Maltese Riders Open Cape Epic With Strong Prologue Showing in Testing Heat

Three Maltese teams began their 2026 Absa Cape Epic adventure with determined performances in the 20km Prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in South Africa. Early starters Team Kalamba Racing and Epic Team Deloitte benefitted from cooler morning temperatures, while Team Gaudos faced scorching afternoon heat that reached 43°C.

Team Kalamba Racing (Etienne Bonello / Marie Claire Aquilina) were first on course, finishing in 1:11:30.5 to place 24th in their category. Epic Team Deloitte (Mark Bonnici / Luke Borg) completed the route in 1:02:44.9, securing 65th in Open Men and 165th overall.

Team Gaudos (Stephen Grima / Brandon Sultana), starting later in extreme heat, still managed a solid 1:10:13.7, placing 127th in Open Men and 353rd overall.

With the Prologue complete, the Maltese riders now turn their focus to tomorrow’s demanding 90km Stage 1 in Montagu, featuring 2,150m of elevation, as the long and challenging journey toward the Cape Epic finish line continues.

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