Cape Epic 2025: Triumphant victory for the PROTECTIVE Megamo Team in the mixed category!
The Cape Epic in South Africa is known as the “Tour de France of mountain biking” for good reason: a demanding stage race that pushes even the best mountain bikers in the world to their limits. From 16 to 23 March 2025, numerous teams once again took on the legendary challenge of this multi-day classic in the Western Cape.
Mixed category win for our PROTECTIVE Megamo Team
Theresa Rindler-Bachl, together with her husband Philipp Bachl, won the mixed category! A strong performance at one of the hardest MTB stage races.
A week full of challenges
The eight days in South Africa demanded everything from the riders:
- Over 600 kilometres of course
- More than 16,000 metres of climbing
- Technically demanding trails
- Extreme weather conditions
- Peak mental and physical performance
The Rindler-Bachl couple showed impressive consistency and held their own stage by stage against strong international competition.
Teamwork as the key to success
What makes this win special: Theresa and Philipp proved that they are a strong team not only in private life but also in sport. “Communication and supporting each other were decisive,” Theresa said after the race. “In the toughest moments we could rely on each other and kept each other motivated.”
Equipment at the highest level
Alongside the outstanding sporting performance, the equipment also played a decisive role. The team wore the PROTECTIVE Factory Team Edition throughout the race. It proved itself particularly in South Africa’s changeable conditions.
Nothing was left to chance with the bikes either. The machine of choice was the Megamo Track 00 with 120 mm of travel and Lilienthal XC Carbon wheels with a 30 mm inner rim width. An optimal mix of light weight and stability that ran smoothly even in the hardest trail conditions. The team got through the 8 race days without a single mechanical.
What comes next?
After this historic success, the team is taking a well-earned recovery break before preparation for the next highlights of the season begins. “The win came unexpectedly. We knew that on a perfect day we could ride onto the podium, but we absolutely did not expect the overall win,” says Philipp.
