Back for another year, the 2023 Cape Epic was brimming with emotions. This ferocious test of physical and mental strength pushed Orbea cyclists to the limit, but teamwork, a fighting spirit and, above all, their passion for MTB brought them back atop the podium.
Getting to the top is a challenge that requires dedication, effort, perseverance and commitment. It’s a challenge that includes our values, and those of our teams, in a common goal: to share that incomparable feeling that can only be experienced on a bike.
The duo formed by Ibon Zugasti and Alice Pirard was a moving partnership. The Orbea Factory Team came to the Cape Epic to set a benchmark result in XC, both on and off the trails. And they more than fulfilled it.
A ‘HELL’ RACE TOWARD MOUNTAIN BIKE HEAVEN
We enjoyed watching the strong bonds develop between Ibon and Alice, two cyclists who will never give up even if hell is directly under their wheels.
With hard work and determination, the impossible becomes possible. Just two months ago, the idea of going to Cape Epic with the Orbea Factory Team seemed unattainable. But thanks to Ibon’s post-injury efforts and recovery and his search for the right partner, Ibon and Alice showed us that nothing is impossible.
Orbea Leatt Speed Company Racing gave it their all. Although they weren’t able to repeat their victory from last year, their delivery across every kilometer of the 2023 Cape Epic counts as a victory.
The passion that Georg Egger and Lukas Baum have for cycling is contagious. Our paths came together a year ago when two “crazy” XC riders dazzled us at the Costa Blanca Bike Race and the Mediterranean Epic with their OIZ.
This year, they did it again with the same humility and work that characterizes them. The team’s greatest treasures are the passion and respect they show for mountain biking. That is a victory that no one can take away from them.
For this reason, we didn’t hesitate to support the Pump For Peace racing team, an extension of a global initiative focused on building pump tracks in underprivileged communities.
Orbea joined this initiative alongside Ariane Luthi, a racer we’ve worked with in recent years. The goal: to make cycling and sports more accessible to everyone.