Married Couple Determined To Win Mixed Category at This Year’s Absa Cape Epic
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 14:01 Share Article Married couple, Erik (29) and Ariane Kleinhans (28), of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, will participate in the Mixed category of this year’s Absa Cape Epic as Team Contego.
The Absa Cape Epic will once again take 1 200 riders through some of the Western Cape’s most unspoilt territory. The race, which takes place from 25 March to 1 April, will kick-off with a prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville and finish eight days and 781km later at the prestigious Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.
Ariane Kleinhans at the 2011 Absa Cape Epic. Photo: Gary Perkin/SportzpicsThis year will be Erik and Ariane’s second Absa Cape Epic. Says Ariane: “The Absa Cape Epic is the best known mountain bike stage race in the world and very special in South Africa. If you tell people that you’re a mountain biker, they always ask whether you’ve done the Cape Epic.”
This will be Erik’s 5th Absa Cape Epic. “This is the premier mountain bike stage race in the world and we just love to be part of it,” he says.
Erik and Ariane are very determined to win the Mixed category this year. “We feel positive about winning the Mixed category after we finished second in 2011. But the competition is always tough and we’ll have to work hard for it,” explains Erik.
Ariane Kleinhans hugging her husband Erik, at the end of the 2011 prologue that was held in Tokai. Photo: Karin Schermbrucker/SportzpicsAriane says they have some unfinished business at this year’s race: “As passionate stage riders, Erik and I want to win the Mixed category. We have a bit more experience in stage racing than last year, and I’m also in my 2nd year as a pro-rider, with a lot more training and racing in my legs. We really feel we have an excellent chance of winning,” says Ariane.
According to Erik, there are various reasons why they make such a good team. He explains: “We live together, train together and sleep together – I’m sure our best attribute is the fact that we really care about each other and know each other very well.”
Ariane explains that they are together 24/7. “With Erik’s experience of six stage races in the last year, he knows exactly how to motivate and support me, to get the best out of me. It’s actually very easy to be in a team with him, as he is so selfless and helpful all the time. I couldn’t have wished for a better partner.”
Erik Kleinhans during the 2011 Absa Cape Epic. Photo: Sven Martin/SportzpicsAlways training together in preparation of the event, the team’s training started in December with some easy, longer rides and from January they started to focus on specific interval training.
“In between the races, we try to rest as much as possible and keep working on our interval training,” explains Ariane. “Training together motivates me, especially the interval training. When I see how hard he’s racing, I automatically push myself to the limit. When we do long rides, I usually stay in his slipstream or I ride the road bike, while he’s on the slower mountain bike.”
Ariane’s advice for other participants is to put sludge in your tyres, to tape a plug on your stem and to take enough spares. “It’s also important to train in the heat before the race – it gets really hot at the race. Also, those who sleep in tents, take some earplugs along.”
Erik reckons the best advice he can give to others is to ride within yourself. He explains: “Don’t push yourself over the limit, and most importantly, eat on the bike.” Both Erik and Ariane and believe preparation and training are the most important ingredients to complete the Absa Cape Epic successfully.
In 2012, Ariane would also like to finish in the top 5 at the Marathon World Champs, win the MTN Marathon Series, win the Swiss Marathons in June and July and win the JoBerg2c and the Sani2c with Erik. “A podium finish at the SA Marathon Champs would be super,” concludes Erik.