Discovery Sport for two Namibian cyclists on their way to the Cape Epic

Mountainbikers Frikkie van Greunen and Wim Steenkamp with the Dealer Principal of Land Rover in Windhoek, Albert Pretorius (right). The two ulta-cyclists leave this week Thursday for the Western Cape to compete in the Cape Epic, gruelling race of 691 kilometres over eight days. Only 1200 riders are accepted after completing a demanding pre-selection trial.

With windy conditions persisting in and near Cape Town, the Cape Epic organisers said they do not foresee any problems with wind. The Cape Argus was cancelled last week Saturday due to the overpowering strength of the South-easter.

Making sure that they get there safely and can navigate all the tracks they will be riding on, is Land Rover Windhoek who has commissioned short videos of the two cyclists’ qualifying trials, supplied some kit, and willingly made available a Discovery Sport.

Steenkamp and van Greunen leave for their once in a lifetime experience on Thursday 16 March 2017 in a Cape Epic-branded all-new Discovery Sport. The Cape Epic starts on Sunday 19 March and ends on Sunday 28 March.

“When Wim and Frikkie approached Land Rover Windhoek for support to go to the Cape Epic, it struck me that they wanted to conquer something that is not always possible. This was when I realized this is their Above and Beyond opportunity and off course we were on board at that very moment”, said the Dealer Principal of Land Rover Windhoek, Mr Albert Pretorius.

Above & Beyond is the brand positioning and slogan for the Land Rover brand and epitomizes the gutsy approach of a brand that ventures into difficult and inhospitable terrain with the aim of conquering it.

The cyclists have been tracked by a film crew for the past few weeks capturing their grueling routines as they prepared for the epic race. A series of documentaries have been developed from this footage and posted on the Land Rover Windhoek Facebook page and on the local Land Rover website.

These short films record the various aspects of their training regime and detail their journey as they embark on one of the most challenging cycling events they’ll ever undertake. This type of documenting is a first for Land Rover Windhoek. The camera crew comprises Francois Lottering, capturing video, Mauricio Smit a drone pilot who captures aerial shots and Ndeshimona Ileka who captures stills for the project. After the first meeting with the cyclists, Smit said “I was shocked that morning when they arrived and I introduced myself. They weren’t even out of breath when they got there. These guys are machines!”

Land Rover South Africa is the official route and vehicle partner of the 2017 ABSA Cape Epic. Land Rovers have been used to explore and develop routes on the tough off-road and mountainous sections of the Epic.

Riders are pushed to the limit of their abilities and require exceptional skill to conquer the Epic.