2
BULLS LEGENDS
2019
BULLS HEROES
2019
280-2
KARL
PLATT
6
280-2
ALBAN
LAKATA
URS
HUBER
SIMON
STIEBJAHN
Age: 41
Epics completed: 14
Stage wins: 17 Age: 39
Epics completed: 9
Stage wins: 3 Age: 33
Epics completed: 8
Stage wins: 5 Age: 28
Epics completed: 6
Stage wins: 0
BEST RESULT
1st (2004, 2007, 2009,
2010, 2016)
2015 XCM German champion BEST RESULT
2nd (2015)
4 x XCM world
champion BEST RESULT
1st (2016)
2016 XCM Swiss
champion BEST RESULT
3rd (2014)
2012 U23 XCM
European champion
T
he race favourites are all too familiar with the big names who’ll challenge them in 2019. However, several of
2019’s team combos come in diff erent forms. Most notable are the Bulls – a new pairing sees fi ve-time Cape
Epic winner Karl Platt race with none other than Alban Lakata, second in 2018. The two are certainly not
strangers, having gone head-to-head at the race for over a decade. They know each other well, and where master
tactician Platt may have used Lakata’s weaknesses against him in the past, he’ll know how to harness the raw power
that carried the Austrian to three marathon world titles. Could this be his last try for a record sixth win? For the last
two years, we haven’t seen the form that carried Platt to a convincing 2016 victory. The Bulls’ best bet is to hold true
to the tactic that served them well. Keep a high rhythm and wait for others to make a mistake. Ever-evolving, the Bulls
seem to have a diff erent take on the back-up team concept, preferring to fi eld two super-strong teams to hedge their
bets, with Platt’s six-time partner Urs Huber pairing with Simon Stiebjahn. The German is a worthy partner to the 2016
champ, considering he too has a podium spot to his name. It makes for a stealthy two-pronged tactic to keep rivals
guessing. Both teams have back-up from the young, yet fast-maturing duo of Martin Frey and Simon Schneller.
SUPPORT TE AM
5 MINUTES WITH KARL & ALBAN
Karl, in 2017 you were
gutted by a lack of form
and surprised by Nino’s
fast starts and speed. You
need one more win to be
the greatest Epic rider
ever. Is Alban the only
change or is there more
to your strategy? You’re
right, after my 2016 win, I
lost control of my prep and
overcooked it a bit in the
training! I was too fi t, too
early with not much left
for the race. Even with so
much experience you can
make mistakes. Alban and
I understand each other
very well. Motivation is a
big factor. We know how
the game works and we’ve
done our homework.
Alban, you’re the greatest
Epic rider to not win
the world’s greatest
stage race. You’ve come
so close, so often. Is
partnering with Karl your
hope of breaking the
top-step voodoo? Which
year did you feel closest
to winning and why? Karl
and I have very similar
strengths and a matching
race attitude. He is Mr
Stage Race, and I believe
he is the missing piece
of my Cape Epic puzzle.
In 2018 I was probably in
my best shape ever. After
a bad start, with Kristian
Hynek’s stomach issues,
we still managed to fi nish
second in the end.
17
BULLS YOUNGSTERS
2019
280-2
MARTIN FREY
Age: 25
Epics completed: 0
BEST RESULT
14th (2018)
SIMON
SCHNELLER
Age: 21
Epics completed: 1
Stage wins: 0
BEST RESULT
14th (2018)
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 47