Team 69: Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen will race together in the Cape Epic 2026

The Absa Cape Epic 2026 will feature one of the most eye-catching pairs in the international peloton. Jenny Rissveds, the current world champion in XCO with Canyon, and Simon Andreassen, former world champion in XCM and rider for the Orbea Fox Factory Team, will compete together for the first time in a race as a mixed team. The duo, who are also a couple in real life and got married last year, faces this adventure in South Africa as a unique sporting experience within their preparation for the World Cup season.

Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen will debut together as a couple in the Cape Epic 2026

The Cape Epic will take place from March 15 to 22 and will once again bring together some of the best mountain bike pairs in the world in South Africa. Considered the “Tour de France of MTB,” the event features eight days of competition covering 692 kilometers and approximately 15,900 meters of elevation gain. The race will start at Meerendal Wine Estate (Durbanville) and finish in Stellenbosch, passing through locations such as Montagu and Greyton, with particularly demanding stages like the third, the longest at 134 km, or the fifth, considered the queen stage with 128 km and 2,700 meters of positive elevation.

Rissveds and Andreassen have decided to include this stage race in their calendar as part of their preparation for the start of the World Cup, which will begin from May 1 to 3 in South Korea.

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Andreassen himself explained that the idea arose as a way to break away from the usual preseason routine.

“We thought it could be a good way to do something different in preparation for the season. Instead of doing the typical cross-country preparation, it seemed interesting to change things up a bit and compete in a stage race in the mixed category.”

The Dane also acknowledges that the Cape Epic offers a different competitive atmosphere compared to World Cup events.

“It’s not like competing in the World Cup. You don’t feel the same pressure to perform. You can enjoy the race more and soak up the atmosphere a bit more.”

The joint participation also has a very special component for both riders. Rissveds and Andreassen are a couple outside of competition and got married last year, so this Cape Epic will mark their debut as a team in an official race. The Swede expressed her excitement in the days leading up to the event in South Africa.

“It has been really good. We’ve done some great routes, the trails are very nice, and there’s great company, so I’m happy.”

She also made it clear that she is looking forward to the challenge of sharing the race with Andreassen. “It’s going to be exciting. I’m very happy with my choice of partner, so I’m going to enjoy it.”

 

 

 

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Accustomed to explosive efforts of around 80 minutes in XCO, facing eight consecutive long-distance stages will pose a different challenge even for two riders of their caliber. Beyond the sporting result, the Cape Epic will allow both to accumulate many hours of competition and adaptation to the race pace, a key aspect for the start of the international season.