Following the withdrawal due to injury of Keegan Swenson recently, three-time winner, Matt Beers was left without a teammate for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. But that position has now been filled as team Toyota Specialized Imbuko names a six-rider squad.
Team Toyota Specialized Imbuko is ready to take on the 2026 Absa Cape Epic with three all-South African pairings determined to make their mark when the world’s most prestigious marathon stage race begins on 15 March 2026.
The eight-day test of endurance, strategy and strength will once again draw the sport’s strongest international field to the Western Cape.
For Toyota Specialized Imbuko, the goal is clear: race aggressively, build partnerships and earn the yellow leaders’ jersey.
A late reshuffle in the Elite Men’s lineup has added new impetus to the team’s campaign. Following the last-minute withdrawal of American star Keegan Swenson due to injury, three-time Cape Epic champion Matt Beers will now partner with Tristan Nortje in what promises to be one of the most exciting combinations in the race.
Beers brings invaluable experience and proven Epic pedigree, while Nortje adds explosive climbing ability and relentless work rate. The pairing blends composure with youthful ambition – a powerful formula for the brutal demands of the Cape Epic.
Marco Joubert and Travis Stedman form the team’s second pairing, a partnership built on endurance strength and racing intelligence. Both riders are seasoned marathon competitors capable of taking the racing head-on through the Epic’s long, attritional stages and seizing opportunities when they arise.
The third team sees rising star Jaedon Terlouw line up alongside the young and fearless Lood Goosen.
The duo represents the future of the Toyota Specialized Imbuko project, combining raw talent, hunger and developing stage-racing maturity.
Team owner Theunis van Zyl believes the team’s all-South African lineup reflects the depth of talent within the local scene and the collective ambition of the Toyota Specialized Imbuko project.
“The Cape Epic is the pinnacle of marathon stage racing, and we are incredibly proud to line up with three strong South African teams ready to give everything,” said Van Zyl. “It’s fantastic to see the riders pull together after the late change. We’re thrilled to continue our journey at the Epic and to compete for the sport’s most prestigious prize while proudly representing South Africa in our back yard.”
With the Meerendal prologue looming and eight days of brutal racing ahead, Team Toyota Specialized Imbuko arrives at the start line united, motivated and ready to write the next chapter in its Cape Epic story.
Source: Toyota Specialized Imbuko/Ray Cox
