Multiple South African champion, Robyn de Groot, will tackle the 2017 Absa Cape Epic with German mountain bike racing legend, Sabine Spitz. The pair will race as Team Ascendis Health and will be gunning for the overall victory at the 14th edition of the race next March.
Spitz is a former XCO world champion and three-time Olympic medallist, winning bronze in 2004, gold in 2008 and silver in 2012. She has also won seven medals at the marathon world championships – one bronze, five silver and one gold. Spitz turns 45 this month and is eager to race for the overall women’s title at the Cape Epic after having finished second in 2016 with Ukranian teammate, Yana Belamoina.
Photo: Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
De Groot, South African marathon champion for four consecutive years, finished second in her first Cape Epic in 2015 (with Swedish teammate, Jennie Stenerhag) and finished the 2016 edition on her own after Stenerhag was forced to withdraw due to illness on Stage 4. They were lying a very close second at the time.
The partnership is undoubtedly a powerful one and establishes Team Ascendis Health among the favourites for the women’s 2017 Cape Epic title.
“It is great to be doing the Cape Epic with Robyn. I saw her at the 2016 Cape Epic race, where she was very strong. So I have a good feeling for next year. The most important thing at this race is to work as team, so we need to make sure of that as Team Ascendis Health because that will be new for both of us,” said Spitz from Cypress, where she is currently training.
“Of course our goal is to try and win the Cape Epic But in such a long race so many things can happen. We have both finished second overall and both won stages at the Cape Epic before, so it is possible. It will be a very big challenge but I am looking forward to it,” added Spitz.
Photo: Dino Lloyd
“It is an absolute honour to be lining up at the Epic with Sabine as my partner. She is a well-decorated mountain biker, having medalled at three Olympic games as well as having won multiple world championship titles,” said De Groot.
“But titles aside, Sabine has always attracted my attention due to the energy she carries. I’ve learned that at the Epic it’s not always about the team’s “accolades” on paper, but a combination of many aspects, which get you through the journey and race. In that way, I feel privileged to be getting this opportunity to race with Sabine,” added De Groot.
“As professional athletes one cannot deny the fact that we love competition, we love pushing our bodies to the limits and striving to achieve for the highest step on the podium. This will be the objective of the team at the Cape Epic. In saying that, I have, and always will, approach my mountain biking career with an innate drive to enjoy the journey along the way, maintaining balance and love for the sport while adopting a professional approach. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this happen – it was worth being patient,” said De Groot.
“The way Robyn raced the Epic this year I knew it was essential to find her
a very strong partner for a shot at the win in 2017,” said Malcolm Lange of Lange Sports, the company that owns Team Ascendis Health.
“Sabine obviously has the pedigree and, having raced the Cape Epic this year, has an understanding of what’s required to win it. I think Sabine will push Robyn to a different level, which is going to make for a strong team. Having said that, they will also need to gel well as teammates and of course hope that the race goes smoothly because as we all know, anything can happen in mountain biking,” added Lange.
Photo: Dino Lloyd
The 2017 Cape Epic will take place from 19–26 March.
