Looking forward to the new route, both brothers are happy that there will
not be a prologue on the first day. Says Lukas: "The first day is always the
hardest for us. We come directly from winter and must get accustomed to the
hot weather."

In winter they ride a lot of cyclo-cross races and the last few weeks before
the Absa Cape Epic often do long training sessions with a lot of climbs.
"Mathias is still completing his formal education, so we have different
training times. But we train a lot together over weekends, in an area very
close to Bern in Switzerland," comments Lukas.

With regards to diet, both are firm believers in maintaining a healthy and
balanced diet, with lots of fruit and vegetables. Their advice to other
participants is to have fun and appreciate the beauty on the route. Says
Mathias: "All this will bring you to the finish line. Take it one stage at a
time, don't think of the race as a whole distance, and be sure to eat and
drink enough - most importantly have fun."

According to Lukas they feel better prepared for this year's event: "We have
more experience, and I think that can help us, especially in avoiding
technical problems of which we had too many last year. We'll follow the same
race strategy again this year."

Their fondest memory of last year's event was winning the final stage. "The
last 300 meters were fantastic - for us to cross the finish line as
brothers, and as winners of the last stage was an amazing feeling," says
Lukas.

To these two brothers mountain biking is a way of life. "It's an attitude,
and you must fight for that ... but always have fun."

In their free time they like to do skiing and snowboard tours, and in summer
they enjoy meeting friends for a 'braai' at home.

Their goals for 2010 are the World Championships in Mont Saint Anne, the
Elite Men for Lukas and the Under 23 for Mathias. "And of course winning the
World Cup in our respective categories. I'd really like to win a World Cup
race," Lukas concludes.