• Words by | Wyatt Peterson

  • Photos by | Ray Cox, Sean Greene, Kai Caddy

ABSA Cape Epic 2025

Some Races Test Endurance. Others Test Willpower.

The Absa Cape Epic does both... and then some. From March 16 to 23, 2025, riders will face 608 kilometers of untamed trails and 16,500 meters of relentless climbing through South Africa’s Western Cape. This isn’t just a race; it’s survival on two wheels.

And this year, Keegan Swenson isn’t going it alone. He’s teaming up with none other than three-time Cape Epic champion Matt Beers to take on the beast together.

A Race That Devours the Weak

The Cape Epic isn’t just tough, it’s mythological. Loose dirt turns to sand traps, climbs that stretch to the horizon, and the sun burns away any illusion of comfort. Riders start each morning with their bodies already wrecked from the day before, legs screaming, minds teetering on the edge of surrender. But there’s no room for weakness.

To make things even more brutal, the course changes every year. No two editions are the same, meaning every rider, rookie or veteran, steps onto an even playing field of suffering.

This isn’t a solo mission. Teams of two take on the course together, bound by a rule as brutal as the terrain itself: if your partner cracks, your race is over. Swenson’s success isn’t just about watts or VO2 max, it’s about trust, strategy, and knowing that the person next to you can suffer just as beautifully as you can.

The Ultimate Team-Up: Swenson & Beers

Keegan Swenson and Matt Beers are riding under the team name Outride-Toyota-Songo. It’s a dream partnership that brings together two of the strongest forces in off-road racing. Beers, a South African powerhouse, has won the Cape Epic three times. He knows the terrain, the suffering, and exactly what it takes to win. Swenson? He’s an XC and gravel juggernaut, a three-time Lifetime Grand Prix champion, king of Leadville, ruler of Unbound Gravel, destroyer of the White Rim FKT, and a master of pushing limits.

Swenson and Beers are also racing in partnership with Outride, a nonprofit dedicated to getting more kids on bikes. "I'm stoked to represent Outride and the work they do to get more kids on bikes," says Swenson. "Cycling has been such a huge part of my life, so being able to race for a cause that shares that passion is an honor. We’re here to win, but it's awesome to know we're riding for something bigger than ourselves."

The Tannus Advantage

One big aspect of Swenson’s setup is Tannus Tubeless inserts. The invisible advantage that keeps him charging full-speed into the unknown. More control, fewer flats, and the confidence to hammer descents without fear.

Swenson called Tannus his "secret weapon" long before we knew he was even riding them. He’s a fan of our Gravel Insert and views Tannus as a partner, collaborating to develop the best inserts on the market. In an eight-day war like the Cape Epic, that edge can mean everything. Because this race is about suffering smarter.

Where to Watch the Madness Unfold

The Cape Epic is an Odyssey. A trial by fire, a reckoning of will, a stage where legends either rise or crumble into dust. And for Swenson and Beers, it’s a chance to etch their names into history together.

Want to witness the chaos? The 2025 ABSA Cape Epic will be broadcast live on the Epic Series website, YouTube, and the Epic Series app. Track riders in real time, feel the heartbreak of mechanicals, and watch the final sprints that define careers. This is pain, glory, and history in the making.

Want to see the course? Watch this video to see how Epic it really is!

Additional Posts...

  • You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    Fall doesn't last long, maybe six good weekends if you're lucky, and every one of them is already spoken for. Hunters are hauling gear off-trail before first light. Leaf peepers are chasing color down roads they've never ridden. And everybody's running their fat tires soft for grip, which is exactly what leaves them open to the flat that ends the day early. Here's why fall is the toughest season on a fat tire eBike, and how Tannus Armour keeps you rolling through all of it.

  • America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    Every cyclist swears their city is the worst for bike flat tires. We checked. Using current state noxious weed registries, city task force records, and PeopleForBikes' 2026 City Ratings, we ranked America's 10 worst and 10 best cities for bike flats, and the answer isn't just "wherever it's dry." Denver runs two street sweepers for its entire bike lane network. Salt Lake City pays a bounty on the goathead thorns wrecking tires along the Jordan River Trail. Meanwhile, some of the most celebrated bike-friendly cities in the country, Fort Collins, Davis, Provo, sit smack in the middle of goathead's mapped range, proof that great infrastructure and flat-proof riding are two different problems.

    See where your city lands, what's actually causing your flats (goatheads, glass, or both), and why the fix isn't a better bike lane. It's the right tire for where you actually ride.

  • Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Tubeless sealant seals small punctures up to about 5-6mm, and checking it every 2 to 4 months keeps it working, that's the entire job it was built for. It won't stop a rim strike, cushion a pinch flat, or keep your tire from squirming at low PSI, three failure points that have nothing to do with a hole in the tread. This post breaks down exactly what sealant can and can't do, how goathead thorn country changes your maintenance schedule, and why pairing sealant with a tubeless tire insert covers the gaps sealant was never designed to close.

    Tannus Tubeless Inserts use hydrophobic Aither 1.1 foam that doesn't absorb sealant, so you get rim protection, pinch-flat resistance, and confidence at lower pressures without adding maintenance or wheel weight. It's the same setup racers run at events like Leadville and the Unbound Gravel Grand Prix: sealant handles the punctures, the insert handles everything else.

  • Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Nobody's ever finished a ride bragging about the flat they fixed on the shoulder. Tannus makes three flat protection products that stop that from happening, and yes, all three share the same name, which is exactly why riders mix them up. Tannus Armour is a 15mm foam insert built for tube setups. Tannus Tubeless Inserts protect rims and back up sealant on tubeless setups. Tannus Airless skips air completely with a solid foam tire built for commuters. Pick the one that matches what's already inside your tire and ride on.

    This guide lines up all three side by side, including who each one is actually built for: e-bike riders and commuters running tubes, gravel and mountain bikers protecting their rims, and city riders ready to retire air pressure for good. Read it once and you'll know exactly which Tannus belongs in your wheels, in about the time it takes to fix a flat.

  • A kid rides a bike at night, with fireworks in the background of the image.

    Why July Is the Worst Month for Flats (Nobody Tells You This)

    July doesn't have one cause behind its flat tires. It has four, all stacking up at once: softer asphalt that holds onto debris, tube pressure that climbs as the pavement heats up, and more broken glass and goatheads left behind after holiday weekends. That's the real reason bike tires go flat more in summer than any other season, and most riders only ever hear about one piece of it.

    This breaks down exactly what's happening to your tires this month, then shows what actually stops it. Tannus Armour is a foam liner that blocks debris before it ever reaches your tube, and Tannus Airless tires remove the tube and the air pressure altogether, so there's nothing left for the heat to work against.