstance should not detract from the options of the most favored pair of all.

In front of them will be the Ghost Factory Racing of Anne Terpstra and Nicole Keller. Both riders lack race experience and while they admit that the Cape Epic will be more part of the preparation for the decisive moment of the season, they also say they are hungry to compete and do well. "We will be a team to be reckoned with throughout the race," Terpstra said.

Another heavyweight will be the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne of Sofía Gómez Villafañe -winner in 2022- and Samara Sheppard. With no presence in the Paris Olympics, both riders have joined paths in a season in which they will focus on XCM races and in which they will have in the Cape Epic the first big challenge.

For more information, please visit www.epic-series.com