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Former Bok to tackle Cape Epic

Cape Town - Joel Stransky, renowned for his winning drop kick in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, has signed himself up for the seventh Absa Cape Epic - a gruelling 722km mountain bike race, created to push even an established sportsman like himself to his athletic limit.

Stransky has a rugby career that speaks for itself. He played internationally for South Africa on 22 occasions, for the Sharks on 80 occasions, was part of the Western Province team for 55 matches and participated in another 54 matches for the Leicester Tigers.

This legendary flyhalf is participating in this year’s Absa Cape Epic with team mate Pierre Loubser on behalf of the JAG Foundation.

“When JAG approached me to cycle on their behalf as part of the charity celeb team, I said yes without hesitation," says Stransky.

"I’ve heard so much about this incredible event and how tough it is. I suppose somewhere in my mind it became one of those challenges that one needs to do and tick off the list.”

Stransky is a firm believer in putting in the hours, as he is training six out of seven days a week in preparation for the Epic, and although he has completed the Cape Argus several times before, he recognises that this race is a different kind of challenge.

For his many followers Stransky offers the following advice. “Nothing comes easy and for every extremely talented sportsperson in every sport there are probably 20 more that are just as talented.

"Hard work and dedication are the difference between success and failure, as well as mental toughness - the ability to never give up.

"You need to accept that everyone experience failures along the way, but they’re only part of the process of succeeding.

"The old clich is a very wise one - If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”

In his free time Stransky enjoys spending time with his family, veterans league soccer, cycling and golf. His goals for this year include completing the Epic, watching a few rugby matches and beginning to study again.

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