Gozitan mountain bikers Stephen Grima and Brandon Sultana, racing as Team Gaudos, are set to return to South Africa this March to compete once again in the legendary Absa Cape Epic, one of the most demanding endurance races in mountain biking.

The duo made history in 2025 when they became the first Gozitan team to successfully complete the Absa Cape Epic, a landmark achievement for the cycling community in Malta and Gozo.  Now they return to the Western Cape for another shot at the gruelling challenge, bringing with them the experience gained from their first participation.

This year’s edition of the race begins onSunday 15 March with a fast and technical prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, setting the stage for eight relentless days of racing across South Africa’s Western Cape.

From there, riders will venture through some of the region’s most rugged landscapes, tackling stages that pass through Montagu, Greyton and Stellenbosch, combining demanding climbs, rocky trails and flowing singletrack across vineyards, mountains and remote valleys.

For Team Gaudos, returning to the Cape Epic is both a continuation of their own journey and another opportunity to represent Gozo on an international stage.

“Completing the race last year was a huge personal achievement for both of us,” said Grima. “Once you’ve experienced the Cape Epic, you realise just how unique and demanding it is. Coming back gives us the chance to push ourselves even further.”

Sultana added that their first participation provided valuable lessons. “Last year taught us a lot about pacing, preparation and teamwork. The Cape Epic is a race where experience counts, and we hope to use that knowledge this year.”

For Stephen Grima, however, the Cape Epic represents just the beginning of an even bigger challenge. The Gozitan rider has set himself the ambitious goal of competing in the entire Epic Series during the year, racing in several of the world’s leading mountain bike stage races across Europe and beyond — albeit with different teammates along the way.

The Epic Series which consist of a total of 25 stage races, a total distance of 1800km and an total elevation of 45,000m – includes renowned international events such as the 4Islands Epic in Croatia, the Andorra Epic in the Pyrenees, the Swiss Epic, and the Wine 2 Whales – also in South Africa, each offering multi-day racing across iconic mountain biking destinations

“As riders from Gozo, we are proud to represent our island and Malta in races of this level,” said Sultana. “Events like the Cape Epic bring together riders from all over the world, and being part of that environment is an incredible experience.”

With months of preparation behind them and another demanding week of racing ahead, Team Gaudos now look forward to once again taking on one of mountain biking’s most iconic endurance challenges.