Jenny Rissveds had a stellar start to her first season as an elite professional athlete, registering a string of solid performances that included an Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games. The 22-year-old Swedish star is taking her riding to the next level by stepping into the untamed world of the Absa Cape Epic.

She will be riding with her SCOTT-SRAM team manager Thomas Frischknecht, 46, in the Virgin Active Mixed category. Frischknecht himself is an accomplished mountain biker with three world championship titles: two in the marathon discipline and another in cross country. He is also a four time Absa Cape Epic finisher.

Her decision to participate in the race means that both Olympic mountain biking gold medalists will be in the field. Earlier this year men’s winner Nino Schurter announced that he would be racing in the Men’s category with countryman Matthias Stirnemann.