Cape Town - Absa Cape Epic stalwart, Corrie Muller, partnered with female Olympian, Mari Rabie, to stand on the podium in Stages 4, 5 and 7 - and an overall fourth place finish - in the mixed team section of this year's race.
“Although the highlight was three podium positions, my outstanding takeaway from this brutal and technical race was partnering with an incredible human being who turned out to be the perfect race partner. What was even more special was that Mari was my flower girl at my wedding 26 years ago, so to ride with her in her first Epic was very rewarding,” said Muller.
“Although racing my ninth Epic, this internationally acclaimed multi-staged mountain bike race lived up to its nickname - #Untamed. The very hot weather was unprecedented and the course very technical,” he added.
Muller's partner in the mixed category, Rabie, retired as an elite triathlete after competing in the Rio Olympic Games last year.
“It made perfect sense to partner with Corrie in my first Epic as our families have been friends for over three decades and I was his flower girl,” said Rabie.
“A highlight was being in the starting shoot with the Fairtree Capital Academy 1 team and then finishing on the podium in the final stage,” she said.
SA Olympian Mari Rabie and partner Corrie Muller struggle up the Hemel & Aarde Valley in Stage 2 of this year's Absa Cape Epic (Supplied)