In Unpaved Chronicles, we delve into the world of off-road cycling. These disciplines combine the adventure of off-road riding with the intensity of racing. No smooth asphalt, but gravel roads, steep climbs, and unpredictable terrain. More and more riders are drawn to this mix of endurance, technique, and tactics.
The Alupex Belgian Pandas concluded the Cape Epic 2026 with an impressive 12th place in the overall standings. In a week where anything could and did happen, Kevin Panhuyzen and Frans Claes also rode to a strong 11th place in the final stage towards Stellenbosch. This is a result to look back on with satisfaction, although a slight disappointment lingers after a top 10 classification remained just out of reach.
The Penalty Saga of Stage Four
While the previous report concluded with "anything was possible," that seemed to change after the fourth stage. Barely 11 kilometers after the start, disaster struck when Panhuyzen was involuntarily involved in a severe crash. Claes, who hadn't noticed anything due to the dust and helicopter noise, rode on and only much later realized his partner was no longer following. According to the rules, the time difference between two teammates must remain under two minutes, but in this case, the time difference was two minutes and forty-eight seconds. The Belgian Pandas were therefore given a one-hour time penalty, a decision that was particularly hard to swallow. "This was completely out of our control," Panhuyzen stated. "And yet we received that penalty without the chance to tell our side of the story." Claes was also sharp: "Rules are rules, but the context should also be considered, and communication needs to be correct." After a formal complaint from the team, the decision was eventually revised, and the penalty was withdrawn. Nevertheless, the incident left its marks, both physically and mentally. Claes: "Unconsciously, that penalty did affect today's ride. I had an enormous amount of stress because of it. And this morning, we had to find out for ourselves whether our time penalty had actually been withdrawn or not. All of that is energy-draining."
Not an Ideal Preparation for the Queen Stage
The stage of 134 kilometers and 2,750 meters of climbing started at a furious pace towards Botrivier over long open roads, where the tempo was immediately brutally high. "The first thirty kilometers were really fast," Claes recounts. "At one point, the peloton completely broke apart, and it was a struggle to get back." Via fast and sometimes dangerous gravel roads where several riders crashed, the race headed towards the climb of Katpas. There, the pace became a bit more controlled, and the Belgian Pandas joined teams with a similar rhythm. What followed, however, was an attrition battle: technical trails, the historic Gantouw Pass, and finally, the dreaded climb to Lourensford Nek.
As if that weren't enough, halfway through, there was also a notorious section through a UNESCO World Heritage site where cycling is prohibited, and riders are forced to walk. It was precisely there that the duo lost valuable time. "For me, that walking is really hell," said Panhuyzen, who suffers from a drop foot after a severe accident in 2019. "You have to scramble over rocks, and I have to be extremely careful there. We definitely lose four to five minutes there, but that's just part of the race." Claes confirms: "From that point on, it was pure survival. I simply had no energy left in my legs, also due to my gastrointestinal issues. This was one of the toughest days on the bike for me." The rain and mud in the final made the ordeal complete. "I don't know how I made it, but I survived. And that's worth a lot today."
Grand Finale and a Good Overall Classification
In the grand finale, surprisingly, Frans Claes and Kevin Panhuyzen still had enough energy in the tank. "I actually had pretty good legs today," Panhuyzen said. "On the first climb, I could even keep up with the top teams." Claes also found his strength again after a few difficult days. "I could finally eat again after my gastrointestinal problems, and that helped me to dig deep one more time." It resulted in a strong final stage in which the duo gave it their all one last time and managed to convert the disappointment of the previous days into a positive result.
With a 12th place in the overall standings, satisfaction therefore prevails, especially considering the course of the past week. "We were aiming for the top 10, so it's a shame that we just missed it," Panhuyzen admits. "But in the second half, we also had setbacks with crashes and there was that whole situation around the time penalty." Claes agrees: "To reach the top 10, everything really has to go right, and that wasn't the case. But we never gave up and kept fighting. Then that 12th place is a nice reward." Compared to last year, this edition was also a lot tougher. "This was not a 'light' edition," says Claes. "More kilometers, longer stages, and tougher conditions. You feel that."
For the future, both riders are each going their own way. After a short rest period, Panhuyzen will fully focus on the gravel season with the Traka in Girona as his first major goal. "Will there be a third Cape Epic? We'll see later," he says with a smile. Claes is currently taking time to recover after an exhausting edition. "This one really hit hard. After that, I want to ride a program again like last year with a focus on races in the Alps."
