Cape Town, South Africa – Sasol is proud to once again be the official fuel sponsor as well as sponsor of the women’s category of the Absa Cape Epic, which is regarded as the world’s premier mountain bike stage race. 

Taking place from 13th to 20th March 2016, contestants will this year cycle 652 kilometres over eight days across the scenic Western Cape terrain. The race will start at the Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, travelling through to Tulbagh, Wellington, Stellenbosch, and then back to Meerendal Wine Estate for the Grand Finale. 

Sponsoring the women’s category is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring that women have equal access to opportunities.  In 2014, Sasol increased the prize money for the women’s category, matching it to that of the men’s category. The world over, sporting codes generally tend to offer a lower reward for women competitors, and equalling the women’s category prize money has contributed to an increase in the number of professional and amateur women cyclists entering the race. 

“Sasol believes in the inherent talent of women, both in business as well as in sports,” said Wrenelle Stander, Senior Vice President: Public Affairs and Real Estate Services, Sasol Limited. 

“In addition to the Cape Epic, we are also the sole sponsor of Sasol Banyana Banyana, our country’s senior national women’s soccer team, and Businesswomen’s Association (BWASA). Within Sasol we are building a solid pipeline of women leaders and decision makers within our ranks through structures such as our Women’s Network and the Mentorship Circle.” 

Given Sasol’s focus on developing technologically advanced fuels and lubricants, and with our Sasol Fuels Application Centre, which carries out fuel research and development, being based in Muizenberg in the Cape, we are delighted to be the 2016 official fuel sponsor.