Cape town: Namibian cyclists Jacky Shipena and Jana von Backstrom, along with the men's pairing of Tristan de Lange and Martin Freyer, delivered standout performances at the Cape Epic, securing podium finishes in one of the world's most demanding mountain biking races.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Cape Epic is widely regarded as an iconic test of endurance, resilience, and teamwork, drawing thousands of aspiring participants each year. Covering a gruelling 650-kilometre route, the multi-stage event is renowned for pushing riders to their physical and mental limits.
Namibian competitors rose to the occasion in both the women's and men's open categories, claiming second and third place respectively in the race held between 15 to 22 March in Western Cape, South Africa. Shipena and Von Backstrom finished second overall in the women's race, completing the event in 50 hours, 56 minutes, and 10 seconds. They trailed the American duo of Jennifer Burtner and Callah Robinson, who secured victory in 44:48:47, by six hours, seven minutes, and 23 seconds.
In the men's category, De Lange and Freyer claimed third place with a finishing time of 31:32:58.7. The race was won by Mauritius' William Piat and Botswana's Mark van Zyl in 30:32:53.9, while South Africa's Jean-Pierre du Plessis and Cronje Beukes finished two minutes behind them.
Speaking to Nampa, debutant Shipena described the Cape Epic as an exceptionally demanding experience, but remained upbeat about her achievement. 'The Epic was extremely tough. It's long days out there; you come back, eat, sleep, and do it all over again,' she said.
She singled out the second stage as particularly difficult after suffering a puncture and a tear in her tyre, reportedly caused by a snake bite. Despite the setback, Shipena and Von Backstrom showed grit and determination to maintain their momentum and ultimately secure the runner-up position.
Shipena also used the opportunity to encourage greater female participation in cycling, saying her own journey into the sport is proof that progress is possible with commitment and support. 'I want to encourage women back home and elsewhere to get on their bikes and get involved. I began racing in 2022 and have spent the past four years developing my skills. I only learned how to ride single-track earlier this year, and it remains a challenge, although I have worked to improve through training camps and competitions,' she said.
She added that support from Absa enabled her to attend a training camp in Durban, an experience she credits as instrumental in helping her reach the starting line. Even so, Shipena noted that no amount of preparation can fully mirror the demands of the Cape Epic itself.