Maltese endurance cyclists Etienne Bonello and Marie Claire Aquilina – racing as Team Kalamba Racing – are set to return to South Africa to compete in the Absa Cape Epic, the toughest mountain bike stage race in the calendar, determined to complete the race together after last year’s dramatic setback.
Often described as the “Tour de France of mountain biking,” the Absa Cape Epic is an eight-day stage race held annually in South Africa’s Western Cape.
The event takes riders across rugged mountains, remote valleys, and demanding technical trails, testing not only physical endurance but also teamwork, resilience, and mental strength in extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.
Riders must compete in two-person teams, making partnership a crucial element of this kind of competition. For Bonello and Aquilina, that teamwork is exactly what brings them to return to the start line together.
Their 2025 campaign came to a dramatic disruption during the second day of the race when Aquilina got involved in a crash, breaking her sacral bone.
Unknowingly at the time, and yet determined not to abandon the challenge immediately, she attempted to continue despite the pain and crawling speed. However, the severity of the injury ultimately forced her to withdraw from the race on the fourth day, leaving Bonello to continue the remaining stages alone.
Although Bonello finished the race solo, the experience left the duo with an unrelinquished thirst of unfinished business.
“This race demands everything from you,” said Aquilina.
“Last year was incredibly difficult because, despite preparing so much for it, I had to retire from the race after getting involved in a crash, and that was pretty devastating. Now we’re back to face the fear – to finish what we started, and get to the finish line – together!”
For Etienne Bonello, the decision to return was immediate.
“Completing the race without Marie Claire last year was bittersweet,” he explained.
“The Cape Epic is designed to be raced as a team. From the moment I crossed the final finish line, we both knew we wanted to come back and take on the challenge together again.”
The 2026 Absa Cape Epic, which begins on Sunday, March 15, will cover approximately 707km with nearly 15,900m of climbing across the Western Cape.
The race blasts off with a fast, technical prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate before riders face punishing climbs and rocky trails around Montagu. Stage 3, covering 134 km from Montagu to Greyton, is the longest and will test every rider across vast, open wilderness.
But it’s Stage 5 – the Queen Stage – that steals the show.
Hailed as ‘one of the biggest, meanest stages in years,’ it demands total endurance, strength, and grit.
From Greyton, riders battle long distances and massive climbs toward Stellenbosch, home to South Africa’s most iconic mountain bike trails.
Then there’s the weather – a wild card that can swing from scorching heat, with temperatures soaring to 47°C, to wet and muddy conditions.
Either extreme brings its own challenges, making every stage unpredictable and every moment critical.
Eight relentless days, extreme terrain, and unrelenting conditions make this race a true test of resilience, whilst the Grand Finale awaits!
Backup support will be provided to Team Kalamba Racing by Christian Mangion.
Bonello and Aquilina are sponsored by Kalamba Games, with support from Garmin and Visit Malta. Their technical partners include 226ERS, Ascend Creative Studio, BBB Cycling, IDMatch Bikefit Lab, The Sports Medics, Tristar Travel, and Würth.
“Cape Epic pushes you to the very limits of your being – physically, mentally, and even in terms of what your bike can endure. Simply put, it is the toughest challenge there is in mountain biking,” concluded Bonello.
