Cape Epic once again proved why it is known as a race where not only fitness matters, but also resilience, teamwork, and the ability to handle crisis moments. From the opening days, it was clear that this year’s edition would be especially hard. Heat, dust, technical terrain, and long stages pushed the entire field to the limit. For Superior Lions, the race was further complicated by punctures and a heavy crash by Filip Adel in the longest stage of the event.

“Performance is of course the foundation, but at Epic, luck also plays a role. Over eight days, a lot can happen - punctures, crashes, or health issues. It’s an extremely demanding race,” said Filip Adel before the start. His words turned out to be true in every detail.

One of the key moments came in stage three, when Adel hit a rock hidden in the grass and went over the bars. The team then had to improvise a repair directly on the course. “I hit a rock and it launched me into a flip over the handlebars. The bike flew through the air too. At that moment, I didn’t believe I would even be able to get up,” Adel said. Neradil added: “We had to stop and straighten the chainring. In the end, we used a rock, Allen keys, and our hands. It took almost 15 minutes, but we managed it.”

In the second half of the race, it became clear that instead of chasing the original result, the main goal would be to make it all the way to the finish. “From the start, we tried to keep a reasonable pace, but our performance as a team was not where we wanted it to be, so it became a fight just to get to the finish. I think from now on it’s less about the result and more about completing all the stages and finishing the race,” Adel admitted after one of the hardest days.

Despite all the complications, the team showed real resilience. An important moment was also the queen stage, which Superior Lions completed without major issues. “It was the queen stage. The start was on wide roads, but after 30 kilometres the first singletracks began and the field started to split. The longest climb came at the end and, because of the rain, it was pretty brutal. We avoided crashes and didn’t have to deal with any technical problems. I think the hardest part is behind us now,” Adel said.

The final stage then brought the last chapter of the whole African adventure. Even there, the team had to deal with more difficulties, as Adel later revealed he rode with a fever. Still, both riders made it to the finish. “On paper it was the easiest stage, but for me definitely the hardest. I didn’t feel well from the evening before and I really suffered during the stage. After the finish, I found out I had ridden it with a fever. But we made it to the finish, and that’s what counts,” said Adel. Neradil added: “From the start, we tried to keep a pace that would allow us to finish with dignity. In the end, we managed that and I successfully completed my first Epic. I’m not satisfied, but the experience is huge.”