David Valero debuts the Orbea Oiz and gear for the Cape Epic 2026

On Sunday, March 15, a new edition of the Absa Cape Epic will kick off, and one of the couples starting among the favorites will be the one formed by the Spaniard David Valero and the Swiss Marc Stutzmann. The duo from Klimatiza Orbea will face the South African race debuting a custom Orbea Oiz and a completely personalized outfit for the occasion, with an aesthetic very different from the team's usual style.

David Valero debuts bike and gear for Cape Epic 2026

The best Spanish XCO cyclist of the last decade made an important decision last season when he announced that he was leaving the Olympic discipline to fully focus on long-distance races and stage events in XCM. A transition that, far from being an uncertain bet, seemed logical in his sports career.

Valero was not arriving as a debutant to this type of event. His record already included a bronze medal at the XCM World Championship and several victories in some of the most important stage races on the international calendar. However, his full dedication to this modality has quickly yielded visible results.

The 2026 season has also meant a structural change for the Granadian cyclist, who has joined Klimatiza Orbea, a team specialized precisely in this type of long-distance competitions. The start of the campaign could not have been more promising: victory at the Mediterranean Epic, a podium finish in his first World Cup XCM event, and triumph at the Andalucía Bike Race alongside his teammate Marc Stutzmann.

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With this recent background, both now arrive at the Cape Epic as one of the strongest pairs to fight for the podium, and even for victory, in one of the most demanding stage races on the MTB calendar.

A special aesthetic for the most media-covered XCM race

For the South African event, the Klimatiza Orbea Team has decided to present a special aesthetic, moving away from the usual blue color that characterizes the team during the season. Both the bike and the gear have been specifically developed for the Cape Epic thanks to the collaboration between Orbea, Gobik, and the team itself.

Valero's Orbea Oiz, customized through the MyO program, features a very striking combination: most of the frame appears in an elegant glossy white that contrasts with the fluorescent pink of the stays and the linkage. A design that will not go unnoticed on the South African trails.

Moreover, the setup reflects the highest technological level of the team. Klimatiza Orbea works with SRAM and RockShox as technical partners, so Valero will compete with the complete Flight Attendant electronic suspension system, which includes fork, shock, and dropper post.

The setup is completed with the SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS group, SRAM Motive Ultimate Expert brakes, and some of the latest components introduced by Orbea in its Oiz model, such as the integrated OC MP10 Carbon Cockpit handlebar and Oquo MP30LTD wheels.

The Klimatiza Orbea Team faces the Cape Epic 2026 with a lineup that combines experience and competitive youth. The pair formed by David Valero and Marc Stutzmann will be one of the team's main assets for the overall classification, while Samuele Porro and Luis Martínez will also seek prominence stage after stage.

With a very solid start to the season and specific preparation for this type of event, Valero and Stutzmann arrive in South Africa with the ambition to fight for the highest positions in what is considered the “Tour de France of MTB.”

David Valero's Orbea Oiz setup (Cape Epic 2026)

• Frame: Orbea Oiz 25 OMX
• Integrated handlebar: OC MP10 Carbon Cockpit
• Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant (Ride Dynamics 3 positions)
• Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate Flight Attendant
• Dropper post: RockShox Reverb AXS
• Saddle: Selle Italia SLR
• Grips: Customized by Gobik
• Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate Expert
• Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS
• Pedals: Time Atac
• Wheels: Oquo MP30LTD
• Tires: Pirelli Scorpion XC RC