Nino Schurter to have a crack at the Cape Epic

Benjamin Haworth

Olympic and World Champ heading to Africa

Schurter has actually ridden in the Absa Cape Epic before but that was just for World Cup training but for 2017 he’s aiming to win it.

Nino Schurter has won everything there is to win in traditional XC racing. Multiple World Cups series, three World Championships and as of this year he’s the Olympic champion as well.

He will be riding the Absa Cape Epic with fellow Swiss mountain biker Matthias Stirnemann for Scott-Odlo MTB Racing Team. 24 year old Stirnemann is widely regarded as a future star of XC racing.

>>> The story behind THAT Nino Schurter photo

Stirnemann and Schurter recently finished 3rd in the multi-day Swiss Epic. They were up against some of the riders that will also be at the Cape Epic next year.

Absa Cape Epic 2014 Stage 6 Elgin

Schurter said: “Next year is going to be a test for us. Matthias, Andri and Michiel have never ridden the Cape Epic before. If we succeed, it’s maybe a goal for the coming years.

“After an amazing year of winning the World Champion title and the Olympic Games I am looking forward to a new challenge and I want to compete in the Cape Epic after a two-year break, I’m really looking forward to coming back to the Western Cape… I really love the place and especially the trails and how all the mountain bike places are developing there.”

What is the Cape Epic?

  • Annual mountain bike 8 day stage race held in the Western Cape, South Africa.
  • Rated beyond categorisation by the UCI.
  • Typically covers more than 700 kilometres (435 miles)
  • Racers compete in teas of two.
  • Bart Brentjens described it as the “Tour de France of mountain biking”.