30 Stunning Images from the Absa Cape Epic

March 22, 2015 – After eight days, 465miles, and over 52,000feet of climbing, Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialized) won the 2015 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race in South Africa on Sunday. Their gap of 10 minutes and 41 seconds from Topeak Ergon’s Alban Lakata of Austria and Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic was enough to clinch the win and give the Swiss star, Sauser, his record setting fifth Cape Epic title. In the women’s race it was another Specialized duo, Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad, dominating the 2015 Absa Cape Epic with their intensity and world class ability.

peloton/Photos courtesy Cape Epic/Sportzpics

The Absa Cape Epic was founded in 2004 by Cape Town local, Kevin Vermaak, and shares a UCI ranking of ‘hor categorie’, like the three grand tours of road cycling. The race has a field of 1200 riders, all riding as two person teams, and features the best pros in the world alongside amateurs. Two man teams are used due to some of the incredibly remote terrain riders cover and the race has now become a tactical battle between the teams.

The Cape Epic has now grown into the most watched mountain bike race in the world, with a bigger audience than the UCI World Cup. A team of photographers swarmed over the race, from quiet moments in the huge tent village to soaring high above the race in multiple helicopters. The Absa Cape Epic shared the work of these talented photographers with peloton. Here are 30 examples of their stunning work.

For more from these great photographers or information on the race hit cape-epic.com

The race dates for 2016 have been announced, so grab an early bird spot now. The race sells out quickly every year!