Malta’s National Mountain Bike champion Luke Borg and experienced mountain biker Mark Bonnici are set to take on one of the world’s most demanding off-road cycling challenges – the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa.
Racing under the banner Epic Team Deloitte, Borg and Bonnici will represent Malta in a field that includes some of the world’s strongest professional and amateur mountain bikers.
Now in its 22nd edition, the Absa Cape Epic, widely regarded as the “Tour de France of Mountain Biking”, is an eight-day stage race that pushes riders to their limits across some of the Western Cape’s most rugged and spectacular terrain.
Renowned for its brutal climbs, technical descents, and extreme conditions, the race has captured the imagination of mountain bike riders around the world.
The Absa Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike race in the world and the only eight-day mountain bike stage race classified as Hors Catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Participation in the event is highly sought after, with entry places allocated through a lottery system due to the overwhelming demand. Bonnici had been attempting to secure a place in the race for several years, and when he was finally successful in the draw, he immediately invited Borg to join him for the challenge.
“We are fully aware of how brutal this race can be – the conditions it presents to riders, the long hours in the saddle and the relentless terrain,” said Borg.
“For most mountain bikers, the Cape Epic is firmly on the bucket list, and completing it even once is considered a major milestone.”
Preparing for the Absa Cape Epic has required extensive planning beyond physical training.
While both riders have spent countless hours on the bike to build the endurance needed for the race, the preparation has also involved significant logistical coordination, nutritional planning, and the securing of financial support to make participation possible.
“To me, this was also a major learning experience,” Borg continued.
“It was the first time we had to approach organisations and businesses to ask for support. The logistical preparation also included planning our race kit and ensuring our sponsors receive the visibility they deserve throughout the event.”
For Bonnici, the race represents the culmination of a long-held ambition.
“This is truly an adventure that has been a year in the making,” said Bonnici.
“We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from our sponsors and everyone who has helped make this challenge possible. The Cape Epic is one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, and we are proud to represent Malta on such a stage.”
The 707-kilometre route of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic will begin on Sunday, taking riders through the raw landscapes of South Africa’s Western Cape, with a demanding 15,900 metres of climbing across the course of the race.
The seven-stage event will conclude on 22 March in Stellenbosch.
Epic Team Deloitte is supported by Deloitte with additional support from Foster Clark Products, Akkura, Visit Malta with further support from , Nduranz, The Cyclist and Wheel Wizard
As they prepare to line up on the start line in South Africa, Borg and Bonnici carry with them not only months of preparation but also the ambition to complete one of mountain biking’s most iconic endurance challenges.
