MERIDA BIKING TEAM's video: ABSA Cape Epic 2019 Prologue

The 2019 ABSA Cape Epic is finally underway. The 20km long prologue is a kind of ‘aperitif’ to when things properly get going tomorrow. However, it is the first chance to test the form, the teamwork and the material. The MERIDA FACTORY RACING team of José Antonio Hermida and Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez showed a solid performance securing the leading position in the Master category and finishing in 32nd position overall. Jose commented after that race, ‘I did not feel that comfortable today but the strong performance of my teammate, who has improved immensely over the last 12 months, got us into a strong position for the rest of the week. Purito set the pace for almost the entire stage, while I stayed on his wheel. This really shows that we are a grown team now and we are looking forward to the upcoming stages.’ Besides testing their form, it was also a real test for their new ‘weapon of choice’, the ONE-TWENTY, and it clearly showed that it is not just a test and award-winning trail bike but also a hugely capable marathon bike.