With Table Mountain National Park as its backyard, Cape Town offers a lifestyle where world-class mountain biking trails are on your doorstep. For working-class local riders Rebecca van Huyssteen and Kylie Hanekom, training in the Mother City means seamlessly balancing their full-time careers with their passion for elite racing—an urban-meets-adventure lifestyle that few cities can match.
Both riders are competing in the upcoming Absa Cape Epic, the biggest mountain biking race in the country, continent and world, showcasing Cape Town as a global destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
But beyond the race, it’s the everyday accessibility of trails that makes the city unique—whether tackling Signal Hill before work or heading out to Tokai on the weekends, Cape Town provides an unparalleled training ground right from your front door.
This seamless connection between urban life and adventure is why Blok, the Cape Town-based property developer, designs properties that cater to active city living. From the heart of Sea Point or the city centre, Blok homeowners can easily access the trails that define Cape Town’s outdoor culture.
“Cape Town is a rare city where you can finish a morning meeting and be on a mountain bike an hour later, riding some of the best trails in the world,” says Rebecca. “For us, training isn’t just about race prep—it’s about living in a place that fuels our passion every single day.”
When Art Meets the World of Elite Cycling
In a collaboration that brings a new creative energy to the cycling world, Cape Town artist Xia Carstens has designed the jersey for Team Blok riders Rebecca and Kylie—merging contemporary art with the grit of elite mountain biking.
Known for her distinctive work that captures movement and emotion, Xia is not your typical cycling kit designer. Instead, she brings an unexpected outsider perspective—one that reflects the raw beauty of Cape Town’s landscapes, the adrenaline of the sport, and the individuality of the riders.
“We wanted something that wasn’t just about performance but also told a visual story—one that connects to Cape Town and the unique way we live and ride here,” says Xia.
The photoshoot, captured by local photographer Pippa Yates, further cements the collaboration between Cape Town’s creative and sporting communities. The shoot highlights the city’s dual identity—a place where culture and sport intersect, where artists find inspiration from the same mountains that push athletes to their limits.
Article Provided
