Coming into the twentieth edition of the Absa Cape Epic, the Austrian-South African pairing of Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill of Cannondale Factory Racing was an obvious crowd favourite for the overall title.

• Bike check: Matt Beers' Specialized S-Works Epic 8
• Bike check: Daryl Impey's Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup
• Bike check: Sam Pilgrim's Canyon Torque:ON CF 9

Both are top riders in cross-country and marathon disciplines, Mitterwallner is the current UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Champion while Lill is the current silver medalist from the same event and claimed second at last year's Cape Epic, narrowly missing the orange jersey.

Unfortunately, heat and illness took their toll this year as Mitterwallner explained. Still, she and teammate Lill fought on and took the race to Terpstra/Koller on each stage, their tenacity shows a clear bond that could well prove useful toward a winning team in the near future. Mitterwallner is still young and Lill carries a level of experience important to team dynamics. 

After an emotional finish off.road.cc managed to track down team Manager Manuel Fumic and performance manager Phil Dixon for some insights on Mona's freshly dusted Cannondale Scalpel. A new release of the popular Scalpel platform that both Mitterwallner and Lill raced throughout the Cape Epic.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_000.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Fresh dust minted off the Grand Finale finish line. No obvious changes but different lines and geometry with internal cable routing. 120mm travel front and rear. Mitterwallner is 1.58m in height, so a frame size of a small at least accommodating two water bottles with ease is impressive on its own and a good indicator of geometry revisions. 

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_002.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Some key updates in the linkage design and we spy what could be an integrated flip chip on the main linkage. 

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_003.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

A lucky symbol, possibly a source of Mitterwallner's sense of determination. The patron saint of travellers, is Saint Christopher.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_004.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Prologo Proxim W650 saddle, perch of choice over a few seasons.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_005.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

FSA special edition bar/stem combo.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_006.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

A rear view of the FSA bar/stem, for Cape Epic an 80mm stem was specced. Normally for XCO races a 60mm option is preferred. Also in view is the headset cable routing.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_009.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

2.4 Schwalbe First Ride tyres in Schwalbe's Addix speed compound (red). These are due for release soon.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_008.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Two wraps of duct tape hold both a spare CO2 cartridge and a quick link. 

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_010.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

One of the few teams running Shimano, full XTR mechanical. Race-proven performance, lightweight, and bomb-proof. Cannondale Factory Racing enjoys a tight relationship and support with Shimano.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_012.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

FSA 28-hole hubs and rims, the carbon rim profile has a 30mm internal width.

Cape Epic_OffRoadCC_Mona Mitterwallner_013.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill.

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