Five-time Cape Epic winner Christoph Sauser ended his professional career last summer. However, as a so-called "player coach" for the junior riders and the women of the Specialized Racing Team, he has ridden the occasional race. He seems to want to continue doing this and his personal ambition will continue to drive him. However, it is likely to be somewhat different. Sauser will ride the 2016 Cape Epic with Sipho Madolo from Stellenbosch. Together with his partner at the time, Madolo won the Exxaro jersey for the best newcomer team at the 2014 Cape Epic.

Azukile Simayile and Sipho Madolo the Absa Cape Epic Newcomers of the Year 2014. photos ©Cape Epic / Sportograf

Madolo's sporting background stems from the charity program Songo.info, which Sauser founded together with his South African friend Songo Fipaza in 2007.
Sipho Madolo finished his first participation in 275th place and improved to 30th place overall with his partner in 2014.
With Sauser, the 25-year-old has ambitions for a bigger leap forward, having already finished the three-day "Wines2Whales" with him in twelfth place in 2012. However, Madolo does not dare to name a goal for the Cape Epic. Even if a place in the top 20 would be possible, he doesn't want to put too much pressure on himself.

Sauser describes his protégé as very determined and not shy when it comes to training hard. "Sipho already has a lot of experience in racing and yet there is still a lot for the young racer to learn," says Sauser, adding: "Even the world's best have to keep learning new things to be able to hold their own at the top. I clearly see the Cape Epic as a race for us, but also as another lesson for Sipho."

The 2016 Cape Epic starts on March 13 and ends on March 20. We will definitely be looking forward to seeing how Sauser and Madolo fare over the eight tough days of racing in South Africa.

www.cape-epic.com
www.christophsauser.com
www.songo.info