First day of racing sees Maltese duo in 14th Place
Etienne Bonello and Marie Claire Aquilina finished 14th in the mixed category on the opening day of the Absa Cape Epic, a strong result considering the high level of competition, including professional riders.
As expected, the tough course put bikes to the test. Bonello suffered a puncture during the race, which fortunately sealed itself, but a post-race check revealed six thorns in his tyres. With hot and humid conditions making things even harder, the pair are now resting ahead of tomorrow’s demanding second stage – a 92km ride with 2,759m of climbing.
The Absa Cape Epic is an eight-day mountain bike race, covering around 608km with a total of 16,500m of climbing. Held in South Africa’s Western Cape, the route takes riders through private farms, rugged trails, and famous wine estates, offering both stunning scenery and tough challenges.
Bonello and Aquilina’s participation is supported by Meerendal Wine Estate, Kalamba Games, Garmin, BBB Cycling, The Sports Medics, Go&Fun, and Visit Malta. They also have the backing of the Maltese Olympic Committee, SportMalta, and the Malta Cycling Federation.
