Wednesday, 31st January 2007 at 9:28 pm

Eight days of madness

March 24 is scribbled down in most sporting diaries as the South Africa-Australia clash in the Cricket World Cup; greater solace may be found in Knysna, however, where the Absa Cape Epic gets underway for the fourth year. And judging by Wednesday’s media launch, we’re in for a cracker of an event. Defending champion Christoph Sauser is back, former downhill World Champion Greg Minaar is making his second appearance, and the 2007 field boasts 40 World Cup victories amongst the top riders.

The elite riders are only part of a field of over 1 000 cyclists; the majority are wild-eyed amateurs who’ve spent the last couple of months training ridiculous hours, riding endless distances, and preparing for one of the toughest challenges in sport. Over the eight days, the course climbs 16 000 metres (roughly two Mt. Everests), and given that there’s plenty of riding to be done through the Little Karoo, expect the heat to add further to an already considerable test.

It’s a test Feverpitcher will be following closely, as part of the bicycling caravan that will wind its way from Knysna to Lourensford Estate, where this year’s race finishes. The logistics involved have to be seen to be believed (mobile tented village for a thousand competitors, giant marquee for dinner and prize giving every evening for 1 200 people, complete support village erected in each new town to service tired riders and battered bikes…); drop in the Cape Epic site, check out the route, and if you’re in the area, swing by to experience South Africa’s most unique sporting challenge. You might find it more enjoyable than watching the cricket.

Visit the Cape Epic website.