Mountain Bike Magazine MTB Autumn 2019 | Página 105

The noisiest pair in the category – if
not the entire fi eld – will surely be
the irrepressible José Hermida and
his Spanish countryman and former
road professional Joaquim Rodríguez
(Bahrain Merida). Hermida has a long
Absa Cape Epic pedigree and once
fi nished fourth overall. If the colourful
Spaniard and Rodríguez are on form
they have the fi repower to win the
category. In 2017, when still racing for
the overall win, they fi nished 18th in
the men’s category.
Message from Dimension Data
Thank you to the Absa Cape Epic for once again aff ording
us the opportunity to be their technology partner at this
year’s race. The Absa Cape Epic is an important leg of our
global focus on cycling sponsorships – which includes the
Tour de France, Team Dimension Data riding for Qhubeka
and various other races on the WorldTour calendar. These
sponsorships are an opportunity for us to demonstrate
our technology solutions and push ourselves to deliver
a world-class digital solution to the public, the riders,
the fans and the event organisers, in some of the most remote, rugged and
beautiful parts of the world. We expect that the 2019 Absa Cape Epic will be
tough, for everyone involved, but we are up for the challenge. As you embark
on this exciting journey, remember that tough moments don’t last, but
#toughteamsdo. Good luck and we will see you at the fi nish line.
WINNING
MASTERS TROPHY
Hailing from Montagu, sculptor
Willie Bester fi rst showed his
artistic talent at 10 years old
when designing elaborate wire
cars. Bester, whose work has
demonstrated expressions of
the struggle for freedom in
South Africa, is an internationally
renowned artist with a reputation
for his innovative use of a vast
array of materials found in
scrapyards and around. He’s
taken his inspiration for the
Masters trophy from Picasso, the
legendary Spanish artist. Bester
has breathed new life into a
humble bicycle saddle, bestowing
it with character and strength,
embracing the untamed ethos of
the Absa Cape Epic.
ALBI VAN ZYL
Dimension Data Middle East and Africa Sales and Marketing Executive
Sakkie and Hannes Hanekom
The strongest South African challenge may come from brothers Sakkie and
Hannes Hanekom (Team Giant Masters). Both have fi nished in the overall Absa
Cape Epic Top 20 and Sakkie qualifi es to race Masters for the fi rst time this year.
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 105