Anna Foundation’s Founder to Ride the Absa Cape Epic for Rural Education:‘This Is Why I’m Swapping Running Shoes for a Mountain Bike’
- Anna Foundation
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Anna Foundation
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Anna Foundation, founder Anna Brom is set to make history by competing in the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. Though the Foundation has been an official charity partner for 13 years, this marks the first time its founder will brave the 692km route. It is a significant undertaking, as the event is globally recognised as one of the world's toughest and most unforgiving mountain bike races.
Riding alongside her husband and Anna Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Pierre-Henri Olivier, Anna aims to demonstrate the Foundation’s core values of resilience and determination to the children the organisation supports, while bringing greater awareness and resources to rural education. Below, Anna Brom answers questions regarding their upcoming race and the journey to the start line.
Q&A WITH ANNA BROM
Q: The Anna Foundation has been an official charity partner of the Absa Cape
Epic for 13 years. Why the decision to ride the Epic now?
A: Last year we celebrated 20 years of the Anna Foundation. This is a remarkable achievement and in honour of this we wanted to do something significant – something that would take an equally remarkable effort and create awareness for the organisation. What bigger and more epic way to do this than the Absa Cape Epic!
Q: You are not a cyclist yourself and have not participated in many cycling-
related events. How did you decide that taking on the Epic would be a
possibility for you?
A: Anything you put your mind to will always be possible. This is something I want to show the children we work with: you are always capable of more than you think. While it is true I have very limited experience – having only done the Wines2Whales in 2021 – I am committed to the challenge.
Q: How has your training looked so far?
A: We only found out we had an entry in November 2025, so that gave me 3,5
months to train. I literally got my bike out of the shed, dusted it off and started riding the very day we got the news. I have been focusing on long days in the saddle, learning to ride technical trails, and adding some strength work in the gym. My background in trail running definitely helps me on the trails as I am used to picking out routes to get up mountain tops; it is just not the same thing when you also have to get the bike up the mountain!
Q: Do you need a special bike to ride the Epic?
A: Yes! The bike makes all the difference. Thanks to Giant Bicycles, I now ride their women-specific Liv Pique Advanced. And what a treat this has been. The difference in the weight of the bike is really significant when it comes to the climbs and it rolls over rocky terrain as if the roads are smooth! My Epic partner is riding the Giant Anthem Advanced and as a seasoned cyclist, he really appreciates the difference this bike has made.
Q: Your mental state must play an important role in a gruelling event like the
Absa Cape Epic. How will you manage this?
A: I think one’s mental state is probably one of the most critical aspects. Now in
training, it is about believing I am capable, knowing I can do hard things and not
letting fear cripple me from trying. I used to just avoid anything technical with the
excuse that I can’t really do mountain biking, but now because I have to do it, I have changed my attitude around this. Suddenly I am doing technical things I would never have tried before! And yes, I have taken a few tumbles, but I got back up and tried again. These are great life lessons to teach the children.
Q: Training is different from the actual event. How will you cope with
challenges faced during those brutal 8 days?
A: I have never done something like this before so I am not sure I can answer that. I hope that I can stay calm, turn to my partner for support (who is also my husband so who better to lean on?) and keep seeing the bigger picture.
Q: So will you make the full 692km?
A: Yeah I will make it! As long as the weather isn’t too hot or too wet or too windy. As long as I don’t crash or get a tummy bug. As long as my partner pushes me up the climbs! Yes, I am committed to all 692km of this event, and will give 150% to make it to that finish line!
Q: The Anna Foundation has been involved with the Absa Cape Epic for over a
decade now. How would you describe the impact of this long-standing
partnership?
A: I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Absa Cape Epic for a partnership that has been built over the span of 13 years. Every year this is a highlight on our calendar and the children look forward to visiting the race village and being a part of the excitement. It is the only event on a global scale that they get to participate in, and an event that inspires them every year. Thanks to the Absa Cape Epic, 2026 will offer them an even bigger and more exciting opportunity to cheer for their very own Anna Foundation team! Go team!
Get involved: To help Anna and Pierre reach their goal for rural education, supporters are invited to sponsor a kilometre for R100. For more information or to make a donation, visit their fundraising page: Conquering the Epic: 692km for Rural Education.
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