Lourensford’s Cathedral Trail is the inaugural Toyota Tough section of the 2024 Absa Cape Epic. At 1.3 kilometres long it is a mix of rocky and flowing singletrack that drops and then cuts along a contour inside the final 6 kilometres of the stage.

Opportunities in the UNTAMED

Opportunities await as the 2024 Absa Cape Epic begins its journey into the untamed on the manicured trails of Lourensford Wine Estate. The Prologue time trail pits teams against the clock on the steep climbs through vineyards and orchards, as well as on the superb singletracks along slopes where plantations are being repopulated by pristine fynbos. Short, sharp and punchy the opening day will provide seedings for Stage 1’s start batches; so, teams are advised to push hard on the climbs and enjoy the flow trails. Do not overdo it though, flow can prove technical at high speeds. An untimely crash could shatter epic dreams before they truly begin. Opportunity is a double-edged sword, in life and mountain biking. Seize it with both hands.

Don’t think you’ve done it all in Hermanus. We made the stage a little shorter but that’s so we could add more of the good stuff in the Hemel en Aarde valley – some superb singletrack awaits the riders. Some familiar, some fresh. They’re linked with some ‘Absa Cape Epic-specific’ trails that are unrideable outside of the event. Take note… steep climbs and long, technical descents.