In marathon mountain bike racing there are few things as soul-destroying as a mechanical failure. Legs can be emptied and lungs burned raw, but when a snapped chain, fading brakes or failing suspension ends your race, there’s no riding through it. At the Absa Cape Epic – an event that demands months of preparation, sacrifice and singular focus – that disappointment cuts even deeper. It’s exactly why Rush Sports has committed to delivering full SRAM and RockShox support at the 2026 edition of the world’s premier mountain bike stage race.
Paid partnership with Rush Sports
BACKING THE BRANDS CHOSEN BY THE RIDERS
Walk through a Cape Epic race village and you’ll see it everywhere. The majority of bikes lining the start chute are running SRAM drivetrains and brakes. A significant portion – likely more than half the field – are rolling on RockShox suspension. That’s no coincidence.
According to TREAD Media’s annual South African Mountain Biking Survey, SRAM has been the country’s most popular mountain bike component brand since 2022, climbing from 43.34% market share in 2022 to 49.50% in 2025. RockShox leads the way in both shocks and suspension forks. At the Cape Epic specifically, those numbers are likely even higher, particularly since the introduction of RockShox’s intuitive Flight Attendant suspension system on major bike platforms from 2022 onwards.
As an official SRAM and RockShox distributor in South Africa, Rush Sports isn’t just observing that dominance. It’s stepping in to reinforce it. For the first time in many years, SRAM and RockShox will have a full-time, on-site presence throughout the Cape Epic. At a race that tests both rider and equipment to their absolute limits, that presence isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.
THE INVISIBLE ENGINE ROOM
Spectators see the dust, the heat, the rain. They see riders grinding through twisting singletrack and cresting mountain passes. What they don’t see is the immense support ecosystem that keeps the race moving.
In the rider recovery tents, soigneurs, masseuses and physiotherapists work daily to patch bodies back together. But arguably an even bigger operation happens around the bikes.
Bike shops from across South Africa sell pre-booked service packages to Epic entrants. Every afternoon and evening, mechanics clean, inspect, repair and rebuild machines that have just endured hours of punishment. Around 1 500 bikes are prepped each night. Lights burn late. Torque wrenches click into the early hours.
Modern mountain bikes are built for light weight, control and ruthless efficiency. They’re precision tools. When they falter, the solution requires expertise – and parts. That’s where Rush Sports steps in.
EXPERTISE AND INVENTORY – ON SITE
Rush Sports has committed two full-time staff members to the 2026 Cape Epic: Devon Katzen, SRAM Technical Service Manager, and Mpho Nxumalo, Warehouse Manager.
“Devon is the most experienced SRAM and RockShox technician in the country,” says Sam Bull, CEO of Rush Sports. “He will offer guidance and support for any technical issue that arises with SRAM or RockShox components. And Mpho will ensure that there is adequate stock of spare parts for SRAM and RockShox components on site at all times to resolve any service- or warranty-related issue that may arise.”
That combination – technical mastery and immediate parts availability – will significantly reduce the burden on independent bike shops and mechanics. Instead of hauling excessive backup stock to the Western Cape, service crews can draw what they need from the SRAM/RockShox base at the race.
“We’ll have a ton of brake pads on site in case the weather turns nasty,” Bull adds. “But also plenty of other stock to give both riders and technicians peace of mind that any problems experienced will be resolved speedily.”
The Rush Sports SRAM/RockShox support base will be positioned in the main Cape Epic race village, easily accessible for riders and mechanics operating from the adjacent Tweedekamp technical support village.
PEACE OF MIND
“SRAM will without a doubt be the dominant drivetrain brand at the Cape Epic this year,” says Bull. “RockShox is likely to be the dominant suspension brand. Being the world’s premier mountain bike stage race, it’s essential that we are there supporting the riders. Our mandate and objective is to ensure the SRAM rider has the backing to achieve his or her Cape Epic objective.”
That objective differs for every rider. For some, it’s a podium. For others, it’s simply the finish line on the final day.
Bull is quick to stress that preparation still begins at home. “After all the months of training, riders should have their bikes serviced at their local bike shop before the Cape Epic to be ready for the challenge that lies ahead. But they should find comfort in the fact that, in conjunction with all the technical support at the event, we are there to back them up during the race.”
At the Cape Epic, margins are thin. Weather turns. Trails bite back. Equipment takes a beating. With Rush Sports committing to full SRAM and RockShox support in 2026, riders running the most popular components in marathon mountain biking can line up knowing that, should something go wrong, the right people – and the right parts – are only a few steps away.
At a race where dreams are built over months and tested over eight brutal days, that kind of backing matters.
