"We're not here for 40 minutes": Gaze and Schwarzbauer do not hide their goals for the 2026 Cape Epic

The Absa Cape Epic 2026 will feature one of the most eye-catching pairs in the entire starting lineup, formed by New Zealander Samuel Gaze and German Luca Schwarzbauer. Two of the most explosive riders in current XCO who share Canyon as a sponsor and will face one of the biggest challenges on the MTB calendar together.

The explosive duo of Gaze and Schwarzbauer faces the Cape Epic with the goal of the overall

Their combination of talent and speed places them among the pairs that generate the most anticipation before the race begins. On paper, they start as strong favorites for victory, at least in the prologue, a time trial of approximately 20 kilometers that will open the event, but both make it clear that their ambition goes far beyond those first 40 minutes of competition.

“We are not here for 40 minutes, we are here for eight days”

Samuel Gaze acknowledges that the prologue format suits both his and his partner's characteristics, but insists that their approach to the Cape Epic is much more ambitious than just a single stage.

In recent statements, the New Zealander explained that, although that first effort may be favorable for them, the goal is to face it without adding unnecessary pressure at the start of the week.

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According to Gaze, the important thing will be to enter the race with as little tension as possible: “It’s no secret that the prologue really favors us due to our abilities. But we are not here for 40 minutes of racing, we are here for eight days.”

The rider also highlights that the Epic is usually divided into two very different phases, which affects the team's strategy. “As a professional rider, you know what to do at each moment, and it doesn’t make sense to think too far ahead. But it’s going to be a race with two big halves, and we hope to prepare well for the final weekend.”

With that in mind, Gaze hints that the team will prioritize consistency and control of fatigue in the early days before trying to make a difference in the second half of the race.

For Luca Schwarzbauer, the 2026 edition will mark his debut in the Cape Epic, a challenge very different from the XCO races in which he has established himself as one of the most explosive cyclists on the circuit.

The German recalled during the preview his connection to South Africa, which dates back to his first Junior World Championship in Pietermaritzburg in 2013. “My first World Championship as a junior was in Pietermaritzburg in 2013. It was something very special, and that’s why I even brought my parents with me.”

Schwarzbauer also recalled his subsequent participation in the Stellenbosch World Cup (on that occasion, Samuel Gaze himself beat Nino Schurter in a historic sprint), during a period that marked his return to the highest level after overcoming health issues.

Now he returns to the African country with a very different goal: to compete in one of the toughest stage races on the calendar.

Despite the enormous potential of the pair, Schwarzbauer is clear that the Cape Epic is often decided by managing fatigue and avoiding mistakes, especially during the first days. “There is still a long way to go, and we are fully aware of that. Avoiding mistakes is the number one key for the early stages.”

The German explains that the plan will be to stay solid at the start of the race and assess the situation when the second half of the week arrives. “Then we will see what happens in the second half and what can happen then.”

The duo of Gaze and Schwarzbauer fits perfectly into the profile of this Cape Epic 2026, a particularly open edition where no pair seems to have a clear advantage over the others.

On the starting line, there will also be very experienced teams in stage races like Matthew Beers and Tristan Nortje, the current number one bibs, as well as other strong combinations like David Valero and Marc Stutzmann, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto, or former champions Lukas Baum and Georg Egger.

 

 

 

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In such a competitive scenario, the team formed by Gaze and Schwarzbauer appears as one of the great unknowns of the race. Their explosiveness could make them protagonists from day one, but the big question will be how they adapt to the accumulated demands of eight consecutive days of competition.

If they manage to find the balance between speed and consistency, they could become one of the teams capable of fighting for the final victory in South Africa.