LOCAL
RIVALRIES
REIGNITE
One of the fiercest battles within the
Absa Cape Epic is the fight for the
Absa African Special Jerseys; which
pits the men and women from SA, and
the continent at large, against one
another in a race within a race.
ABSA AFRICAN MEN
S
ince the
introduction of
the Absa African
Special Jersey for men in
2007, the Burry Stander
Memorial trophy has been
won by Matthys Beukes
on fi ve occasions. Three of
those victories were with his
long-time teammate, Phil
Buys; the others with Gert
Heyns and Julian Jessop.
Only Waylon Woolcock and
Darren Lill have been able to
usurp Beukes and co in the
race for the Burry Stander
Trophy, when they claimed
the title in 2016.
That said, Nico Bell and Matt Beers (NAD
Pro MTB) have made it their mission to
topple Beukes and Buys from the top of
every South African stage race possible. They
will start the 2019 Absa Cape Epic having
tested each other’s strength at the Tankwa
Trek in February. So fi rst blood will have been
drawn by the time they roll off the start line
at UCT on 17 March.
Beers’ breaking of his Cape Epic hoodoo
(punctures in 2016, broken collarbone in 2017,
illness in 2018) will rely on consistency over
the eight days. Fortunately, in Bell he has one
of the most consistent riders at his side. The
generally unfl appable NAD Pro MTB team
leader knows exactly how to pace his eff orts
over the course of a week-long stage race.
96 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
Matthys Beukes and
Phil Buys in 2017
Both Matthys Beukes and Phil Buys (PYGA Euro Steel) are
taking part in their fourth Absa Cape Epic as a pairing. Their
goals are certainly not limited to the Absa African Special
Jerseys, however. In fact, they are the local team with the
best chance of disrupting the international domination of the
elite men’s race. Fans can expect Beukes and Buys to target
the outright podium places and secure another Jersey win
if all goes well in their quest. Their race will have to unfold
almost perfectly for that to transpire, though, because Bell
and Beers have the pair fi rmly in their sights.