Optional extras

All you have to do is ride & relax

Although the event is full service, there are various optional extras to enhance your Absa Cape Epic experience. Whether it is bed and breakfast accommodation or simply getting your clothes washed for a fresh kit the next day, these extras are well worth it and will go a long way in your Untamed African 8-day journey.

Please note that services and upgrades are in high demand and sell out quickly. Only once payment has been received, will your order be confirmed. These items are not available for purchase on registration day, so be sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Optional extra services purchased are non-refundable.  However, if a team withdraws and we are able to re-sell the optional extra (e.g. confirmed hotel room) to another team, we will refund the team and a 15% admin/cancellation fee will apply.

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Purchasing Process

Riders can visit the Optional Extras store by signing into their online profile.  We will update riders of any changes and/or additions to each service as they become applicable.

*If an item is sold out, contact us on [email protected] if you'd like to be put onto a waiting list.

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Pre Accommodation

If this is your first time visiting South Africa and you would like to experience the city of Cape Town during your stay, then a 3 or 4 night pre-accommodation package is perfect for you. The shorter 1 and 2 night pre-accommodation packages are convenient options for the local South African rider who requires a shorter stay, but would also like to experience the race hotel atmosphere and enjoy the pre-race services.

All packages are sold per team and include transport for the team, as well as for your rider bags and bikes from the race hotel to the start venue (this is not included in the standard race entry fee).

  • Hotel Check-In: Check-in time is after 14:00 and check-out time is before 11:00.
    If you will be arriving earlier than 14:00, please let us know. In the event that your room is not yet ready, the hotel will provide facilities for you to freshen up and store your luggage.
  • Rooms: All rooms will have two single beds, for you and your riding partner.  There will be a secure area provided by the hotel for you to store your bike.  
  • Absa Cape Epic Information Desk: A team from the Absa Cape Epic will be on hand at the hotel during certain times to answer any of your race specific questions.
  • Pre-Event Outride (Fri Morning) - Exclusively for 3, 4 and 5 night pre-accommodation packages
  • Breakfast: Breakfast is included in your package and will be served daily in the hotel restaurant.
  • Dinner at the hotel restaurant on Friday and Saturday night
  • Transport: Shuttles or coaches will be available to transport you, your bag and your bike to registration and the Prologue.
  • Grand Finale bag check-in for transfer to the Grand Finale: This is a transport services for any bags, bike boxes or other luggage that you would like transferred directly to the Grand Finale. There is no restriction on size and quantity of items you may check in. These bags will be securely stored for the duration of the event, and you will only have access to them after the finish on the Sunday at the Grand Finale venue, even if you drop out of the race during the week.

*Please note: Airport transfers are not included in this package.

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Post Accomodation

These packages are per team and include the following:

  • Breakfast at the race hotel
  • Transport from the Grand Finale to the race hotel for you, your bags and bikes (Sun)
     

*Please note: Airport transfers are not included in this package.

We offer post-accommodation packages for riders that would like to enjoy a few extra days to explore Cape Town. This package includes transport from the Grand Finale venue back to the hotel.

The post-accommodation options can be either a 3 night, 2 night or 1 night package depending on your travel needs.

  • Hotel Check-In: Check-in time is after 14:00 and check-out time is before 11:00.
  • Rooms: All rooms will have two single beds, for you and your riding partner.
  • Breakfast: Breakfast is included in your package and will be served in the hotel restaurant.
  • Transport: Dedicated coaches will be available on Grand Finale day to transport you, your bag and bike back to the hotel.

Please note: No bikes will be transported unless they are packed in a bike bag or box.  You can check in your bike bag or box onto the Grand Finale bag truck on registration day and collect it on Grand Finale day to load your bike in for transport.

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Avis Upgrade

The Avis Upgrade package includes the following for both riders:

  • 7 nights in hotel or B&B accommodation (depending on availability).
  • Daily 45-minute massage at your hotel/ B&B.
  • Shuttle transport between the race village and your hotel/ B&B.
  • Your rider bag collected from and delivered to the hotel/ B&B on moving days.
  • Bike Park passes for a 3rd party (e.g., your mechanic) to have permission to collect your bike on your behalf.
  • Both team members are upgraded when purchasing this package and rooms are on a per person sharing basis.
  • This package is available to riders only, not supporters.
  • In towns where accommodation is limited, the organisers may be required to secure additional accommodation in surrounding areas. All efforts will be made to ensure minimal travelling time between your accommodation and the race village but in some cases travelling time of up to 35 minutes will be required.
  • In order to maintain our good standing relationship with our towns and accommodation venues, we are unable to share which venues riders will be staying in this far in advance.  We will share the necessary details with teams closer to the race. 
Person with laundry bag

Laundry Service

The laundry service includes:

  • 1 x laundry bag
  • 6 x wash & dry

If you pre-purchased the laundry service, you will receive a laundry bag in your rider bag at registration.

Late bookings are accepted at Registration or Stage 1, but a late booking fee will apply, we therefore encourage riders to secure this package before the optional extra store closes.

  • Laundry must be checked-in and collected in the official laundry bag provided.
  • Do not overfill: 1 set of kit per wash
  • No shoes or helmets
  • Laundry can only be checked-in or out by a rider with an accreditation wristband OR by a cardholder with the corresponding rider number.

Please note: The Laundry Service team takes great care with all items, but laundry will be serviced at your own risk.

