52
SILVERBACK - FAIRTREE
2019
280-2
JENNIE
STENERHAG
51
WIAWIS / PRIMAFLOR
2019
280-2
MARISKE
STRAUSS
Age: 43
Epics completed: 4
Stage wins: 4 Age: 27
Epics completed: 4
Stage wins: 1
BEST RESULT
1st (2017)
2017 Swiss Epic winner BEST RESULT
2nd (2017)
2018 XCO South African
champion
T
SABINE
SPITZ
GITHA
MICHIELS
Age: 47
Epics completed: 3
Stage wins: 7 Age: 36
Epics completed: 0
Stage wins: 0
BEST RESULT
2nd (2016, 2018)
2008 Olympic champion BEST RESULT
2018 XCO Belgian
champion
S
pitz is a former world and national champ with a
full collection of Olympic medals (bronze 2004,
gold 2008, silver 2012). Very few athletes in the
world have a list of palmarès like hers, and the Absa Cape
Epic is the only title missing. She and Robyn de Groot
were the pre-race favourites in 2017 but she crashed badly,
losing signifi cant time on two stages, ultimately costing
them the victory. In 2018, the German/South African pair
rolled out a solid performance for second on GC.
This year De Groot is out with injury so Spitz pairs up
with Githa Michiels. The 2018 Belgian champ rode with
Ariane Lüthi last year and was highly determined to prove
her worth, riding herself to exhaustion in a sprint to the
line against Spitz and De Groot on Stage 2. Although the
pair posted great results early on, Michiels fell ill and had
to abandon on Stage 4. Knowing Michiels, it’ll add to her
motivation for 2019, and in mountain bike stage racing,
morale counts for a lot.
here’s a vast age gap between Strauss and
Stenerhag and they could not have more varied
career paths. Strauss focuses almost exclusively
on XCO racing, delving into stage racing occasionally. She
delivered her best Cape Epic result (second) in 2017, riding
with British XCO star Annie Last. Stenerhag’s stats include
Swedish road and MTB titles in marathon. Since switching
from asphalt, and making Cape Town her home, she’s been
an ever-present force on the local and international stage
racing scene, and has placed fi rst, second and third at the
Cape Epic. Strauss’ memories of the 2018 race range from
the high of dicing at the front among the rainbow-sleeved
Langvad and Courtney to the lows of catching a stomach
bug and running on empty. These two are unbreakably
positive and fans expect them to bring out the best in each
other and put together a stellar performance.
5 MINUTES WITH MARISKE
Fifth time lucky after
a third and second?
Hopefully! Fingers, toes
and everything crossed.
I’ve done the work, I know
Jennie has as well. A lot of
time and eff ort brought us
here, so all that’s left is to
control the controllable,
send up our prayers and
leave it all out there.
You’re always bubbly,
smiling and ready to
chat to us journos, even
at the fi nish line when
your exhausted rivals
dodge us. Do you have a
dark side? Ah thanks! I’m
a pretty happy person.
God has blessed me with
an unlimited supply of
happiness, but I’ve had my
fair share of dark patches.
The road back from injury
can be especially dark and
gloomy, but my friends,
family and faith got me
through. A good support
structure is paramount,
as well as being mindful.
Racing is fascinating, I
tackle any situation with
an attitude of gratitude.
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 73