As the Official Vehicle Partner, Mixed Category Sponsor and Official Route Partner of the world’s premier mountain bike stage race, Toyota South Africa Motors’ (TSAM) continued partnership with the ABSA Cape Epic signifies our commitment to endurance cycling.
One of the reasons the ABSA Cape Epic is a highlight for every mountain biker, whether amateur or professional, is because it’s the only eight-day mountain bike stage race classed as “hors catégorie” by the Union Cycliste Internationale. 680 two-person teams must race through 700 kilometres of untamed, unspoilt scenery and up 16 000m of vertical ascents.
Every ABSA Cape Epic edition follows a different route, where riders must traverse across varying terrain, with dusty and demanding gravel roads, gruelling rocky climbs, exhilarating technical descents, fast forest singletracks, and invigorating river crossings. Toyota is driving the route to new heights for 2024 with challenges and rewards aplenty, in the form of scintillating singletracks and daily Toyota Tough sections.
The Land Cruiser, celebrated for its robust strength and refined luxury, is the chosen vehicle to transport guests of the ABSA Cape Epic Luxury Route Tours. There will also be Toyota SA Urban Trax activations at the world’s most televised mountain bike race, to ignite spectators’ senses.
“The ABSA Cape Epic’s iconic, challenging, and breath-taking routes through the Western Cape echo Toyota’s dedication to off-road adventures. We’re honoured to fulfil our commitment to excellence in every aspect of this remarkable event,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President for Marketing at TSAM.
In the upcoming race, the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne men’s and women’s teams, Toyota-Songo-NinetyOne team, Toyota Gazoo Mixed team, and Women’s Grand Masters team will all be riding to bring home medals.
Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne Team:
Matthew Beers & Howard Grotts (Men’s Team 1)
Alex Miller & Johan van Zyl (Men’s Team 2)
Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Women’s Team)
Toyota-Songo-NinetyOne Team:
Ntlantla Nonkasa and Zizo Tshingana
Toyota Gazoo Mixed Team:
Riaan Weideman & Samantha Sanders
Female Grand Masters Team:
Hanlie Booyens & Michelle Lombardi