Person giving massage to a rider

Massage Service

The massage service includes:

  • 7 massage sessions of 45 minutes each (1 per day excluding the Grand Finale)
  • The massage service will offer massage and strapping services.
  • Individual bookings of open slots are available on-event only.
  • Your first massage session will take place at Race Village 1.
  • When you have paid for this service, you will be able to book your massage slots online, the option to do so will show under your compulsory actions in your online profile once this has been set live.  Please note there are limited slots available, and they are booked on a first come, first served basis.
  • Once your booking has been submitted you will receive a confirmation email with a summary of your booked time slots. 
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Mobile Home Parking Spot

The Absa Cape Epic will only be selling Mobile Home Parking packages, it is the riders' responsibility to organise their own mobile home/camper van. Only standard mobile homes will be allowed into the mobile home park - NO caravans or other recreational vehicle types.  

  • Teams will need to organise a driver to drive their mobile home to the next race villages while they ride
  • We suggest organising a gazebo/pop-up canopy for your demarcated area.
  • Specific spots will be allocated to teams, if you have a grouping request please email [email protected]
  • Supporters will not have access to the rider dining marquee unless they have purchased an additional package called the Mobile Home Supporters Meals package
  • The only tents allowed to be set up in the mobile home park are the official Absa Cape Epic tents
  • No fires will be allowed in the mobile home park.  No braaing, barbecuing or bon-fires
  • Overnight stay will be available at Meerendal from the evening of 16 March (after the Prologue stage) until the morning of 23 March (Grand Finale Stage) at Lourensford.
  • 8m x 7m demarcated parking spot in each race village
  • Dedicated ablution services
  • Access to power
  • Option to bring a maximum of 2 supporters along with access to tents and mattresses (deposit required to collect tents/mattresses)

There are a limited number of these packages available and they can only be purchased through a registered rider's online profile who has bought a Mobile Home Parking package.

The Mobile Home Supporter Meals package includes the following for 1 supporter:

  • 7 breakfasts and dinners in the rider dining marquee

Mobile home supporter tents should be pitched within their allocated mobile home area.

Collections: The tents and mattresses can be collected from the mobile home park manager at Stage 1. Please note that you will only be able to collect these if you have paid the deposit in advance.

Returns: All items must be returned again before the start of Stage 7.


The following system will apply:

  • R 2000 deposit to be paid online via credit card.  Please note, all deposits MUST be paid via credit card.
  • The deposit will include up to 2 tents, mattresses and a mattress covers
  • The deposit will be refunded after the event directly onto the credit card used to pay the deposit if all items are returned in the same condition as received
  • You will be responsible for pitching, breaking down and transporting the tents, mattresses and mattress covers between race villages.
  • PLEASE NOTE: The only tents allowed are the tents provided by the Absa Cape Epic. 
Riders at a nutrition station during the race

Personal Race Nutrition

The personal race nutrition service includes the following:

  • 5 x personalised 800ml Absa Cape Epic water bottles with your assigned rider number on the bottles
  • Your own chilled drinks will be available on route and at the finish line each day


Please note: Personal race nutrition service is not available at the Prologue. The first time you will check in your race nutrition bottles is the evening before Stage 1.

  • If you have purchased this service, collect your Absa Cape Epic water bottles on registration day at the race nutrition station. Take note that only these water bottles can be used for this service.
  • Each evening you should check-in three of your five personalised bottles at the race nutrition truck, parked outside the rider dining marquee between 17:30 and 19:00. Two (yellow lids) filled with your preferred race energy drink and the third (black lid) with your post-race recovery drink. The additional two water bottles (yellow lids) will be with you from the start of the stage.
  • The water bottles will be delivered chilled to the designated water point each day, marked on your daily route profile sticker, and to the finish line water point. You will also receive an orange bottle sticker on your number board to notify the race nutrition team on route that you have purchased this service.
Photographer doing shots with riders

Photo Pack by Sportograf

Each day of the race the Sportograf photographers are out to capture the special moments and memories of you on the route. These images are available for you to purchase as soon as one week after the race.

By purchasing your photo package pre-event through the Optional Extra store at the discounted price (TBA), you will be sent a photo of you out on the route each day and the rest of your photos will be sent to you in the week after the race.

The photo package includes all images taken of you during the race plus over 30 impression shots of the event. Photos are for personal use only and may not be used for commercial purposes. 

For any queries or requests about your photos after the event you can contact Sportograf on [email protected].  

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Tents and vans at Cape Epic

Single Tent Upgrade

The Single Tent Upgrade includes the following:

  • 1 x single canvas tent in the Race Village for 7 nights (Prologue - Stage 6)
  • 1 x stretcher bed, mattress, and bedding (Fitted sheet, flat sheet, comforter, fleece blanket & pillow)
  • 1 x power/plug point (special adaptors not included)
  • Bedside table & LED light
  • 1 x camping chair
  • Dedicated ablution facilities
     

There are limited packages available. 

Please note: The Single Tent Upgrade is sold per rider. If both riders in the team wish to upgrade and have their own single tent, two Single Tent Upgrade packages must be purchased.

Person doing bike maintenance and service

Bike / Mechanic Service

The Absa Cape Epic does not offer bike maintenance packages as an optional extra, but there are bike shops set up in our Race Village and Support Village who can assist with bike maintenance packages and walk-ins during the race.  

Please see details below of bike shops that you can contact directly:

Epic Series Technical Partners

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