17 take 2 for the Last Lions
Missing the 2020 Absa Cape Epic was a massive disappointment for every entrant to last year’s race. Arguably, the 4 riders who missed it the most were the Last Lions, the riders who have dedicated the previous 16 months of March to racing the Absa Cape Epic. Craig Beech, John Gale, Mike Nixon and Hannele Steyn have been ever-present at the Absa Cape Epic. They are the Last Lions, so named because they are the only members of the Amabubesi–which means pride of lions in Zulu–Finisher Club to have completed every edition, thus far, of the race. These 4 riders have clocked-up12126-kilometresof Untamed racing, climbed251967-metresinelevation and completed 129 stages in the process. Missing an Absa Cape Epic is simply not an option for them. Which is why being forced to do so by a global pandemic was particularly challenging. “I think we all got affected in different ways, but we surely all had our little battles” the Last Lioness, Steyn, reflected. “Whether it was as a pro rider, whose earnings got cut off, or me, one of the Last Lions who missed out on another potential Absa Cape Epic and has to face the next one at an even older age. The Absa Cape Epic has been a part of my life since I was 38 and, in a way, it has become a second business; with its own challenges. To all of the sudden go without it created its own weird pressures.
”In October 2021 Steyn will be racing alongside Nixon, as was the plan for 2020. “Firstly, doing it with a friend, someone with the same goal and mindset, is very special” Steyn said. “Although we are 55 and 62 respectively, we will never just ride. We trained as hard as we could, juggling our own companies, and we’ll race as hard as we can. We know our bodies cannot race the youngsters any more. But we’ll be doing our best without going into that ‘pain beyond words’ zone and putting safety before madness. Mike[Nixon]is an amazing athlete, person, friend and someone I admire, not only because of the dedication him and I share for the Absa Cape Epic.”
“We have trained together twice a week for the last 2 months and understand each other ‘sweaknesses and strengths” Steyn added, as a warning to the “youngsters” in the Virgin Active Mixed category. “We can chat and we can just be quiet; but we know we are giving our best all the time.” Giving their best is exactly what fans of the race have come to expect from the Last Lions. There will, undoubtedly, be a mini race between the 4 for the best overall position. While Steyn and Nixon have each-other to rely on, Gale will be racing with George Evans, as Team Fat Bob, in the Grand Masters category.
Beech meanwhile, will be teaming up with Louis Smith for the third time, as LEATT-itude. Along with the Last Lions, who have ridden all 16 Absa Cape Epics to date, there are 3 crew members who have worked at each edition of the race. They are Dianovan Lucus, Jerome Smith and Paul Valstar. Riders–including Beech, Gale, Nixon and Steyn–will once again hear Valstar’s voice echoing across the race village in 2021.
While Lucus and Smith’s vital input, on signage and advanced setup, will be, arguably, more important. Especially to riders with less Absa Cape Epic experience than the Last Lions, who by now can find everything in the race villages by habit alone.
Be sure to tune in to the Live Broadcast of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic, from 17-24 October, on theAbsa Cape Epic website,Facebook page, orYouTube channel.