While two South Africans have won the Absa Cape Epic overall title, it has never been claimed by an all-South African men’s team. Could that change at the 2026 edition, which runs from 15–22 March? It just might. Here’s why…
By Sean Badenhorst
First Burry Stander (2011 and 2012) and later Matt Beers (2021, 2023 and 2024) secured South Africa’s ultimate prize in marathon mountain bike racing: victory at the Absa Cape Epic. But they achieved those wins alongside international teammates – Stander with Christoph Sauser (SUI), and Beers with Jordan Sarrou (FRA), Christopher Blevins (USA)and Howard Grotts (USA).
The best result by an all-South African men’s team remains second place, achieved by Kevin Evans and David Georgein 2012. Since then, the closest a local pairing has come was Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje’s third-place finish last year.
This year, however, circumstances may create the opportunity for history.
The strongest rider in the 2026 start field, Beers, lost his American teammate Keegan Swenson to injury just three weeks before the race. Within the global Specialized Bicycles stable, viable Plan B options were limited. Blevins ended 2025 as the world’s No.1 XCO/XCC racer and appears set to focus on shorter cross-country formats again this year, while Grotts has largely been sidelined from elite racing as he continues recovering from a life-threatening crash in 2024. Beers’s new teammate in the Specialized Off-Road squad, Mads Wurtz Schmidt (DEN), is a gravel specialist with a strong road racing pedigree.
Following their impressive third-place overall and a stage victory at last year’s race, Joubert and Nortje were obvious candidates when Beers began considering alternative partners for his quest for a fourth Cape Epic victory. And while it’s unfortunate to break up the established Joubert–Nortje pairing, in elite racing it’s business rather than personal. For 2026, Beers will team up with Nortje.
Nortje has steadily developed into a classy endurance racer, and his consistency has been impressive. So far in 2026 he finished fifth at Attakwas Extreme after chasing back from a significant mechanical issue, and second at the Big 5 MTB Challenge, where he broke the previous course record. He and Joubert also won the relatively short Stage 1 of Tankwa Trek before being forced to withdraw after a buck collided with Joubert during Stage 2, causing injuries serious enough to end their race.
If Nortje has a particular strength, it is climbing. But with an XCO racing background, he is also a well-rounded rider. Beers, meanwhile, is a watt-producing powerhouse capable of riding almost anyone off his wheel. Over the eight-day race he will likely need to combine his immense power with experience and tactical finesse to guide the team through the event.
Local knowledge also plays a role in the modern Absa Cape Epic. In recent years the race has featured a much higher proportion of singletrack than the pre-2020 editions, and both Nortje and Beers will have that advantage in their arsenal – along with enthusiastic trailside support from South African fans.
They will also have the support of two additional teams within the Toyota Specialized Imbuko camp: Marco Joubert and Travis Stedman, as well as Lood Goosen and Jaedon Terlouw. Joubert and Stedman are strong top-10 contenders themselves and should not be too far back should their teammates need assistance during the race.
We asked Nortje a few questions ahead of the event.
There is obviously increased pressure that comes with teaming up with Matt Beers. Are you managing that okay?
Yes, there is definitely more pressure on me now – riding with a three-time winner. And he’s Matt Beers, who the whole world knows is an absolute beast on a bike! But ultimately, the pressure you feel is what you allow yourself to feel. I’ve done the training, I know the race, and I’m going to try to enjoy it.
What do you feel might be your biggest challenge as a team?
Matt and I were teammates for two years previously. We trained and raced together a lot, including stage races, and we’re good friends off the bike too. I think the biggest challenge will be finding our rhythm again. It’s been two years since we last raced together in a stage race, so that might take a bit of adjustment.
You’ve obviously analysed the route. Which stages do you feel suit you best?
We’ve done some route recces in Montagu, Greyton and Stellenbosch, so we’re very aware of the gradients and terrain. I think Stages 4 and 5 are going to be big days – more typical of the old Cape Epic stages, which are really long. Personally, the longer the stages the better. But it’s the Cape Epic: you need to stay composed and consistent every day. You have to take it one day at a time. It’s hard to target specific stages because you don’t know how you’ll be feeling when you get there.
Are you confident you can challenge for the overall win?
Matt has won it three times, and this will be my sixth Cape Epic, so I know what to expect. Marco and I raced well last year – we were right up front – and that gave me a lot of confidence. This year the preparation has been good. Everyone lining up will be strong; nobody arrives here without being in peak form. Every race I start, I want to win, but I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. I’ll do what I can and hopefully hang on to the Beers Express!
Besides the three Toyota Specialized Imbuko teams, other all-South African pairings with top-10 potential this year include Wessel Botha and Johan van Zyl (Insect Science Safari Essence), Philip Buys and Michael Foster (Ford Prime Bunch), and Arno du Toit and Jan Withaar (Insect Science).
South African Marathon Champion Marc Pritzen will also contest the race alongside his Swiss Honeycomb 22ers teammate Felix Stehli, making them another strong top-10 overall contender.
The 2026 Absa Cape Epic begins on Sunday, 15 March, and covers 692km with 15 900m of climbing. It starts with a Prologue at Meerendal before moving through Montagu and Greyton, and finishes in Stellenbosch.
Here’s a detailed summary of the route.
