Superwoman Steyn returns for her 10th Cape Epic

Former winner Hannele Steyn will be attempting her 10th Cape Epic in 2013 (Image credit: Cape Epic)

Business owner Hannele Steyn is preparing herself for the 10th edition of the Cape Epic mountain bike stage race on March 17-24. The 46-year-old has competed in every Cape Epic race since the inaugural edition in 2004 and hopes to become the first woman to do 10 Cape Epics.

"I've done all nine Cape Epics to date, and 10 years are quite a long time out of someone's life, but looking back, it was all worth it. Every hour spent training, every tear shed, every drop of sweat and every bit of pain just contributed to me becoming a better person and facing life's challenges a little easier," said Steyn. "I've seen some of the most beautiful places in our country in a way few people have seen it. It's given me many fantastic friends and taught me a lot about facing various difficulties."

"Crossing the finish line on the last day is the best part of my Cape Epic experience. The worst part is the nerves when you race for podium, the selfishness that you have to have when you prepare for racing and not just finishing it. Others include any mechanical problems, falls or illnesses. In 2011, I became ill during the Cape Epic, and this made it the toughest edition of the race so far." Steyn has used her strong climbing ability to help her through previous editions.

According to Steyn, the most important ingredient to a successful race is getting in the mileage. "The first stage is always the most difficult for me. The Cape Epic is a life experience. There are no words to describe the feeling of crossing the finish line, and only the ones who have crossed that line will understand the feeling, but it's a feeling of pride. Don't under-estimate the Epic - train hard!"