SPIN CYCLE: Karl Platt leads the field during last year’s Cape Epic. The German, with his partner Urs Huber, are favourites for a podium finish this year. Picture: SPORTZPICS
SPIN CYCLE: Karl Platt leads the field during last year’s Cape Epic. The German, with his partner Urs Huber, are favourites for a podium finish this year. Picture: SPORTZPICS

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THE 2016 Absa Cape Epic starting on Sunday is shaping up to be one of the most closely contested in years after the retirement of five-time winner Christoph Sauser.

The Swiss mountain biking legend’s exit from the professional ranks leaves two combinations as clear favourites: Team Bulls’s German/Swiss combination of Karl Platt and Urs Huber and the Topeak Ergon pairing of Austrian Alban Lakata and Czech Kristian Hynek.

Platt has won the Epic four times and is determined to draw level with Sauser’s record, while Lakata has finished sixth, fifth, fourth, third and second, but has yet to stand on the top of the podium.

The Austrian is the reigning marathon world champion and is now determined to add the Epic to his long list of successes.

There are, however, a number of other riders who will be eyeing the podium. New to the Epic are Greece’s Periklis Ilias and Portuguese champion Tiago Ferreira (Dolomiti Superbike), who both have outstanding records in marathon racing and recently won the six-day Andalucia Bike Race in Spain.

Three South African combinations will also have ambitions beyond winning the Absa African special jersey for the first team from the continent to finish.

Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock (USN Purefit), Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck (NAD Pro MTB) and James Reid and Gert Heyns (Team Spur) have the potential to upset the European domination of the event.

Reid and Heyns will, however, have to overcome being thrown together at the last minute after their scheduled teammates had to pull out after, respectively, breaking ribs and falling ill.

In spite of his retirement, Sauser will be in the field this year, riding with Stellenbosch youngster Sipho Madolo.

In the women’s category Ariane Kleinhans of Switzerland and Annika Langvad of Denmark (Team Spur-Specialized) will be aiming for a third successive victory and will start the race as clear favourites.

But England’s Sally Bigham, herself a former winner, and German Adel Morath (Topeak Ergon) have signalled their desire to win this year and will provide a stern challenge.

Also in the field, and with the pedigree to surprise anybody, are German Sabine Spitz, a former Olympic gold medallist, and her young partner Yana Belomoina of the Ukraine (Team Sport for Good).

South African hopes will lie with national marathon champion Robyn de Groot and her partner, Swede Jennie Stenerhag (Ascendis Health), who finished second to the Langvad/Kleinhans combination last year.

The race starts with a Prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate on Sunday. It is followed by seven stages which take riders to Tulbagh, Wellington and Stellenbosch before the finish at Meerendal on March 20.