The Cape Epic does not begin at the start line. For Lasse Reuss and Fadri Barandun, this project had already started months earlier — with the application, the planning, and a winter full of preparation for one of the toughest stage races in mountain biking.
Because the Cape Epic is not just another mountain bike stage race. It is an exceptional challenge. Athletically, logistically, and mentally. To perform there, you need more than just fitness — you also need the right support system around you, and a teammate you can rely on in every single moment.
A goal that is set early
By October, it already had to be clear that everything would come together. Application, partner, sponsors, planning — with the Cape Epic, the pressure starts much earlier than it does for many other races. And that is exactly what defines the character of this event: it is not a spontaneous race entry, but a project that takes months of preparation.
For Lasse, it quickly became clear that this race would be a special milestone. After a successful year on the road, he wanted to return to mountain biking — and to the place where the challenge is at its greatest. Together with Fadri Barandun, the idea was born to take on the Cape Epic as a two-rider team.
There was another special aspect as well: for Stop&Go, it was the first time the team had ever sent riders to an event of this scale. At the same time, the Cape Epic is also a major financial project. Altogether, the team is talking about around 15,000 euros. That made the opportunity even more meaningful — and the trust placed in them by their supporters and the entire team all the more important.
“The Cape Epic is the Tour de France of mountain biking.”
Eight days that demand everything
What makes this race so special is not only the difficulty of the individual stages, but the relentless way it continues day after day. Eight days in a row. No short breather, no real day off, no easing up. Instead: long distances, huge amounts of climbing, heat, dust, rain, early starts, and the daily challenge of getting the body ready again in time.
In the end, the numbers say it all: around 720 kilometers and roughly 17,000 meters of elevation gain. A load that demands everything over the course of the week — not only physically, but mentally as well.
That is exactly where the difference lies compared to many other races: it is not about being strong once. It is about staying steady for an entire week. Staying healthy. Avoiding mistakes. And still functioning as a team when the reserves have long started to fade.
Cape Epic means riding together, suffering together
When you race as a pair, you are tested differently. It is not your individual result that counts, but the shared one. Strong legs alone mean nothing if your partner is having a bad day. You have to think ahead, react, hold back, push — and keep finding the right balance over and over again.
That is exactly what made this project so special for Lasse and Fadri. Both come from the marathon scene, both know the demands of long races. But at the Cape Epic, the focus shifts. Away from the pure “I” and toward the “we.” And that is one of the greatest strengths of this race.
More than just two riders on the start line
Behind the project was a small team that worked with total commitment to make sure everything ran smoothly on site. Mechanics, physio, organization, content — many responsibilities, little sleep, full days. At a race like the Cape Epic, you quickly realize how much has to happen behind the scenes for performance to even be possible up front.
What stood out most was how naturally everyone pulled together. No big show — just genuine commitment. It was exactly this mix of passion, improvisation, and team spirit that made the whole experience so special in the end.
At the same time, one feeling remained above all: deep gratitude. For the chance to make a project like this happen. For the trust that came from every side. And for a team that not only supported the effort, but made it possible in the first place.
South Africa as a backdrop — and an experience
The race itself was impressive. Not only because of its difficulty, but also because of the setting. It took place in South Africa’s Western Cape — from Montagu to Greyton and on to Stellenbosch. A route that is demanding from a sporting perspective while also offering an extraordinary landscape.
Gravel roads and singletracks built for pure riding fun alternated with a wide range of impressions. Unique mountain scenery, fruit plantations, vineyards — and in between, sections that demanded everything. Even an 800-meter hike-a-bike section was part of it. It was exactly this mix that made the course so special: demanding, varied, and spectacular in its own way.
Then there were the early starts, the unique light, the atmosphere along the course, and the passion for the sport. All of this made the Cape Epic something that can hardly be compared to any other event in quite the same way.
At the same time, the country itself left a lasting impression. South Africa was intense, contradictory, warm, and demanding. Alongside the fascination of the race came many impressions beyond sport: stark contrasts, different realities of life, and encounters that leave you humbled.
“The people there welcomed us with a warmth you never forget.”
It was precisely this combination that made the journey so meaningful.
A special kit for a special race
An event like the Cape Epic calls for an appearance that reflects the importance of the project. That is why, together with CUORE, a special kit was created for exactly this moment — individual, eye-catching, and clearly connected to the race.
What mattered most was not only the look, but the performance under truly extreme conditions. Heat, rain, wet clothing, fine dust, long days in the saddle — the material was tested in every possible way. That made it even more valuable to have a kit that not only looked good, but delivered exactly what was needed in the race: comfort, stability, and function, even over many days.
There was also the reaction along the course. Time and again, the jersey was noticed, commented on, and recognized. A nice reminder that a special project can also have its own visual language.
What remains in the end
For Lasse Reuss and Fadri Barandun, the Cape Epic was far more than just a race. It was a shared project, a logistical challenge, an athletic test at the limit, and an intense journey that continues to resonate long after the finish.
Eight days on the mountain bike. 720 kilometers. 17,000 meters of climbing. Two riders who had to function as a team. A support system that carried the whole project. And a special kit that gave this chapter a visible identity.
Some races are remembered because of the result. Others because of everything you experience on the way there. The Cape Epic definitely belongs to the latter category.
