Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane Will Race the ABSA Cape Epic for Team Toyota-Specialized

Two of the top women’s endurance mountain bikers in the world will be teaming up to take on this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Annika had retired from racing previously, and she had a baby last year, but she’s excited to be going back to South Africa to compete in the world-famous endurance race again.

Here is the press release from Specialized:

ABSA Cape Epic Team Announcement: Team Toyota-Specialized

  Annika Langvad.

Sofia Gomez Villafane.

The Absa Cape Epic is a multi-day stage race that puts all contenders and equipment to the ultimate test. It is considered one of the most challenging races in the world, with rugged South African terrain and strenuous back-to-back race days, attracting elite athletes worldwide.

Teams from all over the world participate in the Absa Cape Epic, each with impressive cycling accolades. These diverse riders bring a wealth of experience and accomplishments to the competition.

For the 2025 edition of the ABSA Cape Epic, Sofia Gomez Villafane and Annika Langvad will race for Team Toyota-Specialized, a partnership that brings together two powerhouse brands driven by innovation, performance, and excellence.

Toyota’s commitment to reliability and adventure makes them the perfect partner for a race as demanding as the Cape Epic. The team is transported by Toyota South Africa, ensuring that the riders and staff can reach even the most remote locations of the untamed African MTB race.

Toyota’s fleet of rugged, off-road capable vehicles provides unmatched support, giving the team a crucial edge in the logistical challenges presented by the ever-changing terrain.

Annika Langvad, 5-time winner of the Absa Cape Epic, and Sofia Gomez Villafane, another past victor are teaming up to form an unstoppable partnership. This partnership also kickstarts their ongoing duo within the Specialized Off-Road Team, which Annika has newly joined this year.

Here’s what they have to say about racing as teammates at the Absa Cape Epic.

Sofia Gomez Villafane.

“I could not be more thrilled to get to race this year’s Absa Cape Epic with none other than Annika Langvad! Over the past few years, we have always said how cool it would have been to have done this race together and last year I almost got her out of retirement for the Epic but right around the time we needed to commit to it she had gotten the wonderful news that she was going to be having a baby! With Annika also joining the Off-Road team, I think the Cape Epic will be a great way for us to learn a lot about each other and our style of racing to be a really strong team in the individual races we have later in the spring.” – Sofia Gomez Villafane

Annika Langvad.

“I am very excited to team up with Sofia. It will be a first for us to race together, but we both come with a great deal of experience from this race and racing in general. Building a new partnership at this years race is a keystone in my motivation.” – Annika Langvad

Their preparation for this year’s edition is quite different from one another, given their home life, but these two riders are dedicated and disciplined – we know they will bring the heat come race time.

Having raced the Absa Cape Epic for the last 4 editions, Sofia’s experience racing here is quite fresh. Even though the route changes year-to-year, her body will be well acclimated to this intensity and load. Here’s what she’s done differently to prepare for this year’s route: “Since the Epic is going more inland I think we will see some really hot days so I have added a heat adaptation protocol into my training as I finish the final preparation for the Epic. I have also been working hard to increase my VO2 and FTP,” says Sofia excitingly.

Annika’s preparation for this years edition is quite different than past years she’s raced, but she’s no stranger to what it takes to be ready for this race. So what goes into preparation for someone with a newborn?

“Well – first of all I had to start building from scratch after giving birth in august ’24. Something that you really cannot make a plan for but need to see how goes. Luckily, I felt good on the bike relatively soon and could start slowly getting more into some sort of structured training throughout the winter. But life as a new mom and adapting to the rhythm and lack of rhythm (as well as lack of sleep) overrules everything. My partner Thomas has been amazing in making it all work out. It is 100% due to the teamwork we do together that all this is even possible.

We even managed to go on a training camp with Team SD Worx Protime in January, which was a great experience with travelling and logistics with an infant, as well as a perfect input in my training,” says Annika.

If you’ve been following Annika’s career, you may remember her legacy while racing for Specialized Factory Racing. Her achievements on the bike include (but are not limited to); World Championship wins in both XCO and XCM and she is 5-time Cape Epic winner. After a successful career racing, Annika made the decision to retire from professional racing in 2020, and pivoted to a dentistry career along with starting a family. Riding has however continued to be a staple in her life and, and she even commentated at the Absa Cape Epic during her short retirement period. We’re excited to see her line up again, with teammate Sofia.

Annika and Sofia have no problems with riding challenging terrain together.

“I honestly never thought l’d be back racing the Cape Epic ever again. When I retired from racing after 2020 it was never my intention to do this or any other high-level race ever again. Me and my partner (Thomas’) focus was on starting a family and for me personally to transition into working as a dentist. Getting the racing a bit at a distance allowed for me to get a mental break from performing on the bike and ride just for the sake of riding. It was what I needed. Slowly though the eagerness to do a bit of racing came back. And now – having an amazing little daughter puts everything (including racing) a bit into perspective. I have stayed involved with the race the past many years joining the commentating team. Naturally I would constantly get the question if I would ever come back and do the race – even just for fun. And just as naturally I could feel, that maybe I would one day return, and if so I would be there for the fast racing, not for cruising at the back,” says Annika.

Looking ahead, they each look forward to different stages, which should keep the team motivated all week long. “When I did commentating at Cape Epic, I was once based in Paarl. In the afternoons I would go for a few rides up on the Paarl mountain. I’d never been or raced in that area so that is something I am looking forward to,” says Annika. Sofia has her eyes set on Stage 2, “the lovely 63km time trail. That is probably the one day that scares me the most as it’s a very long TT and you just do not know how fast your competition is going, so I am very much looking forward to putting that stage behind us!”

Both riders are also supported by the Specialized Off-Road team, and their set-ups will be nearly identical. They will race on the Specialized Epic 8 equipped with Roval wheels, RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, and SRAM Transmission drivetrain. Tire choice will be determined day by day within the Specialized tire line-up.

Sofia raced a similar set-up in 2025 and is confident in its capability. “I love that bike and I do truly think that it is the best bike one can have for the Absa Cape Epic,” says Sofia.

Meanwhile, technology has changed quite dramatically since Annika last raced here, and she’s in for a treat. Annika states “last time around when I did Absa Cape Epic my S-works Epic looked somewhat different! We did not even have electronic shifting! Now our Epic 8s are absolutely spaceships with the RockShox Flight Attendant as well as a bit more suspension travel. I can’t wait to put my bike to the test in the rough African terrain!”