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Stars gear up for Epic battle in cycling challenge

Team Toyota… John Thompson, Danie Smit, Andrew and Cindy Kerby, Michael Mol, Jeremy Thompson, Bruce Diesel and Shaun Bartlett.

Natasha Bezuidenhout

Soccer star Shaun Bartlett and Sharks rugby player Jeremy Thompson are undergoing gruelling exercise routines to ready themselves for the Absa Cape Epic cycling challenge.

The sportsmen and their team (Team Toyota) gathered at the Cycle Park in Bryanston to discuss preparations for the eight-day ride from 21 to 28 March.

‘It will be a challenge moving from playing soccer to cycling,” said Bartlett.

“My biggest challenge is saving me from myself but I want to finish the epic.”

His trainer and teammate Bruce Diesel said Bartlett has impressed him with his endurance and power.

“He is an athlete and it comes naturally to him,” said Diesel.

The Absa Cape Epic challenge is one of the toughest races and high on the calendar for the best mountain bikers in the world. With 1 200 riders, 600 teams, 722 kilometres in eight days, and a climb of 14 635 metres – the team has its work cut out. Jeremy Thompson said he was an avid mountain biker and thoroughly enjoyed the Absa Cape epic during the past two years.

“It has been a real learning curve for me.

You want to stay in front. Mountain biking has a totally different way of training than rugby. The one is about endurance and the other power.” His cycling partner Michael Mol said nutrition and recovery were key.

“Nutrition is half the challenge. It is important to stay healthy and recover properly.”

natashab@caxton.co.za

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