A total of four Olympic champions, world champions, World Cup, Cape Epic and even a Tour de France winner will be at the start of the 14th edition of the Absa Cape Epic. It is the strongest field of riders in years, and last year's winner Karl Platt from Team Bulls confirms this: "This year there are ten teams at the start who can win the race". For the German marathon specialist, the focus is on defending the title with his Swiss partner Urs Huber.

The favored teams

The German-Swiss Bulls duo will definitely have their work cut out for them, as the following teams are likely to have more than just a word to say about the overall victory. One of the most exciting teams is "Investec Songo Specialized" with Christoph Sauser (SUI) and Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE). With five Cape Epic victories, Sauser is on a par with Karl Platt. In order to win a sixth time, "Susi" has come out of retirement. Nevertheless, he has great respect for the broad competition: "The Cape Epic definitely has the highest power density this year and, above all, many top teams have a back-up team behind them.

Nino Schurter, currently the world's best mountain biker, will be at the start of the legendary stage race. Schurter and his Scott-Sram team colleague Matthias Stirnemann, who has now matured into a world-class athlete, primarily want to gain experience in order to try and win the Cape Epic in 2018. However, Schurter sends a message: "If we are well positioned, we won't let anything get in the way this year."

The Austrian steam hammer Alban Lakata has never been able to win overall - but his partner Kristian Hynek (CZE) has. Of the favored teams, the Topeak-Ergon duo is probably the biggest surprise bag.

Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr also have big ambitions. As in 2016, Rohrbach is riding as a guest rider for the Centurion-Vaude team at this year's Cape Epic. Back then, he finished second overall with Matthias Pfrommer and will start the race on Sunday with Austrian Daniel Geismayr. With Jochen Käss and Markus Kaufmann, Centurion-Vaude has another top team at the start, which could be decisive for overall success.

Last but not least, the Cannondale riders Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini. The German-Brazilian duo won the final stage in 2016, which significantly increased their thirst for the overall classification in 2017.

The two Tour de France veterans Cadel Evans and George Hincapie will have nothing to do with the outcome of the race. Their participation is more for prestige and, because of Hincapie's doping past, is causing resentment among some.

Gold ladies not competitors for once

With Sabine Spitz (GER) and Jenny Rissveds (SWE), two other Olympic champions will be competing - albeit in different categories. While Spitz and South African Robyn de Groot can ride for overall victory in the women's race as Team Ascendis Health, Rissveds has the best chance of winning the mixed category. The young Swede is riding with none other than her team boss Thomas Frischknecht. However, the youngest Olympic mountain bike champion is mainly using the race to gain important experience for the future.

The women's race is likely to be much more exciting. Last year's winner Ariane Lüthi from Team Spur (SUI - formerly Kleinhans) is riding for the first time this year with Adelheid Morat from Germany, who immediately makes the announcement: "Like all strong teams, we're going to the start to win. I'm giving 100 percent for that!"

However, Sabine Spitz will not only face opposition from Team Spur. Team Meerendal CBC with Esther Süss (SUI) and Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) will also be in contention for victory. The newly formed duo "Team Meerendal CBC 2" with the Swiss Cornelia Hug and the Dutch marathon champion Hielke Elferink, who lives in Switzerland, should not be overlooked. The same applies to the "Hansgrohe Cadence OMX Pro" team. Mariske Strauss (RSA) and Annie Last (GBR) will also be trying to take their chances as outsiders.

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