Cannondale Factory Racing takes part again in the Absa Cape Epic

To do this will not be easy. You are dealing with an impressive field in recent years and the route, which is the most challenging for the equipment.

As two of the sport's most likeable and charismatic riders, Fumic and Avancini are crowd favorites. Their bid to win The Race That Measures All, which has eluded them until now, is being closely followed by mountain bike fans from around the world. However, special attention is being paid to South Africa, Germany and of course Brazil, Avancini's home country .

Brazil's mountain bike scene is growing
"The mountain bike scene in Brazil is growing rapidly," explained the four-time Brazilian cross-country champion. "I can't explain all the reasons why Brazilians have so much passion for MTB. All I can say is that we especially love this sport."

Proof of Brazil's adoration of mountain biking is the fact that 25 Brazilian teams are registered for the 2020 Absa Cape Epic. In addition to the physical commitment of these riders, Brazil contributed the second highest number of spectators to the live broadcast of 2019.

The former marathon world champion dedicated the alignment of the world's best mountain bike stage race to a busy Olympic year, adding:

"From my point of view, this race is one of the biggest for every mountain biker. I think every top rider who competes in the Absa Cape Epic has to do this race."

Avancini's thoughts on the subject are echoed by his partner Fumic. "In recent years, South Africa in general and Stellenbosch in particular have become the team base for our preparations," began the German. "We are excited to be back in one of the biggest MTB events on the calendar. The Absa Cape Epic is the ultimate test."

"We've progressed over the years, taking many stage wins and two podiums," Fumic stressed. "We're coming back this year to finally take the yellow jersey and the overall win."

Cannondale Factory Racing's training camp took place again in South Africa in December 2019. The entire team, consisting of riders, team manager, performance manager, technical coach, fitness coach, mechanic, physiotherapist and chef, spent 15 days getting to know the terrain and temperatures of the Western Cape, as well as testing equipment on tracks similar to those used in March. On one of their few days off, Avancini and Fumic, along with Oliver Munnik and Craig Kolesky, shot the Land Rover Technical Terrain for Stages 1 and 2, which will be released in the coming weeks.

Last chance for Fumic
For Fumic, the senior partner on the team, 2020 will be his last shot at the title.

"2020 is my last season after 20 years of racing," he clarified. "I have won many races in my career, but I still miss the big win at the Absa Cape Epic. I'm highly motivated and really looking forward to this last challenge with Henrique and my Cannondale team."

Cannondale Factory Racing must defeat the winners of 2019, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing, to do so. Given the ferocity of their battles in Hermanus, Elgin and Stellenbosch in March 2019, mountain bike fans are eagerly awaiting the rematch between the Nino Schurter / Lars Forster and Fumic / Avancini combination. "For sure, Nino and Lars will be one of the teams to watch in 2020, and I want to have a rematch like that in my last year," Fumic said. "We had some good fights with them and it was a close race in 2019."

"I'm happy to see Nino and Lars racing again and to have the chance to fight against them while I race with Fumic one last time," Avancini agreed. "It's important to be on the same level with your partner and have the same goal, otherwise you can end up being more motivated than your partner," Avancini advised. "This has to do with everything in the race. Keeping the emotional balance and ambitions on the same level is key to success."

"The Absa Cape epic is unpredictable, though; it's wild and hard to win," Fumic adds.

Fans can be sure that the Cannondale Factory Racing Team will once again ensure that the 2020 race will be exciting.

Eight exciting stages of mountain bike action await and as Fumic said, "Anything can happen and that's what makes the Absa Cape Epic so unique. We can't wait ... "