Absa Cape Epic takes place on Mar 21 – 28, 2027 in Western Cape, South Africa. The main route is 650 km.
- Date
- Mar 21 – 28, 2027
- Start
- Western Cape 🇿🇦
- Distance
- 650 km
- Level
- Mixed field
The Absa Cape Epic is an eight-day mountain-bike stage race for two-rider teams through South Africa's Western Cape (21–28 March 2027), covering about 650 km with 15,500 m of climbing, with professional and amateur teams riding the same route.
What would it take you?
Pick the level closest to yours for an estimate of finish time on this course and the training a solid preparation needs.
Estimated finish
20:15–24:25
Peak-week training
6–8 h/week
A model estimate from distance, climbing and level, not a promise. Conditions, drafting and pacing move it.
IntervalCoach turns those weekly hours into a concrete plan built around your actual fitness. Start with this race as your goal
Your road to race day
Race day at Absa Cape Epic is 28 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Base16 weeks · Sep 7, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026
Aerobic foundation: mostly steady endurance work that grows the aerobic engine and the durability the later phases stand on.
02Build6 weeks · Dec 28, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
03Peak3 weeks · Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
04Taper2 weeks · Mar 1, 2027 – Mar 14, 2027
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
05Race week1 week · Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 21, 2027
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
Similar races
Organising this race?