OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Former middle-distance running stars Hans van der Veen (Oudtshoorn) and Michael Meyer (formerly from George) recently completed the demanding eight-day Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race, which concluded at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West on Sunday 23 March.
Cape Epic is an annual mountain bike stage race held in the Western Cape, South Africa. It consists of a prologue and seven stages and typically covers more than 680 km. Mountain bikers compete in teams of two and to qualify for a finish, teams have to stay together for the duration of the race. The course changes every year, but the race has always taken place in the Western Cape.
Meyer (58), the founder and managing director of Stillwater Sports, is the visionary behind the successful Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, which includes five mass participation 10km races in Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Van der Veen, now 59, ran a sub-four-minute mile (3:58) in 1985 and still holds two junior South African middle-distance records.
Originating from George and Oudtshoorn respectively, Meyer and Van der Veen share a long-standing friendship that led them to take on the Absa Cape Epic together for the first time in 2025. Their team, Absa RYC, competed in the Grand Masters category.
According to Van der Veen, Meyer's partner was unable to compete due to personal reasons. Meyer then approached Van der Veen, as they had been friends for years and both shared a passion for athletics.
Van der Veen described the race as intense.
"We faced extreme conditions, one day a heatwave, and the next, a rain shower, which made the race both exhausting and challenging. Cycling through mud is tough on its own. I decided to participate because it allows you to experience places you otherwise never would. The scenery along the route is breathtaking, but this race is also a celebration of health."
Reflecting on their experience, Meyer added, "Taking on the Absa Cape Epic felt like a natural next step for us. Our shared background in athletics has always been about pushing limits, and this race presented a new challenge that truly tested our endurance and teamwork."
Van der Veen added, "The transition from track to trail was invigorating. The camaraderie among participants and the stunning landscapes made every grueling stage worthwhile."
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