Cape Epic 2024 unveils 20th anniversary route

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.

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.

Cape Epic offers 20 more entries for the 2024 edition for sale

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the race, the organization has extended the number of registrations by 20 more participations that have been put on sale today September 14, 2023. So it means a new opportunity for those who had been left without a race bib, although it will be necessary to be very fast.

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