Into The Wild
A sawtooth profile is exactly what riders do not want to see come the penultimate day of the Absa Cape Epic. Steep but mercifully short vineyard climbs start the day before the Wild Boar Rollercoaster provides singletrack thrills. District roads and farm dual tracks, through iconic wine farms, manage to avoid any serious climbs but the trail surface deteriorates sharply thereafter, demanding complete concentration. Upon exiting the reserve, the climbing begins in earnest.
The Python singletrack ascent adds another telling point of reference. Then the Wild Boar Trails are all about challenging thrills. Before the closing kilometres, riders will encounter True Grit, the stage’s fast but rocky Land Rover Technical Terrain. The Golden Mile then deposits riders into the farmlands surrounding Wellington and allows winding dual tracks to lead them home.
Technical Terrain
True Grit
Located 73km into Stage 6, True Grit is a trail that any who have ventured into the deep Wellington valley will be familiar with. At 1.5km long, this Land Rover Technical Terrain begins with a kick of 9% before dropping into descents that stare down the barrel of -15%. Fast, flowing, and littered with rocky sections, this section of trail requires True Grit from all who seek safe passage.
Once in the private reserve, the trail surface deteriorates sharply, demanding concentration while big game gallops alongside.
Sabine Spitz and Robyn De Groot navigate Wellington's trails during the Absa Cape Epic
Henrique Avancini leads Manuel Fumic down one of Wellington's limit-testing trails
Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts eventually held onto their yellow jerseys at the 2018 Absa Cape Epic
Cannondale Factory Racing during the 2018 Absa Cape Epic
Tshepo Tlou leads Lucky Mlangeni during the 2018 Absa Cape Epic
Raiza Goulao of PMRA/CST Racing at the 2018 Absa Cape Epic
