Team Absa, ready for the 2012 Absa Cape Epic

Since their official introduction to the media and public on 25th October 2011, Team Absa has been undergoing strict preparation ahead of their participation in the toughest mountain bike stage race in the world - the Absa Cape Epic. 

Team Absa is one of Absa’s most exciting elements of the 2012 instalment of the race and comprises ten unique and accomplished individuals. The team is as follows:

1. Joel Stransky & Letshego Moshoeu 
2. Vanessa Haywood & Clayton Duckworth 
3. Gugu Zulu & Max Gebhardt 
4. Kevin McCallum & Jack Stroucken 
5. Ernst Viljoen & Elana Meyer 

Joel Stransky looks up at the steep sandy climb ahead during stage 6 of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held in and around Oak Valley on the 2nd April 2011 © Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS“Team Absa 2012 is an exciting group of strong personalities – each one a legend in their own discipline,” says Team Manager Ernst Viljoen, who has completed the race three times. Of the team riders, only Joel Stransky, Jack Stroucken and Ernst Viljoen have previously participated in the Absa Cape Epic. 

“My lifestyle has had to change quite significantly,” says model and actress Vanessa Haywood. “I have to go to bed before 9:00 pm and I'm up at 4:30 am every morning to train. I am training about 15 hours a week and it’s exhausting. I also eat like a horse now,” she jokes, “I can’t keep up! I have to be very careful with my nutrition and the supplements I take.”

“The Absa Cape Epic is all about the partnership with your teammate, mutual support is the key to a successful finish. All riders must display commitment, perseverance, and determination- characteristics that are tantamount to Absa’s key brand values,” says Absa Sponsorship Manager, Steward Masela © Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS According to rugby legend turned businessman and SuperSport commentator, Joel Stransky, “the race is tough, but the most difficult part for me is the long hours of training beforehand which entails a great amount of suffering and the sacrifice of time away from my family.”

“The Absa Cape Epic is all about the partnership with your teammate, mutual support is the key to a successful finish. All riders must display commitment, perseverance, and determination- characteristics that are tantamount to Absa’s key brand values,” says Absa Sponsorship Manager, Steward Masela. “The Absa Cape Epic is a test of the human spirit and Team Absa will need to demonstrate great resilience and courage to overcome the challenges of the race and achieve the results that they have been training so diligently for.”

Each rider will be participating on behalf of their selected charity, to which Absa will generously donate R 1,300.00 per rider per stage completed. The non-profit organisations that will be represented are as follows: 

• CANSA: Ernst Viljoen 
• Cotlands: Clayton Duckworth 
• DARG: Vanessa Haywood 
• JAG Foundation: Letshego Moshoeu, Gugu Zulu and Elana Meyer 
• LumoHawk: Joel Stranksy 
• Morningside Rotary: Jack Stroucken 
• Rally to READ: Max Gebhardt 
• The Star’s Seaside Fund: Kevin McCallum

Absa will also be donating a further R 30,000.00 to the JAG Foundation as one of the key beneficiaries of the race.