Knox pairs with Colombian rider ahead of Cape Epic
Max Knox, the South African marathon champion that's gunning for glory at the 2017 Absa Cape Epic, is fully aware of the importance of having a back-up team if you are serious about trying to win the world's most prestigious mountain-bike stage race.
Knox (29) has raced the Cape Epic in 2012 and 2013, as back-up-team rider to the event’s most successful racer, Christoph Sauser (five wins and 36 stage victories), as well as the late Burry Stander – the only South African to have won the coveted title.
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Now it’s Knox’s turn to be the rider going for the glory, as he pairs up with Colombian racer, Leo Paez, on Team Kansai Plascon. And it’s his turn to have a back-up team.
Paez (34) and Knox have an all-Italian duo in Kansai Plascon 2 to offer them all the on-the-bike support they need
during the demanding seven-day race from March 19 to 26. Mirko Pirazzoli and Alessandro Gambino will spend every moment of every stage thinking about how they can assist their number-one team to challenge for victory, whether it’s stage wins or the overall title.
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Because Paez and Knox have different bicycle brand sponsors, each will have a back-up rider on the same bike.
Gambino will mirror Knox and ride a Rocky Mountain Element 999RSL, while Pirazzoli will ride a FRM Anakin, the same that Paez will compete on.
The Cape Epic rules prohibit riders from getting outside assistance during a stage, but allow for assistance from fellow competitors.
“Getting myself and Leo to the finish line as fast as possible each day is the Kansai Plascon squad’s priority.
“Having a strong back-up team has become almost the norm in the past few years for any team with victory as an objective,” said Knox.
“I haven’t met Alessandro or Mirko yet, but they come with a long list of credentials that shows they have extensive race experience and understand the little things that can make a big difference. The fact that they are both experienced bike mechanics is also a bonus because the Cape Epic is raced on rough terrain and the risk of mechanical problems is ever present,” added Knox.
While they won’t be able to stay with Knox and Paez on the steep climbs, Gambino and Pirazzoli will not be too far behind, and should be within minutes of the Kansai Plascon 1 pair through most of each stage.
Paez and Knox are also experienced and able to do most common repairs, but in the case of a broken pedal or heavily damaged wheel, Kansai Plascon 2 will be able to offer parts or a complete bike if necessary.
