Talk about a ride to remember.

The main cycling group is pictured here during the 103km Stage 3 of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race near Wellington, South Africa, on Wednesday.

The Cape Epic is often described as the "Tour de France" of mountain biking and features 1,200 riders racing over 652km in eight stages and 15,100m of climbing.

Professional racers ride alongside amateur riders during the eight-day-long race.

First staged in 2004, the Cape Epic attracts elite professional mountain bikers from around the world, who compete in teams of two.

To qualify for a finish, teams have to stay together for the duration of the race.

The race is also open to amateurs, who enter a lottery to gain a slot. A total of 600 teams take part.

The course changes every year, but the race has always taken place in the Western Cape, South Africa.