epa09529817 The professional elite riders led by Team Bulls rider Simon Stiebjahn from Germany race in a peloton on a dirt road during Stage 1 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race over 98km in and around the town of Ceres, South Africa, 18 October 2021. This year's event sees 600 riders tackle 620 kilometres over 8 days of riding and 15,350 metres of vertical ascent. The race includes UCI pro riders and amateur's in what is seen by many as the premier MTB stage race in the world. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
