Diverge Podcast

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 6 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. With the race reaching Stellenbosch at the end of Stage 5 the sixth full stage of the race was always going to be a brutal affair. The capital of the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, is famous for singletacks and steep vineyard climbs. Tune in to hear what Oli made of them and Seamus’ analysis of the UCI men’s and women’s racing.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The Queen Stage was a brutal day on the bike… 100 kilometres and 2 850 metres of ultra-steep climbing, plus a portage down the Gantouw Pass thrown in for good measure. But the end is now in sight, tune in to hear how Seamus and Oli are doing with just two stages to go.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The mid-race time trial provided Oli with a bit of a lie in this morning, despite it only being 43 kilometres long it was anything but easy though. Tune in to hear what the guys made of the stage and for an update of how the racing is playing out.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 3 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. Usually when the race goes up Groenlandberg it is on the Queen Stage, but this year with more significant climbs to come the green mountain is but another tough, 100 kilometre/2 000 meter plus of climbing, day. Take a listen to what Seamus and Oli made of it.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 2 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. Dubbed “Enter Sandman” the second marathon stage of the race was also the first moving day. Due to a last minute switch in the route the race went up the old wagon trail rather than the new singletrack but it was still a tough day in the saddle. Take a listen to what Seamus and Oli’s thoughts on the stage were.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The first marathon stage of the race the 112 kilometre day up into the Hemel en Aarde Valley was always going to sort those who prepared from those who did not. Tune in to hear what the guys made of it.

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live after the Prologue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The short and steep 21 kilometre course, which took in 600 metres of climbing, on Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain set the scene for the week to come. Tune in to hear what the guys made of it…

Join Seamus Allardice and Oliver Munnik as they record live from the Amabubesi Breakfast ahead of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The Amabubesi finisher’s club is for all riders who have completed three or more races and every year on the day before the race they stage an informal gathering. With lots of famous mountain biking faces and plenty of pre-race nerves gathered around the croissant table it is the perfect opportunity for a final pre-view of what to expect from the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race this year.

Tune in to Episode 4 of the Diverge Podcast with host Seamus Allardice as he talks through the Absa Cape Epic route and the form of the UCI men's and women's category riders 10 days out from the 2019 race. Coming hot on the revaluation that Howard Grotts has withdrawn from his title defense bid, due to illness, and that Samuel Gaze will now partner Jaroslav Kulhavy for Investec-songo-Specialized the show details the form of all the main contenders. Focusing on the South African hopefuls Alan Hatherly and Matthew Beers who will now team up for the Specialized Foundation-NAD.  In the women's race the form of Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad is ominously formidable, as the pair raced to a 1-2 finish at the Cyprus Sunshine Cup. Van der Breggen who finished second was 6 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of the third placed rider - former Junior World Champion Sina Frei.  But first we delve into the 2019 route in more detail.  If you would like to purchase a copy of the Mountain Bike Magazine 2019 Absa Cape Ep

For Episode 3 of the Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice sat down with the Director of the Cycle Tour Trust, Dave Bellairs. Dave and his team organise the world largest individually timed bicycle race, the Cape Town Cycle Tour which has for years set the benchmark for mass participation cycling events around the world. But organising the event is no easy feat; given water shortages, fires, gale force winds and delays to construction across the city of Cape Town. Take a listen to what goes into ensuring the fun rider world championships go off without a hitch on the second Sunday in March annually.  Music Credit: White Water by Apache Tomcat / Freemusicarchive.org

In this episode of the Diverge Podcast, host, Seamus Allardice spoke to 15 time South African champion Mariske Strauss. Strauss had returned the previous day from a victorious campaign, alongside her Silverback Fairtree teammate Jennie Stenerhag, at the Tankwa Trek - a UCI S1 stage race in the Koue Bokkeveld region of South Africa.  They discussed her early season form, her approach to the 2019 Absa Cape Epic, the upcoming World Cup season and the difficulties of being a South African racing a mountain bike around the world.  To find out more about Mariske Stauss please visit www.mariskestrauss.com. Music Credit: White Water by Apache Tomcat / Freemusicarchive.org

Join host Seamus Allardice and guest Oliver Munnik - the former full time rider, 9 time Absa Cape Epic finisher, jounalist and Rush Sports Marketing Manager - as they discuss the elite line-ups for the 2019 Absa Cape Epic.  The big race kicks off on the 17th of March from the University in Cape Town in South Africa and attracts the world's best mountain bikers to do battle over the eight days of racing. In 2019 riders will have to conquer 624km of challenging terrain and 16 650m of climbing - more meters of elevation gain per kilometre covered than in any of the previous fifteen editions of the race. The elite field includes World Champions Nino Schurter, Jaroslav Kulhavy, Annika Langvad, Anna van der Breggen, Henrique Avanchini and Alban Lakata to name but a few. To view the full list of elite riders taking part in the 2019 Absa Cape Epic click here: https://diverge.info/2019/02/05/stellar-elite-field-preparing-for-2019-absa-cape-epic/ Music Credit: White Water by Apache Tomcat / Freemusicarchive.org