How the Epic became a legend
Vermaak started from scratch 13 years ago for the race now described as the Tour de France of mountain biking
As dawn broke over Knysna on February 28 2004, 550 mountain bikers set off on an eight-day journey to Stellenbosch. They were taking part in the inaugural eight-day Cape Epic stage race — the first event of its kind in SA. Race founder Kevin Vermaak had organised the race with one other full-time staff member, working around the clock from a modest office in Cape Town’s central business district. Sometimes, exhausted, he would sleep in the office and resume work when he woke up in the morning. From Sunday, the 14th version of the Absa Cape Epic will be held with the race now being described as the "Tour de France of mountain biking". "We set out from day one with a view to growing it from year to year, but I can’t honestly say that I envisioned the event as it is now," Vermaak said this week. "I wanted it to be an iconic African event that would attract riders from around the world." The Cape Epic now attracts top professional riders from across the planet and amateur riders keen to...
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