Cape Epic:
The Untold Reality.

Photography by Moritz Sauer

Eight days. Over 600 kilometers. Nearly 17,000 meters of climbing. The Absa Cape Epic isn’t just a race – it’s a war of attrition against heat, terrain, and your own limits. For Alex Bregenzer, an off-road privateer rider and HUNT athlete, it was his first time tackling the world’s toughest mountain bike stage race. Partnered with Arne Erik Janssens, the duo took on the brutal trails of South Africa’s Western Cape – and lived to tell the tale.

What followed was a week of highs, lows, near-breakdowns, and breakthrough moments – all etched in dust, sweat, and raw emotion. We caught up with Alex shortly after his return to hear what really goes down at the Epic… beyond the race reports and finish-line smiles.

HUNT: What was it like coming home after such an intense week at the Cape Epic?

Alex: It was surreal. During the race, you're fully in the zone – early wake-ups, breakfast, ride, recover, repeat. By day three or four, you fall into this strange rhythm. But only once I got home did I realize how mentally tense I’d been the entire time. The Cape Epic demands total focus every single kilometer – it's almost all on trails. By the end, I was physically tired, sure – but mentally, I was completely drained. At the same time, there was this huge sense of relief… and, weirdly, a bit of sadness that it was over.

HUNT: Do you remember what went through your mind crossing the finish line?

Alex: Relief. And a bit of disbelief. Like: "Wow, it’s actually done." Even though it's eight days long, the race messes with your sense of time. The days blur into one another – you’re just going from one stage to the next. Suddenly it’s the halfway point… and then it’s almost over. So when we hit the finish line, it was a strange mix: happy it was done, but also kind of wishing it wasn’t.

HUNT: It was your first Cape Epic – did the race meet your expectations?

Alex: Honestly? I was hoping for a better overall result. I had ambitions we would finish higher up in the GC. But Stage 1 was a complete disaster for me. I had no energy at all – probably a stomach issue or something I ate. Whatever it was, I was running on empty. And that kind of killed our general classification hopes right from the start. We did get better each day – by the final stage we were riding top 12 times and only a few minutes off the leaders – but that one off-day cost us too much. Still, I’m super happy we made it through. Everyone has at least one bad day at the Epic – ours just came at the worst time.

HUNT: What was the hardest moment for you?

Alex: Definitely Stage 1. The heat was brutal, the climbs relentless, the terrain unforgiving. After just 20 kilometers, I thought: “Shit, I don’t think I can do this.” There was zero flow – fist-sized rocks everywhere, no let-up. I was completely empty, both physically and mentally. Honestly, I was close to tears. But my teammate Arne really pulled me through. He kept encouraging me, saying, “We’ve got this, one step at a time.” Without him, I might not have made it through that day.

HUNT: How did you manage to bounce back?

Alex: Slowly. Day two was still rough – no appetite, which is a big problem in that heat. You just fall into a calorie hole. But then it started turning around. We climbed back into rhythm. I also made a conscious effort to get my head right – a bit of breathing, meditation, trying to re-center myself. And then I felt it again: “I know how to ride a bike. Let’s go.”

HUNT: Was there a moment out there that really stuck with you?

Alex: We didn’t see any wildlife, thankfully – someone told us a springbok jumped between two riders once, but not on our stage. That would’ve been dangerous. But the moment that really got me was riding past a township school. There were kids lining the roadside, cheering like crazy – full stadium vibes. I instantly thought of my daughter and started tearing up. It was emotional. Just seeing these kids so full of joy, knowing the reality of their lives. Here we were, racing on high-end bikes through their world. That contrast hit hard. It was humbling and beautiful.

HUNT: How did the bike and especially the HUNT wheels perform?

Alex: Rock solid. No issues at all. The wheels took an absolute beating – dust, rocks, heat, moisture. But they didn’t flinch. I ran Maxxis Aspen tyres with inserts – a setup I’d highly recommend. Inserts are a lifesaver out there; if you puncture, you can still keep rolling without killing your rim. I had zero rim strikes, no damage – just some cosmetic scuffs, which is to be expected. Couldn’t ask for more.

HUNT: Would you change anything about your setup if you did it again?

Alex: Honestly, not much. Maybe a smaller chainring. I rode a 38T the whole race, and on one of the stages, we had this ridiculous 600-meter climb at over 30% gradient. Loose rocks, no traction – it was insane. I nearly toppled backwards. So yeah, maybe drop the ego and go for a 36T or even 34T. Also: suspension. So many people underestimate this. In Europe, we often think a hardtail or locked-out setup is faster. But at the Cape Epic, you need something active that saves your body after five or six hours of trail abuse. Take the time to dial it in – it’ll pay off massively.

HUNT: What would be your biggest takeaways or advice for others thinking about doing the Epic?

Alex: Nutrition is everything. If you underfuel in that heat, you’re done – simple as that. Next: run inserts. And don’t skimp on your suspension setup – comfort equals speed out there. Mentally, stay calm. You’ll have a bad patch at some point – everyone does. But if you panic, the race is over. Keep your cool, focus on the basics, and ride smart.

Alex didn’t just survive the Cape Epic – he showed what true grit, mindset, and teamwork look like. From brutal climbs and emotional lows to finish-line elation and moments of deep perspective, this was more than just a race. The Cape Epic has a way of changing you – and Alex lived every second of it.