South Africas Cape Epic is the toughest off road stage race in the world. The difficulty makes it a great proving ground for all mtb gear. Assos teamed up with the race because its where gear goes to die a gruesome death. It is also why they celebrate the race with this SS.capeepicXCJersey_evo7. The names a mouthful, so just call it the Assos Cape Epic Jersey.

The jersey is relatively traditional by Assos standards, with a slim cut that is tailored by most standards but almost relaxed by theirs. Its more of a mille fit in Assos terminology.

It still packs in plenty of great features. The full zipper has a dock at the bottom to prevent abrading whatever bottoms youre wearing. The paneling has been created for a normal cross-country riding position, meaning that it will fit perfectly once you grab the bars. While the front might seem pretty standard, you can see the mesh fabric under the biceps. This is a light, stretchy fabric that allows for great moisture transpiration. It goes from the armpit in front back and around up to the shoulder blade. The shoulders have a heavier fabric that works great with hydration packs and helps anchor the tapered back panels so that overloaded pockets stay in place.

The pocket design is also very much mtb-specific. The left- and right-side pockets have gently tapered edges to make access easier, and theyre reinforced at the top by a wide reflective band, which matches the jersey aesthetic during the day and only lights up when a light is flashed on it.

The sleeve hems have a wide, stretchy band that helps hold the sleeves down for both sun protection and aerodynamics, but are loose enough that you wont notice them. The same goes for the rear waist hem. The elastic here is to lock your jersey onto your shorts without you noticing.

The Assos SS.capepicXCJersey_evo7 covers you whether youre riding an off road stage race, bashing about your local woods, or even riding on the road.