From the Absa Cape Epic, in March, to FNB Wines2Whales, in November, the 2025 Epic Series will thrill with spectacular singletracks, challenge with arduous ascents, celebrate the camaraderie of the race villages, and welcome teams home like the champions they are on the final finish lines. It will take mountain bikers from South Africa’s Western Cape and iconic vistas of Table Mountain into the high passes of the Pyrenees. The opportunities for exploration abound, from the ancient limestone trails of Croatia’s Kvarner islands to the alpine lakes of Switzerland’s largest canton, Graubünden. All these experiences, and more, await for those who choose to Race the World in 2025…
Dates: 16-23 March 2025
Status: Sold Out
Website: www.epic-series.com/capeepic
Instagram: @capeepic
Facebook: Cape Epic
The Pinnacle event of the Epic Series is also the first race of the calendar year. It is the event which pioneered mountain bike stage racing as a team sport and helped create an ethos of ultra-endurance riding in South Africa. Famed for its tough routes, which change for every edition, it is a bucket list challenge which transcends off-road racing and reaches into the consciousness of cyclists around the world. In 2025 the 608 kilometre long route features 16 500 metres of climbing and though entries are sold out fans can watch the action as it unfolds, and some of the world’s top elite mountain bikers do battle, on the Epic Series YouTube channel.
Dates: 15-19 April 2025
Status: Sold Out | 2-Day Explore Entries Available
Website: www.epic-series.com/4islands
Instagram: @4islandsmtb
Facebook: 4Islands MTB
Race the rocks of Croatia’s Kvarner islands in possibly the most unique race in the sport. Visiting four islands over five days the 4Islands Epic Croatia explores an ancient landscape sculpted by history. The riding is deceptively tough with steep climbs from sea level and rocky trail surfaces ensuring a serious test of skill and fitness. Off the bike the ferry transfers, accommodation on boats or in port town hotels, and a compact but mobile race village produces a holiday atmosphere. To take it all in teams need to race hard and relax harder, which sounds like the ideal mountain biking experience!
Dates: 3-6 July 2025
Status: Limited Entries Available | 2-Day Explore Entries Available
Website: www.epic-series.com/andorra
Instagram: @andorra_epic
Facebook: Andorra Epic
The Pyrenean Principality of Andorra is synonymous with mountain biking. Having hosted UCI World Cup and World Championship events for over two decades it boasts bike parks and singletrack networks which criss-cross the world’s sixteenth smallest country. Still the Epic Series route team have been able to uncover hidden gems and even experienced campaigners, like José Antonio Hermida, were surprised to discover that the Andorra Epic Pyrenees took them to new places. The stages are relatively short, but feature climbs to over 2 000 metres above sea level meaning the days are not to be underestimated. Teams stay in la Massana throughout, which makes the event the easiest logistically of all the Epic Series stage races.
Dates: 13-17 August 2025
Status: Limited Entries Available | 2-Day Explore Entries Available
Website: www.epic-series.com/swissepic
Instagram: @swiss_epic
Facebook: Swiss Epic
Many parts of the world claim to be the ideal mountain biking destination, but few can match the diversity of riding and the abundance of facilities which Graubünden boasts. The canton’s Trail Tolerance policy means that mountain bikers have access to a vast network of hiking trails as well as some of the world’s best purpose built singletracks and rugged natural trails, carved by the hooves of the Swiss mountain cattle. On the bike teams can expect some of the longest climbs they will ever encounter, but what goes up must come down and this leads to breathtaking descents too. The SPAR Swiss Epic must be experienced to be fully appreciated, because its vast scope is beyond written description.
Dates: 31 October-9 November 2025
Status: Entries Open, 14 February 2025
Website: www.epic-series.com/wines2whales
Instagram: @wines_2_whales
Facebook: Wines2Whales
Featuring three, three-day, races across ten days of incredible mountain biking the FNB Wines2Whales is a series within a series. The Chardonnay race opens proceedings with all the attention focused on the Elite and Age Group women’s teams. Mid-week the Pinotage is an E-Powered E-Bike festival, to which normally aspirated (read traditional analogue) riders are also invited. The Shiraz race concludes the festivities with the Elite and Age Group men’s races, as well as the Exxaro Jersey competition and the Mixed category battle. The trails are world class, with manicured singletracks and magnificent bridges connected by hand-built tracks across the Overberg, Elgin Valley, and into the Helderberg Basin. In 2025 the route will follow the Switchback format, from the whales of the Overberg coast, near Hermanus, to the wines of Lourensford in Somerset West. Entries open, as is traditional for the event, on Valentines Day – 14 February 2025. Do no miss the serious gees of the final Epic Series event of the year.
Website: www.epic-series.com/explore
4Islands Explore: 15 & 16 April 2025
Andorra Explore: 5 & 6 July 2025
SPAR Swiss Explore: 16 & 17 August 2025
Introduced for the 2025 season the 2-Day Explore events within the 4Islands Epic Croatia, Andorra Epic Pyrenees, and SPAR Swiss Epic provide solo riders with a tantalising taste of all the things which makes the Epic Series so special. As the name suggests the ride will take place over two days, coinciding with the final stages of each of the three European Epic Series events. The Explore entries include service stations and nutrition on route, morning coffee and post-stage recovery meals, daily bike wash and bike park in the race village, transfers to start and finish locations (if needed), as well as luggage transfer between start and finish locations (if needed). Entrants will then need to book accommodation packages through the events’ entry portal or organise their own accommodation. The 2-Day Explore entries are limited to ensure a premium Epic Series experience, so would-be entrants are encouraged to secure their spots soon.