cycling: Cape Epic 2019: The route and stages in detail

The start of the Cape Epic 2019 could hardly be more appropriate than with the short and crisp prologue up to the famous Table Mountain above Cape Town. A few quite demanding climbs on the way will cause the first beads of sweat and will hopefully give the drivers an opportunity to shake off the initial nervousness. The corresponding calm is then required on the trail section back to Cape Town, where the main thing is to avoid unnecessary falls.

The full potential of the drivers is demanded from the first stage of the race. The longest stage of this year's Cape Epic awaits and with a total of 2.700 meters in altitude and countless steep climbs, it is also one of the most demanding. It's especially difficult for those in the field who haven't had the opportunity to build up their form so early in the season - if you don't get on well here you can lose a lot of time on the competition. So there should be excitement right from the start.

One is tempted to narrow stage two down to the tricky Wildekrans Tokoloshe climb, which should see riders rack up 6+ climbs in less than 500km and pump lactate into their thighs. But even before this climb in the last third of the day, some difficulties have to be overcome. The riders should have gotten used to the sweltering heat and dusty conditions by now, but the constant ups and downs should start to take a toll on some riders.

As in almost every one of the 16 editions of the Cape Epic so far, the infamous Groenlandberg is of course on the program again in 2019. The way up to the highest point of this year's race starts a little more than 25km after the start and should cause some time gaps - even for the big racing favorites. However, those who have already missed their powder here should have a hard time on the remaining 65km. Above all, the immediately following technical ascent to Die Nek requires full concentration again.

The slightly more than 40 km long time trial at the halfway point of this year's Cape Epics will cause burning thighs, because even without significant climbs, the starters collect a whopping 1.000 vertical meters on the undulating terrain criss-crossed by single trails. The fact that after crossing the finish line there are still a few hours left for regeneration, a massage, etc., should be just right after the strenuous last few days and the upcoming king's stage. For those competing for the overall standings, however, the time trial is, as every year, both an opportunity and a risk – no mistakes!

Time for the Cape Epic Queen Stage 2019! With almost 3.000 meters in altitude over just 100km, it is not too unlikely that the overall victory will be (preliminarily) decided today at the latest. The high proportion of trails demands full concentration, even when your pulse is at your limit and your thighs are burning. Speaking of thighs: The Kings Climb is another brutal test in the last third of the day, which is followed directly by the tricky Helderberg Trails.

Trail fireworks await the riders on the penultimate day of this year's Epic. The route planners have chosen the most beautiful sections around the MTB Eldorado of Stellenbosch. Anyone who doesn't ski for every second can have a lot of fun here today - for everyone else it's once again about full concentration and not risking any unnecessary falls. A classic "here the race can not be won but lost" stage.

On the final 70km to Val de Vie, there could still be decisive shifts in the overall ranking. While the stage doesn't have any monstrous climbs or breakneck trails, there are still plenty of opportunities for attacks before it flattens out with 15km to go and every single starter can be proud of having brought the 2019 Epic to the finish.