Hansgrohe South Africa has become an official sponsor of the Absa Cape Epic. The innovative bathroom fittings company has undertaken to further enhance the showering experience of riders at the event.
The Absa Cape Epic, which is arguably the world’s premier mountain biking event, takes place at the end of March every year and is run over 8 days. Riders cover over 700 kms during the race that sees them travel around the bio-diverse and environmentally breathtaking Western Cape.
“The Absa Cape Epic presents the perfect platform to leverage our eco credentials,” says Anthony Mederer, MD of Hansgrohe SA. For the event in 2011, Hansgrohe fitted all the portable showers used by the riders and crew every day with a combination of the Croma 1jet and Decor E2 mixer. The EcoSmart technology built into these products meant the flow rates dropped from 11 litres a minute down to just 7.5 litres a minute, saving 50% of water from the previous years.
Mederer continues, “Probably the best news about Hansgrohe’s innovative EcoSmart is that it saves bucket-loads of water, making such a major positive impact on the environment, without changing the feeling of the water coming out the spout.”
For the ABSA Cape Epic, Hansgrohe fitted water-saving products to the showers but will be extending their presence so much further by improving the infrastructure around the showers. Says Sinovuyo Dumalisile, Hansgrohe’s Marketing Manager, ‘In the past, mountain bikers only had the steamy shower cubicles to undress, towel off, change, and of course, shower. We’re going to change all that with lots of experiential activity planned.”
In addition, Hansgrohe also had two riders reporting on their preparation for the race and right through the 8 days of the event. They delivered a first-hand account of their experiences as well as spread the message of sustainability, brought about by using water efficiently.
Team Hansgrohe’s riders are not just experienced mountain bikers, they’re also well versed in efficiency. The team will comprise of endurance athlete Ray O’Bree, and Livio Tronchin, creative director of sustainable ad agency, Derrick.
Between them, they have many endurance events to their credit including multiple Ironman South Africa, the Garmin Wartrail, Kalahari Desert Marathon, the Salomon Skyrun, the Zambezi Man, previous Absa Cape Epics and 24hr mountain biking races among others.
Keep an eye and ear open for any news on the 2013 ABSA Cape Epic - coming soon!
Follow Team Hansgrohe on twitter @TeamHansgrohe or
visit their website www.teamhansgrohe.co.za
