 | Drakenstein Municipality duo geared for electrifying Epic
18 March 2025 | Press Releases |
14 March 2025
Two staff members of Drakenstein Municipality will be tackling the merciless Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race, also known as the Tour de France of mountain biking, from 16 to 23 March 2025.
Photo: Max Sullivan/Gallo Images
The two brave riders riding under the “#Visit Paarl – powered by Drakenstein Municipality" banner, are Kris Coetzee, our Building Control Officer, and Justin van Niekerk, a Senior Technician: Server (Administration) from our ICT division.
The Epic is definitely not a race for the fainthearted, with some steep climbs and hair-raising descents over a challenging route. We asked them what motivated them to register.
1. How long have you been riding bicycle for, and why mountain biking?
KRIS: I have been cycling since 2009, focusing mainly on road cycling, and have been doing select mountain bike (MTB) events since 2015. I ride road bikes to go fast, and MTB for the scenery (or at least that is what I am telling myself) but am certainly not a slouch when it comes to racing MTB.
JUSTIN: As a child I have always been fortunate enough to be riding on some form of two wheels and was never without my bike. I completed my first Argus Cycle Tour (now Cape Town Cycle Tour) in 1998. In 2022, I achieved my 21st Tour after skipping a few years. I have a true love for nature and would hike most of the hiking routes in the Western Cape. With my love for cycling as well, I started mountain biking (my combination of hiking and MTB) in the off-season when road racing was done for the year. I only do MTB now and keep off the road as much as possible.
2. Are you a member of a cycling club or are you just a “weekend warrior"?
KRIS: I am a member of the Winelands Cycling Club and have participated in road races as part of their racing team for the past two years.
JUSTIN: I am a member of Winelands Cycling Club for the past approximately two years.
3. Will this be your first Epic and how do you feel about the challenge and the dangers involved? What are the skills you need to be successful on the rough terrain?
KRIS: This will be my first Absa Cape Epic. I would describe it as a mixture between nerves and excitement and have been keeping my mind busy doing other cycling events in the lead-up to the event. The weekend of 15 February, Justin and I did the Imbuko Big5 MTB challenge, which takes riders 75km along the Paarl and Wellington mountains, accumulating 3 000m of ascent over the course. Naturally, the risk of falling is there, so we have taken to riding within our skillset and finishing safe and strong rather than risking falling and breaking something (either body or bike). So, the only way to prepare is to ride the rough and rocky terrain, and to train your muscles to respond accordingly.
JUSTIN: I successfully completed my first Absa Cape Epic in 2015; 2025 will be my second Epic. The ride becomes dangerous once you venture outside of your body's and bike's capabilities. Continuously riding and honing your skill on the bike is the best way to do it. In November last year, Kris and I did a back-to-back race of Wines2Whales which concluded six triumphant days of high effort and pure enjoyment. In January we successfully completed the Attakwas Extreme MTB as well and this was my sixth completed Atta.
4. How do you prepare for a gruelling race such as this one and when did you start your training programme?
KRIS: Lots of time in the saddle is all one can do to prepare. It is eight days of rocks, dirt and gravel... and a LOT of climbing. There isn't really a change to my training programme, as I normally gear up towards the Cape Town Cycle Tour, so the fitness is there, but the endurance has also been a focus in the lead-up to the Epic.
JUSTIN: I never stop riding my bike - if there is a big race coming up, you step up your training to what the race requires of your body and equipment.
5. Will you guys be teammates and did you train together? How important is teamwork?
KRIS: The Absa Cape Epic is a team event; so, we have done a few training rides together. Consistency, however, is key, so riding five to six times a week is a must. I have been doing four days a week of shorter distances in the evenings after work, and then two long rides (three to five hours) on the weekend.
JUSTIN: The Cape Epic is a team event of two riders and one of the race rules dictates that a team's riders may not be more than two minutes apart.
6. What are your goals for the race?
KRIS: As this is my first, the goal is to stay safe and finish strong. We are definitely not in the class of the top athletes, so riding hard but enjoying the vibe is the goal. Many riders overexert themselves during the first few stages, and either cannot finish or really do not enjoy the remainder of the event, due to being too fatigued.
JUSTIN: My goal is to look after myself and my partner in every sense (recovery, safety, and more) during the race period and for us to successfully complete this year's Cape Epic.
[ENDS]
Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
