#SheUntamed is all about Epic inclusivity

High heels, sashaying from side to side with lovely looks propped up by make-up and completed by a wall-to-wall smile. That's the office look.

Cleats on the pedals, pedalling hills and mountains, buckets of sweat dripping from the brow and panting with every breath.

That's the outdoor warrior.

Cape Epic organisers are on a drive to attract more women to their gruelling race through the initiative called #sheuntamed.

The trio of Phathokuhle Zondi, Nicole Capper and Letshego Zulu are the ambassadors of the initiative.

The idea is for more women cyclists to get a taste of the terrain of the Cape Epic between March 17 and 19 and navigate the best trails SA has to offer which are usually closed off to the world.

Part of the programme is to get powerful women to showcase their passionate spirit and call them to step up and chip in.

Zondi, the CEO of the sports science institute, is eager to partake in the move to change the face of mountain biking in SA.

"This will be my second time participating in the Epic trippers.

"It will be the first time I ride in the female-only section which will be launched this year.

"I've just started on the journey as a cyclist and it is exciting when female cyclists of a wide range can come together to form a community and enjoy a male-dominated event," she said.

"To be able to have a cohort of 40 women who are avid cyclists being able to experience part of the Epic route is exciting and inspirational," she said.

"What excites me about this campaign is how we can use it as a catalyst for other societal shifts as relates to transformation, gender equity and inclusion."

The mother of two girls, aged four and two, describes herself as a "36-years young" mother concerned by the significantly low number of female riders and partnerships.

"As a mother of two girls, I am raising them to grow up with unwavering confidence that they can do whatever they set their minds to."

Fitness enthusiast Zulu is author of I Choose To Live - Life after Gugu Zulu.

She lost her racing champion husband Gugu in 2016 when he died while attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, the world's highest free-standing mountain.

A fitness fanatic, Zulu said the Epic has been a game changer for her.

"My husband introduced me to this. I remember the one time I fell and my husband said 'get up, let's go'.

"I did my first in 2013, the first time an African woman took part.

"This provides you a with a platform to be brave enough to tackle adversity and face your challenges head-on."

Zulu said one of her challenges was the fear to ride her bike over rocks when she first got a glimpse of the gruesome terrain.

Former Springbok Joel Stransky, scorer of that famous drop goal in the Springboks' first Rugby World Cup final victory against the All Blacks in 1995, gave her a word of encouragement to ease her trepidation.

"Noticing my fear, Joel said to me: 'These machines were made to go over rocks. Don't hold back. Go over the rocks.'"

Capper said her involvement was inspired by a drive to dispel the stereotype of women being viewed as a "scared and insecure bunch".

Carli Cooke, media relations officer of Absa, said at the core of the event was to bring about positive change.

"The aim is to take women to the race and give them a taste of the terrain. Usually, women constitute a tiny proportion of the field.

"So through #sheuntamed, we want to bring about positive change and to bring about inclusivity.

"This year will be the first event, but obviously going forward we want as many women as possible to join in."

Email: bbk@sundaytimes.co.za