Waleed Baker and Robert Sim have 20 Absa Cape Epic finishes between them. That experience has stood them in good stead in their first attempts at the Swiss Epic. Though it has not been all plain sailing.

“Having come from sea level, in Cape Town, the altitude here in Graubünden has been a bit of a shock to the system” Baker confessed after conquering the Queen Stage of the 2021 Swiss Epic. Having ascended to 2 606 metres above sea level, at the summit of the Scaletta Pass, the rarefied air was certainly a factor for the South Africans. “I’ve been struggling with my breathing a bit. But other than that, the scenery is spectacular and the trails are incredible. I’m definitely enjoying the ride, despite suffering from the altitude.”

When asked to compare the Swiss Epic, in Graubünden, to the Absa Cape Epic Sim stated: “There’s a big difference between the two Epic Series races, especially in terms of the terrain and the trails. In the Absa Cape Epic you have the wind, the heat and the dust. But here in Switzerland you have more technical trails. I think we made a mistake in not fitting dropper seatposts to our bikes for the race. Looking around nearly everyone has dropper posts here at the Swiss Epic. That said we’re enjoying the challenge and the landscape is certainly very beautiful.”

The other notable difference between the races is that all riders stay in hotels during the Swiss Epic while in the Absa Cape Epic there is a split between tented accommodation, hotels and camper vans. For the convenience of being in the race village but in order to have more comfort, both Baker and Sim have often stayed in camper vans during the Absa Cape Epics they have taken part in. “Look the hotels have been incredible” Baker began. “But you do miss the race village vibe. The camaraderie of having the other teams camping around you. That is one of the things which makes the Absa Cape Epic experience so special. It is a lot more comfortable staying in hotels though and it makes recovery after each stage a bit easier. Especially if you get to stay in the Grand Hotel des Bains, Kempinski, like we did in St. Moritz.”

“Both of us have competed a lot, in the past, in the Absa Cape Epic. We have been on the podium and won stages in the age-group categories” Sim reflected. “But we came here to enjoy ourselves, to have a fun ride. To be honest I haven’t even followed the racing too closely. It sounds like it’s really competitive in the Grand Masters category though. I have a few friends, who are racing, and I’m sure it’s tough up there; as it always is at Epic Series events.”

For South African travelling to Europe is anything but simple currently. As Baker explained, they very nearly did not make it to Graubünden for the 2021 Swiss Epic: “We very nearly had to postpone our entries to next year, because we were initially unable to get our second vaccine shots in time. But fortunately, we were able to get them and make it here. It was still very challenging traveling to Switzerland though, with Covid regulations and multiple tests. But we managed to get here and it’s been worth the challenges.”