SUPPORT TEA M
TREK SELLE SAN MARCO
2019
TREK SELLE SAN MARCO 2
2019
280-2
DAMIANO
FERRARO
16
280-2
Age: 32
Epics completed: 3
Stage wins: 1 SAMUELE
PORRO Age: 30
Epics completed: 2
Stage wins: 2 FABIAN
RABENSTEINER MICHELE
CASAGRANDE
BEST RESULT
3rd (2016)
4th (2017) BEST RESULT
3rd (2016)
2 x XCM Italian
champion BEST RESULT
6th (2018)
3rd 2018 XCM European
Championships BEST RESULT
6th (2018)
2nd 2018 Roc D’Azur
A
ff ectionately known as “The Trekkies”, this
team are an ever-present force at the Absa
Cape Epic. They may not have big-hitter names
with majestic titles, but they’re never to be discounted,
regularly popping up on the podium. They’re a tight-knit
crew, all four similarly matched, and they vary the team
combos year by year, depending on form, to tweak the
mix. Last year saw Rabensteiner and Casagrande take the
prestigious Grand Finale stage at Val de Vie Estate. Though
Ferraro and Porro were the so-called primary team, the
second pairing was set free to make hay while the sun
shone. Unpredictability is their secret superpower.
Ferraro and Porro are issued with fi rst team status, but
given the nature of the Italian team, and the race itself,
don’t be surprised to see the back-up team take glory. All
the riders have won stages and all are capable of winning
more. Like with the Bulls, a dominant team is not as clearly
defi ned as in other camps, and they’ll play this to their
advantage, both tactically and when negotiating with
Lady Luck – a notoriously prickly mistress.
Age: 28
Epics completed: 3
Stage wins: 1
15
Age: 34
Epics completed: 1
Stage wins: 1
NAD MTB
2019
280-2
NICO BELL MATT BEERS
BEST RESULT
8th (2012, 2014)
2017 XCM SA champion BEST RESULT
15th (2018)
2018 Wines2Whales winner
Age: 35
Epics completed: 9
Stage wins: 0
T
Age: 25
Epics completed: 3
Stage wins: 0
he likely wearers of the red Absa African Jerseys
by the end of race week can be narrowed down
to two teams: Pyga Euro Steel, and this team.
Bell is an experienced campaigner, having ridden in
support of Sauser and Kulhavý, who named him “the
world’s fastest bike mechanic” after his ice-cool trailside
surgery saved Investec-Songo-Specialized’s race. A
comparatively youthful Beers gets stronger and more
consistent every year and is primed for the limelight.
In 2018 the pair had a slow start but halfway through
race week they were up front with the biggest names.
They have an eff ective blend of experience and muscle,
plus good team infrastructure. Now they just have to ride
economically and they’ll be Pyga’s biggest headache.
52 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
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