Timeline From 2002 To 2012
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Kevin Vermaak participated in the 10th La Ruta de los Conquistadores in Costa Rica and was inspired to start start something similar in the Cape. |
| 2003 | The Cape Epic name and logo are finalised in London + Munich: The knobbly tyres of the cyclist show that it is an off-road mountain bike race. The zebra stripes represented Untamed Africa. The colours of the South Africa flag denote that it will be a truly South African race. |
| 2003 | The first marketing opportunity for the Cape Epic was a roaring success. The promotional stand at the Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour Expo in Cape Town attracted more than 1000 inquiries. |
| 2003 | More than eighty VIP's, sports journalists and guests attend the official launch party of the Cape Epic at the Cullinan Hotel, Cape Town. |
| 2003 | South African regional entries for the inaugural race sell out in three days. |
| 2003 | The first crew workshop was held, along with distribution of the first official Cape Epic merchandise to 27 attendees - 17 of whom have worked at every single race since 2004. It was also the only time that black caps were produced for Cape Epic merchandise, and the few proud owners of these first pieces of official merchandise refer to this workshop as the ‘black-cap workshop’. |
| 2004 | 2004 Inaugural Cape Epic: 28 February to 6 March. 788km & 17 380m climbing, from Knysna to Spier. 550 riders, 21% international and 20 countries represented. Winners: Karl Platt & Mannie Heymans. |
| 2004 | The 350 South African regional team entries for Cape Epic 2005 sell out in less than five hours. |
| 2004 | The international block of entries sells out for the first time. |
| 2004 | To accommodate the growing full-time staff of the Cape Epic, occupation of the new offices at 155 Loop Street in Cape Town were taken. The event is still managed from there today, but the staff of 2 in 2004 has grown to 20 full-time staff that work exclusively for the race throughout the year. |
| 2005 | 2005 Cape Epic: 2 April to 9 April. 898km & 16 020m climbing, from Knysna to Spier. 840 riders, 25% international and 29 countries represented. Winners: Roel Paulissen & Bart Brentjens. |
| 2005 | The Vigne à Vigne was launched. A mountain bike race held at the Grand Finale venue the morning of the Cape Epic finish, it is designed to allow riders to finish in time to see the winning Cape Epic riders cross the finish line. |
| 2005 | Through the Big Tree Foundation, the Cape Epic gives back by providing tangible benefits to the learners in the towns that host the race. The Foundation provides bicycles, desks, writing materials and uniforms to the most needy learners in these communities. |
| 2005 | The Cape Epic is awarded UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) status, the first ever team mountain bike stage race, and at the time the only mountain bike race in Africa to appear on the UCI calendar. |
| 2005 | The Cape Epic surpasses 2500 hours of global TV hours to become the most televised mountain bike race of all time. |
| 2006 | Absa, Africa's leading bank, announces title sponsorship – it's the Absa Cape Epic presented by Adidas. |
| 2006 | 2006 Absa Cape Epic: 22 April to 29 April. 940km & 16 605m climbing, from Knysna to Spier. 1040 riders, 31% international and 35 countries represented. Winners: Christoph Sauser & Silvio Bundi. |
| 2006 | Introduction of Amabubesi club – the Cape Epic finishers club. "Amabubesi" means "pride of lions" in Zulu, an excellent description for mountain bikers that return year after year to ride. Riders that have finished the event three times will be awarded membership of Amabubesi. |
| 2006 | Lourensford is announced as the new finish venue after three successful finishes at Spier Wine Estate. |
| 2007 | 2007 Absa Cape Epic: 24 March to 31 March. 886km & 15 045m climbing, from Knysna to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 29% international and 45 countries represented. Winners: Karl Platt & Stefan Sahm. |
| 2007 | A daily 24 minute TV highlights package is distributed globally – a world first for any mountain bike stage race. |
| 2007 | Personalised nutrition services introduced. Riders provide three Absa Cape Epic personalised water bottles each night with their own personal nutrition/recovery drink already mixed in it. The importance and appeal of chilled nutrition and recovery drinks on a 40 degree day ensures that this service sells out each year. |
| 2007 | Absa African Jersey for highest-placed all African team introduced. |
| 2007 | 2008 route is announced, with a prologue to kick off proceedings in Knysna. |
| 2008 | 2008 Absa Cape Epic: 28 March to 5 April. 966km & 18 529m climbing, from Knysna to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 29% international and 41 countries represented. Winners: Roel Paulissen & Jakob Fuglsang. |
| 2008 | Team Absa, featuring South African celebrities and sports figures, riding for charity, launched. |
| 2008 | New route concept announced – multiple days in one stage location. Prologue to take place beneath Table Mountain. |
| 2009 | 2009 Absa Cape Epic: 21 March to 28 March. 744km & 15 132m climbing, from Cape Town to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 32% international and 46 countries represented. Winners: Karl Platt & Stefan Sahm. |
| 2010 | 2010 Absa Cape Epic: 21 March to 28 March. 661km & 14 126m climbing, from Dimersfontein to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 38% international and 51 countries represented. Winners: Karl Platt & Stefan Sahm. |
| 2010 | Freedom Ride on Robben Island, where a select group of riders had the opportunity to ride their bikes on Robben Island, including a tour and visit to Nelson Mandela's cell. |
| 2010 | Introduction of OUTCAST jersey. This jersey is given to any UCI pro-elite cateogry rider whose partner is no longer participating in the race for any reason, allowing them to continue riding, so long as they do not provide physical assistance to any other UCI pro-elite rider or podium contender. |
| 2010 | Introduction of Men's floating trophy. If a team wins it 5 times, they will keep it. |
| 2011 | 2011 Absa Cape Epic: 27 March to 3 April. 708km & 14 550m climbing, from Tokai to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 40% international and 49 countries represented. Winners: Christoph Sauser & Burry Stander. |
| 2011 | Nine current and former world champions ride the 2011 Absa Cape Epic. |
| 2011 | The Ladies race is awarded UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) HC (Hors Catagorie) status, allowing Ladies to earn UCI points during the race. |
| 2011 | To coincide with Craft’s introduction as the official cycling apparel of the Absa Cape Epic, a new logo was introduced along with a complete brand refresh. The new corporate identity was launched along with 2012 route. |
| 2011 | Grand Masters category, in which both riders must be 50 years or older, is announced for 2013. |
| 2012 | 2012 Absa Cape Epic: 25 March to 1 April. 775km & 16 300m climbing, from Meerendal to Lourensford. 1200 riders, 34% international and 49 countries represented. Winners: Christoph Sauser & Burry Stander. |
| 2012 | The first Exxaro Academy riders compete for the Exxaro Development Jersey. Exxaro established the academy to introduce mountain biking into historically disadvantaged communities, as a catalyst for change in South Africa. |
| 2012 | Introduction of Ladies' floating trophy. If a team wins it 5 times, they will keep it. |
| 2012 | Announcement that a rider caught doping at any time during the course of his/her career will be issued a lifetime ban from the race. |