Want to keep following Kevin Panhuyzen & Frans Claes (and other Airoman.cc teams and riders)? Then follow us on Instagram @airomancyclingclub and read more soon on Airoman.cc!
The Penalty Saga of Stage Four
While the previous report concluded with "anything was possible," that seemed to change after the fourth stage. Barely 11 kilometers after the start, disaster struck when Panhuyzen was involuntarily involved in a severe crash. Claes, who hadn't noticed anything due to the dust and helicopter noise, rode on and only much later realized his partner was no longer following. According to the rules, the time difference between two teammates must remain under two minutes, but in this case, the time difference was two minutes and forty-eight seconds. The Belgian Pandas were therefore given a one-hour time penalty, a decision that was particularly hard to swallow. "This was completely out of our control," Panhuyzen stated. "And yet we received that penalty without the chance to tell our side of the story." Claes was also sharp: "Rules are rules, but the context should also be considered, and communication needs to be correct." After a formal complaint from the team, the decision was eventually revised, and the penalty was withdrawn. Nevertheless, the incident left its marks, both physically and mentally. Claes: "Unconsciously, that penalty did affect today's ride. I had an enormous amount of stress because of it. And this morning, we had to find out for ourselves whether our time penalty had actually been withdrawn or not. All of that is energy-draining."
Not an Ideal Preparation for the Queen Stage
The stage of 134 kilometers and 2,750 meters of climbing started at a furious pace towards Botrivier over long open roads, where the tempo was immediately brutally high. "The first thirty kilometers were really fast," Claes recounts. "At one point, the peloton completely broke apart, and it was a struggle to get back." Via fast and sometimes dangerous gravel roads where several riders crashed, the race headed towards the climb of Katpas. There, the pace became a bit more controlled, and the Belgian Pandas joined teams with a similar rhythm. What followed, however, was an attrition battle: technical trails, the historic Gantouw Pass, and finally, the dreaded climb to Lourensford Nek.
As if that weren't enough, halfway through, there was also a notorious section through a UNESCO World Heritage site where cycling is prohibited, and riders are forced to walk. It was precisely there that the duo lost valuable time. "For me, that walking is really hell," said Panhuyzen, who suffers from a drop foot after a severe accident in 2019. "You have to scramble over rocks, and I have to be extremely careful there. We definitely lose four to five minutes there, but that's just part of the race." Claes confirms: "From that point on, it was pure survival. I simply had no energy left in my legs, also due to my gastrointestinal issues. This was one of the toughest days on the bike for me." The rain and mud in the final made the ordeal complete. "I don't know how I made it, but I survived. And that's worth a lot today."
Grand Finale and a Good Overall Classification
In the grand finale, surprisingly, Frans Claes and Kevin Panhuyzen still had enough energy in the tank. "I actually had pretty good legs today," Panhuyzen said. "On the first climb, I could even keep up with the top teams." Claes also found his strength again after a few difficult days. "I could finally eat again after my gastrointestinal problems, and that helped me to dig deep one more time." It resulted in a strong final stage in which the duo gave it their all one last time and managed to convert the disappointment of the previous days into a positive result.
With a 12th place in the overall standings, satisfaction therefore prevails, especially considering the course of the past week. "We were aiming for the top 10, so it's a shame that we just missed it," Panhuyzen admits. "But in the second half, we also had setbacks with crashes and there was that whole situation around the time penalty." Claes agrees: "To reach the top 10, everything really has to go right, and that wasn't the case. But we never gave up and kept fighting. Then that 12th place is a nice reward." Compared to last year, this edition was also a lot tougher. "This was not a 'light' edition," says Claes. "More kilometers, longer stages, and tougher conditions. You feel that."
For the future, both riders are each going their own way. After a short rest period, Panhuyzen will fully focus on the gravel season with the Traka in Girona as his first major goal. "Will there be a third Cape Epic? We'll see later," he says with a smile. Claes is currently taking time to recover after an exhausting edition. "This one really hit hard. After that, I want to ride a program again like last year with a focus on races in the Alps."
Want to keep following Kevin Panhuyzen & Frans Claes (and other Airoman.cc teams and riders)? Then follow us on Instagram @airomancyclingclub and read more soon on Airoman.cc!