Maltese cyclist Etienne Bonello has completed one of the world’s toughest endurance events—the Absa Cape Epic—showing true strength, determination, and resilience in what many call the “Tour de France of mountain biking.”
The eight-day race, held in South Africa’s Western Cape, covers more than 600km of rough terrain and includes a massive 16,500 metres of climbing. Bonello entered the race in the Mixed category with Marie Claire Aquilina, but their journey took a sudden turn when Aquilina had to pull out early due to injury. Despite this major setback, Bonello decided to continue the race on his own, determined to finish what they had started together.
The pair started well, placing 14th in the prologue out of 73 international teams in the mixed category. But things quickly became more difficult.
In Stage 1, Aquilina had a bad crash at the 29km point and injured her back. Despite being in pain, she bravely finished the stage. The next day brought even more challenges, with both riders struggling through a hot time trial in 38°C temperatures. Bonello suffered from tiredness and heat exhaustion.
By Stage 3, Aquilina’s injury became too painful, and despite trying to carry on, she had no choice but to stop racing. Bonello was left to complete the rest of the Cape Epic alone—a tough challenge for even the most experienced riders.
Each stage brought fresh challenges. Bonello had to deal with intense heat, tough climbs, bike problems, and slippery tracks. Stage 5, called “Killer Queen,” was especially tough, with cold rain and muddy hills. Bonello, like many others, had to get off his bike and push it through thick clay. He said, “The finish line may be near, but the journey remains fierce.”
By the second to last stage, Bonello gave one of his best performances. Thanks to his experience and a smart recovery plan, he rode strongly through the Helderberg Mountains. “I had the best legs of the whole week,” he said. “When you’re feeling good, everything just seems to work better.”
On Sunday, the final stage had to be changed because of bad weather the night before. With the end in sight, Bonello gave it everything and crossed the finish line of the Absa Cape Epic—against all odds.
“Today is a bittersweet day,” Bonello said. “I managed to finish this epic race—facing heatwaves, crashes, riding solo, and really tough terrain. It was hard not to finish with my teammate Marie Claire, and going it alone needed a lot of extra determination. But I’m so thankful for her support—she was there for me throughout, even from the sidelines. This finish is for her too.”
