In a few days, I will roll up to the start line of the Absa Cape Epic 2026. One of the toughest and most iconic mountain bike stage races in the world.
But for me, this moment has been 4 years in the making.
Like most big dreams, the journey didn’t begin with a grand plan. It started with a quiet thought somewhere out on the trails, maybe one day I could do the Epic.
Over time that thought grew into a goal. Training rides became longer. Early mornings became routine. Stage races, endurance events, and countless hours in the saddle slowly built the foundation for something bigger.
But the road to the Epic was not a straight line for me.
The first time I was meant to take on this race, life had other plans. An ACL reconstruction stopped that dream in its tracks. Suddenly the focus shifted from racing to simply rebuilding. I had to learn to trust my body again, putting in the patient hours of rehab, and slowly finding my way back onto the bike.
Rehab takes a different kind of strength. The kind that asks for patience when all you want to do is ride. Month by month the progress came, and eventually the trails welcomed me back.
And then there were the good parts, the moments that remind you why this dream is worth chasing. Sunrise rides. Long days in the mountains. The quiet satisfaction of getting stronger, fitter, and a little more prepared for what the Epic demands.
This past December holiday looked a little different from most. While many people were resting, my days were filled with long training rides, stacking hours in the saddle under the summer sun. Those kms weren’t just about fitness, they were about preparing my body and mind for the challenge ahead.
But the journey took another turn I could never have imagined.
Just weeks ago, I lost my life partner, Dr Mark Oliver, in a tragic cycling accident. Mark was my adventure partner — the one who shared the climbs, the laughter, the stories from the saddle, and the endless love for the outdoors.
Losing him has been the hardest challenge of all. And yet, somehow, riding my bike still feels like one of the places I can feel closest to him. The trails hold so many memories of our adventures together.
Now, as the start line approaches, the nerves are real.
The Absa Cape Epic is known for testing everything, your legs, your mind, your resilience, and your partnership. Eight days. Hundreds of kilometers. Thousands of meters of climbing. Heat, dust, fatigue, and the unknown.
But after 4 years of dreaming, setbacks, rebuilding, relentless training, and facing life’s most difficult moments, I will finally roll onto that start line. Not just as a rider chasing a race, but as someone who understands how much the journey itself means.
Michelle and her Absa Cape Epic teammate, Zintle Gantsho
Getting to the start line is already part of the victory.
This journey was never just about the race itself. It was about resilience. About getting back up after setbacks. About the people who support me along the way.
And this one is for Mark.
Every pedal stroke will carry a piece of him with me.
