The unforgettable mornings of the Cape Epic

For eight days, the breath of South Africa blended with the heartbeat of thousands of passionate fans. 

For eight consecutive mornings, Italian mountain bike enthusiasts repeated the same ritual: checking their phones for the position of Simone Avondetto and Luca Braidot in the Absa Cape Epic. 

And every time, their names appeared at the top of the rankings, closer to a result that no one, perhaps not even them, would have imagined possible on their first participation. 

Each stage of the Absa Cape Epic was a battle against the elements: the earth, the wind, the heat. And against fatigue that, kilometer after kilometer, became more intense, harder to tame. But Simone and Luca faced it all with determination, with the grit of those who didn’t come just to gain experience but to leave their mark. 

Every pedal stroke was a declaration of will: no obstacle was too big, no climb too tough, no crisis deep enough to bring them down. And when the headwind seemed to break the spirits of the riders, they increased the pace. When their legs screamed with exhaustion, they responded with even more determination. 

If only ten days ago they had told us that we would finish the Absa Cape Epic 2025 with three stage victories, a second-place overall, a day in the yellow jersey, podiums in seven out of eight stages… and if they had told us that it would be the most victorious team in the entire competition, honestly, we would have struggled to believe it. 

A Cape Epic led by protagonists, from the first to the last kilometer: always in the lead, always attacking. In an extreme competition, where athletes, materials, and staff are put to the test, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team showed excellence and determination, flawlessly. 

And it’s in competitions like this that the Urta MAX SLR proves once again to be the ideal machine: flawless on every type of terrain, responsive for the winning sprint, incredibly light to dominate the toughest climbs, and reliable to face such an extreme challenge, making it the most victorious bike of the 2025 edition. 

The Absa Cape Epic is a challenge that tested both body and mind, where Simone and Luca proved to have the strength and tenacity needed to overcome every obstacle, leaving an indelible mark on this legendary competition. 

The Absa Cape Epic 2025 is another important milestone in Wilier Triestina’s history in racing. A history that goes back a long way, to the 1946 Giro d’Italia. This result marks a fundamental step in our journey into the world of mountain biking. 

We are immensely proud to have reignited the passion among Italian bikers, showing that dedication, passion, and determination can lead to extraordinary achievements. This result resonates throughout the community, instilling confidence in the future of Italian mountain biking. 

The Cape Epic has concluded, and daily life has resumed its course, bringing us back to the same morning awakenings as always. 

Yet, in our memories, the echo of this edition will resonate forever, reminding us what it truly means to witness something extraordinary.