This is what the 2027 Cape Epic will look like: more than 700 km and the highest point in its history

The Absa Cape Epic is starting to awaken for its upcoming edition, and we already know its route for 2027. The great South African stage race has presented a course of 701 kilometers and 17,150 meters of positive elevation, spread over a prologue and seven stages from March 21 to 28. The race will traverse three major regions of the Western Cape and will also reach the highest point ever crossed by the event in its history.

The Cape Epic 2027 exceeds 700 km and 17,000 meters of elevation

The 2027 edition will start at Lourensford Wine Estate, in Somerset West, with a prologue of 27 kilometers and 1,050 meters of elevation. From there, the race will travel to Ceres, continue to Saronsberg in Tulbagh, and face its final part in Wellington, where the ultimate finish line will be set at Imbuko Wines.

In total, there will be 701 km and 17,150 meters of accumulated ascent over eight days of competition. The route will link areas such as Eselfontein, the Witzenberg valleys, Swartland, and Riebeek Kasteel before reaching the trails of Wellington.

One of the major milestones will occur during the passage through Waboomsberg, in Ceres, where participants will reach the highest altitude recorded so far in a Cape Epic route.

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As was done in the previous edition, the organization has designed a specific route for the women's Elite category. Their race will total 576 km and 13,900 meters of positive elevation.

The longest stage arrives right at the start

After the prologue, the Cape Epic will dive straight into one of its most demanding days. The first stage will start and finish in Ceres and will feature 127 km and 2,450 meters of positive elevation, making it the longest day of the edition.

The second stage will remain in Ceres with 103 km and 2,050 meters, while the third will take the race to Saronsberg in Tulbagh, after 87 km and 2,250 meters of ascent.

There, the fourth stage will take place, another of the major mountain blocks of the route, with 96 km and 2,550 meters of positive elevation.

The Cliffhanger will decide the Queen Stage

The race will leave Tulbagh in the fifth stage to head towards Wellington. It will be 114 km and 2,350 meters of elevation to Imbuko Wines, the venue for the last two days of competition.

And it will be precisely in the penultimate stage where the greatest challenge of the entire Cape Epic 2027 will likely arrive.

The Stage 6 will be the Queen Stage, with 83 kilometers and no less than 3,100 meters of positive elevation. The route will include the famous Cliffhanger of Wellington, and the organization grants it the highest difficulty rating.

After seven days of wear and tear, there will still be one last stage of 64 km and 1,350 meters before crossing the final finish line at Imbuko Wines on March 28.

Complete route of the Absa Cape Epic 2027

The women's Elite category will have different routes in stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. In these, they will compete respectively 103, 83, 56, 64, and 65 kilometers, to complete a Cape Epic of 576 km and 13,900 meters of ascent.

The organization presents this route under the slogan “One Line That Changes Everything” and marks it as the beginning of a new stage for the event. Beyond this change of cycle, the numbers leave a Cape Epic recognizable for its demands with eight days, more than 700 kilometers, and a second half in which the terrain of Wellington and the 3,100 meters of the Queen Stage promise to keep the race open until practically the last day.