As the season comes to a close, we’ve compiled the most exciting moments and achievements from our teams and sponsored athletes. Whether you’re already preparing for off-season training or still competing in your final races, these stories will motivate you to aim for new goals. And what better way to start than with our second participation in the world’s toughest MTB marathon: the Cape Epic.
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Team Bike-Discount Northwave at the Cape Epic 2024
Earlier this year, we announced that our Purchasing Director, Björn Glasner, would return to the Absa Cape Epic in 2024, after a strong performance in 2023 with his teammate Hans-Jürgen Juretzek. This year, the duo competed in South Africa as Team Bike-Discount Northwave, with the additional support of the Italian brand, a strong partner of the event.
The race, spanning seven stages and covering 617 kilometers with 16,500 meters of climbing, is considered one of the toughest MTB marathon races in the world.
Pre-Race Setback
Preparation for the Absa Cape Epic 2024 was intense, with both athletes training hard throughout the winter. This included technical MTB sessions with our product manager, Luca Cramer, who also serves as a skilled coach at the Sturmvogel Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler cycling association. Unfortunately, just three weeks before the start, Björn had a road accident during training, breaking three bones in his left hand. However, giving up wasn’t an option for him. With a custom 3D-printed carbon wrist brace, he was able to take on the challenge.
Off to South Africa
The team brought all of their essential gear with them, including Muc-Off products for bike assembly and maintenance, Maxxis tires, and apparel from Northwave, Roeckl, 100%, and POC. Their bikes were safely transported in Evoc Bike Bags, ensuring their high-performance machines arrived in South Africa without any damage after the long flights. At the hotel, they reassembled their bikes and took a few days to acclimate to the hot, dry climate—an essential factor for success in such an intense race environment.
“We both opted for the 100% S3 glasses and decided to go with the photochromic lenses on-site. These were perfect for the constantly changing light conditions, from blazing sun to rather dark forest sections.” – Juri
For helmets, Björn and Juri chose the POC Ventral Air MIPS, which is intensively tested and used by the Road Bike World Tour Team EF Education-EasyPost.
“The helmet has excellent ventilation, which was extremely important in South Africa, and it fits snugly. The Ventral Air also has a perfect fit with the S3 glasses.” – Björn
Nutrition and Hydration Strategy: Powered by Maurten and USWE
Maurten – stomach-friendly power nutrition
Riding for up to six hours a day over challenging terrain takes a toll not only on the legs but on overall physical endurance. For the 2024 event, Björn and Juri relied entirely on Maurten products. Here’s what they had to say about their choice:
“Nutrition during an 8-day event like this is crucial. We were in the saddle for about 4.5 to 5.5 hours each day, constantly going up and downhill and riding over rocks and roots. Carbohydrates were essential, but eating a bar during the race was nearly impossible. It had to be quick, and taking your hands off the handlebars for too long or not holding the bars properly is not a good idea. Crashes during feeding are common, and for some riders, that meant an early end to the race.
That’s why we took in all of our carbs in liquid form. A quick gel or a sip from the bottle or hydration system was much safer. We used three types of gels: the 160 with 40g of carbs, the 100 with 25g, and a 100 with caffeine for the final push. These hydrogels are free from coloring, preservatives, and flavorings, making them easy on the stomach—a crucial factor during 8 days of physical stress.
In addition, we used the Drink Mix 320, the world’s highest-carb sports drink, delivering 80g of carbs per 500ml. These products ensured we always had the energy we needed to keep going.“
USWE – Staying hydrated without taking your hands off the bars
Proper hydration was just as important as nutrition, especially in the intense heat of the South African late summer. During such a technical and trail-heavy race like the Cape Epic, it was crucial to stay hydrated while riding without taking your hands off the handlebars. For that, Björn and Juri used the Outlander Pro Hydration Backpack from USWE.
“With so many trails and technical sections, it wasn’t always possible to reach for a bottle, but staying hydrated was essential. Just ten minutes without drinking could have serious consequences. The Outlander Pro is a super-light hydration backpack with a 2-liter reservoir, which allowed us to drink in any situation without taking our hands off the bars. That was a huge advantage.
The backpack also had a small compartment for tools or spare parts, and its elastic straps ensured a secure fit, improved breathability, and maximum freedom of movement. For each stage, we used two hydration packs per rider—starting with one, then switching to a second at a feed station. In some cases, we even made a third switch to ensure we had enough fluids to make it to the finish.
A tip from our experience in previous races: with a heart rate of 180, don’t try to remove the bladder to refill it during the race. It’s not easy to get it back in when you’ve got tools or spares in the bag. So, we always leave the bladder in the backpack 😉.”
The Bike
To ensure top performance, weight optimization, and reliability, Björn and Juri’s Mondraker F-Podium Carbon bikes were equipped with some of the best components from our assortment. This year, the duo switched from Shimano to SRAM components, including the XX SL Eagle 12-speed electronic transmission system, which provided precise and reliable shifting throughout the race. For suspension, they relied on the RockShox SID Ultimate Race Day fork and SIDLuxe Ultimate rear shock, delivering optimal control and responsiveness over the rugged Cape Epic terrain. Their setup was further enhanced by the RockShox Reverb electronic dropper post, which allowed quick adjustments on technical descents, and the Code Ultimate Stealth brake system, offering powerful and reliable braking. As in the previous year, they trusted the DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheelset.
“Stability and weight were important to us. In 2 years of Cape Epic, not a single dent in the rims—this shows the incredible quality of the wheels. With the 30mm rims, the 2.35 Maxxis tires had a nice, wide profile,” – Björn.
For tires, Björn and Juri chose Maxxis Icon and Ardent Race in 2.35 width.
“We didn’t have a single flat tire over the eight days. Both of us had tire inserts and used 200ml of sealant due to the many thorns. We varied the air pressure between 1.1 and 1.3 bar.” – Björn
The routes at the Cape Epic are perfectly signposted, so the duo opted for the smaller Garmin 840 Solar device this year.
“Last year, we hardly used the navigation on the Edge 1040 Solar, so the smaller display was more than enough for us. The fact that we didn’t have to charge the battery once in eight days is definitely one of the things that impressed us the most. Interestingly, Juri and I focus on completely different data being displayed. Juri rides almost exclusively by his wattage, while I just make sure my heart rate stays within my range.” – Björn
The Race
Despite a challenging start, Björn and Juri delivered a strong performance and positioned themselves well in the field. For Björn, the first stage was a real test for his injured hand, but he pushed through, relying on his years of professional experience and mental toughness.
The two seasoned veterans once again proved to be a perfect team this year, finishing in the Top Ten of the Masters category in several stages. After swearing off the Cape Epic following his first participation last year, Björn and his teammate were in much better spirits this time around and were already planning their next events.
In 2025, both riders will be eligible to compete in the Grand Masters category…