In what is one of the event’s biggest-ever coups, road cycling legend Vincenzo Nibali will be hitting the magnificent trails of Meerendal Wine Estate, Hermanus, Val de Vie and others in this year’s race.
Italian Nibali, known as the “The Shark of the Strait”, “The Shark of Messina” or simply “The Shark”, only retired from professional road racing last year. Needing little introduction to cycling enthusiasts, he is one of only seven riders to have ever won the Vuelta a España, Giro d’Italia (twice) and the Tour de France.
He joins a host of international road cycling greats tackling Africa’s ultimate untamed MTB race, including European and Australian riders who lit up the international circuit in their heyday.
Nibali has joined the newly-formed Q36.5 ProCycling, and teamed up with fellow cyclist Ivan Santaromita for his first Cape Epic.
“Mountain biking is a passion that I’ve always had since I was a child, but unfortunately I had to abandon this discipline. Now I can spend much more time on it,” he says.
He enjoys that MTB allows riders to be much closer to the fans, as well as nature.
This week they will make their debut at the Andalucía Bike Race in Spain as part of his preparations for the Absa Cape Epic, having been advised to do so by a good friend.
Spain has of course been a happy hunting ground for Nibali, since it was where he won the Vuelta a España in 2010 and also ended his professional road cycling career in 2022.
Nibali’s 2014 Tour de France win is one of the greatest of modern times.
Having showed little form prior to the race, not even placing among the top finishers at several events leading up to cycling’s showpiece, he stunned all and sundry by grabbing the Yellow Jersey from stage two to eight.
After losing the lead in the next stage, he powered back in the tenth to win. This was one of four stages he won that year, allowing him to win the general classification by seven minutes and 52 seconds – the biggest victory margin in the Tour de France in 17 years.
Nibali recently joined SCOTT Sports, where he is a brand ambassador and involved in the development of new products.
"Having someone like Vincenzo join the team is just a joy. Talk about having the highest level of product tester for our road team! We look forward to working with Vincenzo on various projects over the next few years, and to the impact he will have on our new road team and beyond." Julian Wagner, Bike Marketing Lead for SCOTT Sports, said on the brand’s website.
Nibali is just one of cycling’s superstars who will be lining up alongside aspirant amateurs to tackle the trek across 658km of wondrous untamed terrain and almost 16 000m of climbing,
cementing the hors catégorie-classified race as one of the major highlights on the international calendar.
The eight-day event takes place from 19-26 March, and promises to be one of the most exciting to date.