ABSA AFRICAN WOMEN
T
Hannele Steyn
Hannele Steyn is, of course,
taking part in the 2019 Absa Cape
Epic once again; as she aims to
complete her 16th race. The only
woman among the pride of four
Last Lions (riders to have completed
every edition), Steyn is also the only
Last Lion with a realistic shot at a
category podium. She will be riding
with Katja Steenkamp – the 2016
Tour d’Afrique winner turned
Enduro enthusiast – as team Land
Rover Jaguars.
Though Steyn and Steenkamp
will no doubt be competitive, the
battle for the Women’s Absa African
Special Jerseys are most likely to be
contested by the dormakaba and
Galileo Risk teams.
Amy McDougall is the defending
category champ and, with her
2018 partner Candice Lill, having
left dormakaba, McDougall will
now be partnered by Samantha
Sanders. The pair have enjoyed
signifi cant success racing together
over the years and have a strong
friendship on and off the bike,
which contributes to their success.
Though McDougall now resides
in Cape Town, they both earned
their mountain biking spurs on the
technical trails of Sabie. The steep
98 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
climbs and descents of this year’s
Absa Cape Epic should therefore
provide opportunities for the
dormakaba women to put pressure
on not only their Absa African
Special Jersey rivals, but also the
rest of the elite women’s fi eld.
One rider who will not be shaken
off her wheels, regardless of how
long and technical the descents
get, is Sarah Hill. Undoubtedly
one of the most technically gifted
riders in the fi eld, HiIl is partnered
in her fi rst Absa Cape Epic by
Theresa Ralph, who boasts a second
(2012) and third (2014) place fi nish
in the women’s category in her
seven Absa Cape Epic fi nishes. Her
role within the Galileo Risk team
will be to ensure Hill expends her
HANNELE STEYN
TROPHY
Pretoria artist Kgaogelo Mashilo’s
trophy will herald a newly-
established Special Jersey race
that will promote and encourage
the development and standard
of African cycling. By setting
new standards, the Absa Cape
Epic has been at the forefront of
advancing equality for women’s
cycling. Mashilo has incorporated
the Adinkra symbol of the Wawa
Aba, the seed from the West
African wawa tree, as the core of
the bronze trophy, which will
be set on hardwood. The
Wawa Aba seed is very hard
and symbolises strength and
toughness with the ability to
persevere through hardship.
energy wisely and to power the
team through the rolling sections of
the route.
Ralph, Hill, McDougall and Sanders
engaged in a number of fi ercely
contested battles at three-day stage
races in 2018, so the Absa African
Women’s Special Jersey competition
could provide one team with a
rivalry defi ning victory.
Amy McDougall will be out to
defend her Absa African crown
he Absa African Women’s Special
Jersey was founded to promote the
all-African women’s teams. With
increased media exposure the category
provides sponsors with a tangible return on
investment. It also provides women from the
host continent with the chance to race for a
trophy named after one of South Africa’s most
iconic mountain biking stars: Hannele Steyn.