The Cape Epic can also be described as the Tour de France of mountain bike sports. Unfortunately we just got the news that the traditional race has to be canceled due to the widening corona pandemic. It should have started in South Africa on Sunday, but after the cancellation of some top teams and the current situation on the neighboring European continent, the organizers had to react.
Only this morning we received the news that the Specialized and the Ghost team will not take part in Cape Epic 2020 due to health concerns. Recently, several major mountain bike events such as the Downhill World Cup in Portugal, which was planned almost at the same time as the Cape Epic, the first two EWS stops in South America and the Sea Otter Festival in California had been postponed. It is no longer surprising that the most important MTB stage race is now falling victim to the spreading corona virus. Here is the message from the organizer:
Mediclinic, the event’s medical partner since the beginning, who also oversees many events in the Western Cape Province, supports this decision. The decision also has the full support of most of our sponsors – including our main sponsor, Absa.
The event was scheduled to start on Table Mountain on Sunday March 15th and end in Paarl on March 22nd after traveling to Ceres, Tulbagh and Wellington.
Race founder Kevin Vermaak says: “I took this step with a heavy heart, but the health and safety of everyone involved in the event must come first. At 6:00 p.m. today, we received formal government advice. ”
Kevin called on everyone involved to be patient, who will be contacted directly as to how to proceed.
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Info and pictures: Cape Epic press release
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