#ConquerAsOne Winners Gear Up For the 2018 Absa Cape Epic


Michael Finch |

The winners of the 2017 #ConquerAsOne competition have been named and, with over 6,500 votes closely split between the top two contestants, the judges had a tough call to make!

Justin Jeffery (a biokineticist riding to help people suffering from brain injury) and his riding partner Bevan Jeffery, lead the votes by just 2% while the voters’ support for Bruce Campbell (a rider who finished the 2017 Absa Cape Epic despite fighting Pompe disease) and his riding partner Anthony Daniels, also came through strongly.

Due to both teams having equally inspiring stories, the Absa judges decided to give both finalists the prize – Absa Pride entries to the 2018 Cape Epic!

Find out more about how the competition worked and each contestant’s story.

Preparing for 2018 Absa Cape Epic

With the excitement settled, Absa caught up with both pairs to see how they’re doing ahead of the upcoming event.

Justin Jeffery

Justin Jeffreys (left) and Bevan Jeffreys (right). - Image Supplied
Justin Jeffreys (left) and Bevan Jeffreys (right) – Image Supplied.

 

  • How did you feel when you were announced the winner?

Leading up to that moment I knew it was going to be really tight. Online votes were crazy close and I believed that Bruce deserved to win, so when we were both announced as winners, I was ecstatic!

  • What does your training for the 2018 Cape Epic look like?

My riding partner and I have already started training for the upcoming Epic. We’re currently putting time in for the Transbaviaans race in August, afterwhich we will ride the 947 Momentum Cycle Challenge with physically disabled riders. These events will help us maintain our fitness while we work at getting it up to Epic level.

  • Tell us more about your riding partner

My riding partner, Bevan Jeffreys, is my little brother – he is incredibly talented and loves mountain biking. He completed his first Epic in 2007 but suffered a harsh blow at his second attempt in 2012, and had to pull out on the first day due to health issues. With our current training, he is fully focussed and probably stronger than I’ve ever seen him. We’re both amped to be riding next year’s Epic.

  • What are some of the biggest challenge(s) you have completed as an athlete?

Two Cape Epics, six Comrades, three Iron Man, four Half Iron Man, and multiple MTB stage races including Joburg2C. One of my highlights was assisting the legend Pieter du Preez in his quest to be the first quadriplegic to complete a full Iron Man, I also assisted in the 70.3 Busselton Half Iron man in Western Australia Perth.

Bruce Campbell

Image Supplied
Bruce Campbell – Image Supplied.

 

  • How did you feel when you were announced the winner?

I know what a prestigious honour it is to be part of the Absa Pride and was overwhelmed when I was awarded an entry – it took a day or so to sink in. I was especially blown away by the messages that came in from people across the world who had voted for me.

  • What does your training for the 2018 Cape Epic look like?

I’ve started training slowly, trying to keep the awesome base miles I’ve already built up and have also incorporated some cross training and surfing to up my core strength. Some people complain about the many hours they have to do for training for the Epic, I really embrace it and because I love riding, it never feels like a chore.

  • What is your next challenge?

I have just recently been for many more medical tests relating to my Pompe disease. These have shown that my lung function and muscles to have improved so much in just one year of being on the life-changing Enzyme replacement treatment I’m on. While I’m still not where I should be for a person of my age, there’s a huge improvement in my health and I really put it all down to the goals I’ve set out to achieve – including completing my first ever Cape Epic despite all medical studies and doctors saying it can’t be done. My next challenge is to try and continue training and working hard to develop my lungs and muscles until they are at a normal range for a person of my age and fitness level.

  • Tell us more about your riding partner

My 2018 Cape Epic partner Tim Ellerbeck, is slightly older than me. He’s an Ironman athlete who’s been converted to the awesome life of MTB. Next year will be Tim’s first Epic but we’ve come a long way together both as mates and athletically. He’s contributed to many firsts for me – talking me into doing my first triathlon, then getting me to sign up for a MTB and Xterra race.

Tim is also a sports scientist at Velocity Sports Lab in Cape Town and he’s been my coach for many years. He’s spent many hours training me and convinced me to try making the SA Cross Triathlon team where we competed at World champs together in Germany. Even though he lives in Cape Town, whenever we connect we go do some crazy trails and rides together, always having a good laugh.

  • What are some of the biggest challenge(s) you have completed as an athlete?

Last year’s Absa Cape Epic was most certainly the greatest athletic challenge for me. From really struggling in the very beginning, short prologue stage where I had to get pushed by my partner due to extreme pain in my body caused by my Pompe disease, to the incredible journey of actually getting to the final stage finish line, was one I’ll never forget.

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