"Liqui-Fruit’s fun and vibrant brand personality not only aligns well with the Absa Cape Epic, a dynamic event, but we are delighted to bring a ‘nothing but fruit’, nutritional boost to the riders", says Beverly Wilson, Liqui-Fruit’s brand manager.

Former Springbok fly half and World Cup hero, Joel Stransky and SA road cycling champion, Anriëtte Schoeman have also entered as Team Liqui-Fruit in the Mixed category. Not only will they take on this challenging 800km mountain bike race over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in the Western Cape, but together they and Liqui-Fruit have joined forces to provide a year’s supply of fruit juice and sports gear to underprivileged children along the route.

"We are thrilled to have sport personalities Stransky and Schoeman on board as Liqui-Fruit’s celebrity team. Stransky will take part in his sixth race and Schoeman will join him for her first Absa Cape Epic challenge. Apart from being the epitome of health and fitness, they embody the colourful, active and fun nature of the brand, making the partnership an exciting and good fit", adds Wilson.

Stransky cemented his place in the history books with his famous 1995 World Cup winning drop-kick but since hanging up his rugby boots, he has become an accomplished and competitive mountain biker. Schoeman, who represented South Africa at the 2004 Olympic Games and has won the Cape Town Cycle Tour five times, is relatively new to mountain biking and it will be her first Cape Epic.

Asked whether they will be racing for a podium finish, Stransky says the goal will be to race wisely but hard, and see how they go.

Both paid tribute to Liqui-Fruit’s sponsorship and involvement in mountain biking. Stransky said: "Liqui-Fruit, as an outstanding product, has been around for as long as I can remember and is an incredibly funky brand with great brand following and loyalty. It constantly evolves to meet modern demands and I certainly look forward to representing the brand at the Absa Cape Epic with great pride." 

"I am very excited and grateful that Liqui-Fruit came on board and for this amazing opportunity. I think it is fantastic that brands like Liqui-Fruit have the vision to invest in our amazing sport of cycling and promoting a healthy lifestyle at the same time," said Schoeman.

Along with providing the Cape Epic riders with sufficient refreshment along the way, Liqui-Fruit will ensure that the public join in the excitement at the Prologue at the University of Cape Town on Sunday, 15 March  and at the finale at Meerendal Wine Estate on Sunday, 22 March with a Radtrax pump track.

For more information on the Cape Epic, visit www.cape-epic.com.