A Race of KMC Mountain Bike Team emotion at the ABSA Cape Epic

In true fashion, it was the ABSA Cape Epic highs, lows and everything in between for Smeenge and Ruijter, this year.

The KMC Mountain Bike Team duo arrived in South Africa with expectations of being a competitive handful to a heavy line up but were struck with an unlucky start to the eight-day stage race.

A nailed tyre, stomach bug, and dehydration cost them over the course of the race, but nothing could hold them back from giving it their all.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

They managed a couple of good results when the tables turned in their favour, claiming an impressive fifth and eleventh place finish on the final two stages in Stellenbosch and an overall result of twenty-fourth place in the UCI Men’s Category.