IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holding company, has announced that the recently acquired Absa Cape Epic has expanded its profile by securing the opening round of the 2018 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike (MTB) World Cup. The first leg of the UCI MTB World Cup will take place on the slopes of the Coetzenburg Mountain in Stellenbosch, South Africa on 10 March.
The Absa Cape Epic stage race, which is held one week later, attracts many of the world’s best mountain bikers to the Western Cape, and combined with this event will ‘bring more athletes, press and industry leaders than ever before’.
“This is great news for our sport and the region,” said Absa Cape Epic CEO Lynn Naudé. “These races are televised live to many countries around the world and attract significant media attention. The Western Cape has been positioning itself as a global mountain biking destination; and hosting the UCI MTB World Cup supports that vision.”
The UCI series attracts the crème de la crème of international cross country mountain biking and tens of thousands of spectators to its races around the world.
“Being able to secure the opening round of the UCI MTB World Cup in South Africa is another milestone in our endeavours to extend our portfolio,” added Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN. “We look forward to welcoming the best mountain bike athletes in Stellenbosch for the premier race of the UCI MTB World Cup 2017.”
Alan Winde, South Africa’s Minister of Economic Opportunities, also welcomed the news. “My aim is to ensure that the Western Cape becomes Africa’s premier cycling destination. Securing the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup opener is a major victory in this quest. By showcasing the beauty and sophistication of our trails, this event will stimulate international interest in our province as a bucket-list cycling destination. My hope is that cycle tourism becomes a major revenue and job creator for our region. We’re thrilled to be working with such excellent partners in executing this event.”
The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano consists of eight rounds around the world. Riders are given points based on their results, and at the end of the year the one with the most accumulated points is declared the winner. Four races will be held in their respective categories on 10 March – the men’s and women’s elite events and corresponding under-23 races. The races will be held eight days before the start of the Absa Cape Epic and the day before the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
“There are thousands of cyclists in the Western Cape at the time and we hope many will take the opportunity to watch the world’s best in action at Coetzenburg,” added Absa Cape Epic CEO Lynn Naudé.
Cross country races are held over several laps of a physically demanding course, which typically includes technical descents, forest track, rocky paths and natural obstacles. Circuits range from 4 to 10 kilometres each and racing varies from about 1 hour to 2 hours. The short nature of the courses typically mean exciting viewing for television and spectators.
The 2018 race will take place from the University of Stellenbosch onto the cross-country course on the Coetzenburg Mountain. A course already exists on the slopes and has hosted a national championship, but it will be upgraded by the Absa Cape Epic team. South Africa previously staged a UCI World Cup race in Pietermaritzburg in 2014. Stellenbosch has also been positioning itself as a mountain biking mecca and is a favourite stopover of foreign riders, some of whom stay there to train during the European winter.
Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch, Gesie van Deventer, looks forward to welcoming this event to the area. “As Mayor, I am very excited to have Stellenbosch host the opening leg of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2018. Stellenbosch is well known as a mountain biking destination in South Africa and this is our opportunity to become an international destination for the sport. We are looking forward to welcoming the visitors, participants and organizers to our region and to partner with them for an incredible world class experience. This is a significant boost to Stellenbosch and will have a knock on effect which will benefit our entire community.”
“The existing infrastructure is already there and is very spectator-friendly. We will be adding some world class elements,” continued Lynn Naudé. She pointed out that securing the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano round was aligned with Absa Cape Epic’s growth strategy as an event business “and we are naturally delighted to have secured such a prestigious race for the region”.
Naudè said the benefits for the region would include:
- Bringing the world’s best riders to a passionate South African mountain biking audience
- Showcasing the region as an ideal destination for major sporting events
- Promoting a cycling culture and all the health and economic benefits associated with it
The 2017 edition of Absa Cape Epic will take place from 19-26 March.
www.cape-epic.com
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