The countdown to the ABSA Cape Epic, which is one of the worlds’ most prestigious cycling events, has begun. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) along with their co-sponsor, Professional Provident Society (PPS), will be entering a development team, made up of a CPUT alumnus and a rider of promise. CPUT alumnus, Seraj Abrahams, who completed a BTech in Quantity Surveying in 2014, was chosen as the winner of an Epic entry.

Abrahams who is a candidate quantity surveyor at the Cape Town offices of Mbatha Walters and Simpson said it was dream come true to be selected as a team member for CPUT’s development team.

The Cape Epic is a gruelling eight-day mountain bike event, which will begin on Sunday at the prologue – a 23km introduction ride. The race will officially begin on Monday and ends on Sunday, 20 March 2016. In total, the cyclists will cover a distance of 650km of mountainous area.

“This is considered ‘the’ mountain bike race around the world and attracts many top athletes.”

Abrahams explains that the top 50 teams, which will be participating in the race, are professional riders, a factor that he asserts, acts as indication of the prestige of the event.

There is no criteria to enter the Epic. CPUT is a host of two of the race days in Wellington. The institution, therefore, secured two entries for affiliates of the institution. Individuals who applied for the entries underwent ‘quite gruelling’ tests.

Abrahams ‘pulled through those tests’ and was selected as a rider in October 2015.

Abrahams explained that his journey, up to the Cape Epic, spanned approximately six years. His decision to concentrate on mountain biking was inspired by a neighbour who, after having lent him a bike, took him cycling in Tokai forest. Since his selection, Abrahams has adopted a training programme that requires him to train six days a week.

“In mountain biking, the concentration that is required is a lot more than your physical ability; you need to be skilled to manage the terrain.”

He, therefore, notes that skilled road cyclist may not be skilled mountain cyclists.

“I highly recommend that all cyclist try mountain biking, they will be hooked.”

VOC