2025 Cape Epic Champions

After 8 days of an epic racing, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing’s Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo are the 2025 Untamed Cape Epic Champions! Following an extremely close battle throughout the week, the most challenging stage race in MTB reached its climax on Sunday. Glory, suspense, drama, and the surprises that can only come from the Cape Epic – the 2025 edition will long be a highlight for Schurter, Colombo and SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing.

Winning my third Cape Epic is an incredible honor, especially at this stage in my career. I love this brutal race; it’s a true adventure" 

Nino Schurter 
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team 

Filippo Colombo 
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team

From the first stage, the tone was set. Schurter and Colombo took their first tactical victory, marking a milestone for the yellow jersey holders as they took lead of the GC, and never gave it back until the final finish line a week later. Throughout each stage, the battle to hold onto the GC remained close, fighting against the clock, the elements and their competition, where nothing would be decided until the very last moment. 
 
The 5th Queen Stage defied the riders in all its intimidating glory and it was here that the SCOTT-SRAM duo was able to take their second stage win with a tactical masterstroke. More importantly, a strategic push with 15km to go allowed the duo to take valuable seconds off the chasing Wilier-Vittoria team, increasing their overall lead to 1’52".  
 
At that point, even if the gap was close with their pursuers, it was possible to start dreaming about securing the overall victory… But there are stories that only the Cape Epic can write. In no other race are ultimate glory and shattered dreams existing so closely together. 
 
On Stage 6, cracks began to show as, at 12km to go, the pursuers Willier-Vittoria attacked with SCOTT-SRAM unable to hang on. Filippo hit a wall, an unfortunate result of a lost gel, and the fight was on to minimize damage on their GC lead. Working as a team right to the line, the duo secured 3rd place but the gap had seriously shrunk down to only 32 seconds. 
 
That left it all to fight for on the start line of Stage 7. The strength of the SCOTT-SRAM duo and their unbridled hunger for victory turned the disappointment of the previous day into power. Through the pain of 8 epic days of racing, they held their focus and drove the pace extending their 32-second lead to secure the overall victory, 1:32 minutes ahead of chasers Braidot & Avondetto of Willier-Vittoria.