Epic leaders strike at right time
by Jonathan Ancer,
2016-03-17 05:00:00.0
WELLINGTON — The overnight leaders in the men’s and women’s categories at the Absa Cape Epic consolidated their positions, but it was a day of misfortunes for two top contenders.
The Team Bulls pairing of Karl Platt and Urs Huber continued their domination of the race with a third stage win on the 104km ride from Tulbagh to Wellington, moving more than nine minutes ahead of their nearest rivals, Centurion Vaude by Meerendal 2’s Matthias Pfrommer and Nicola Rohrbach.
Platt said the strategy for the stage was to keep it cool and also keep an eye on their nearest rivals until it was time to strike.
"We put the pressure on after Bain’s Kloof Pass. It was another good day for us, and we are very happy to be home in first again."
Pfrommer and Rohrbach are enjoying a solid Cape Epic debut, but said the pace at the front was starting to take its toll.
There was more bad luck for third-placed Topeak Ergon Racing, when Kristian Hynek crashed towards the end of the stage and crossed the line with a bloodied arm and battered ribs.
On Tuesday, Hynek broke his shoe, which derailed their Stage 2 efforts. Hynek and teammate Alban Lakata are now 11 minutes behind Team Bulls.
In the women’s race, Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad of Spur-Specialized won in a time of 5hr 18min 47sec, moving closer to clinching their third straight Epic title. "It was a very close race and we had no idea how it was going to finish. The racing was super close and very tough because we were all together until the last 20km or so," said Langvad.
Topeak Ergon finished second and Ascendis Health’s pairing of Jennie Stenerhag, and South African Robyn de Groot in third place. Stenerhag collapsed over the finish line after a tough and hot ride and was immediately taken to the Mediclinic tent to be checked out.
Stenerhag later pulled out of the race and De Groot indicated she would probably continue on her own as an Outcast — a UCI rider whose partner has left the race.
In the Absa African Special Jersey competition, Team USN Purefit’s Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock strengthened their grip on the red jersey after finishing seventh. They have a 15-minute lead on their nearest African challengers, Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell of NAD Pro MTB.
"We felt good again today," said Woolcock, "Darren punctured on the first climb. We stayed calm and just rode at our own pace to the finish. Things are going well."
Thursday’s Wellington loop will see the riders tackle a distance of 75km with 1,850m of climbing.
DONE AND DUSTED: Luiz Gatti leads a group during Wednesday’s stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic from Tulbagh to Wellington. Picture: SHAUN ROY/CAPE EPIC/SPORTZPICS
WELLINGTON — The overnight leaders in the men’s and women’s categories at the Absa Cape Epic consolidated their positions, but it was a day of misfortunes for two top contenders.
The Team Bulls pairing of Karl Platt and Urs Huber continued their domination of the race with a third stage win on the 104km ride from Tulbagh to Wellington, moving more than nine minutes ahead of their nearest rivals, Centurion Vaude by Meerendal 2’s Matthias Pfrommer and Nicola Rohrbach.
Platt said the strategy for the stage was to keep it cool and also keep an eye on their nearest rivals until it was time to strike.
"We put the pressure on after Bain’s Kloof Pass. It was another good day for us, and we are very happy to be home in first again."
Pfrommer and Rohrbach are enjoying a solid Cape Epic debut, but said the pace at the front was starting to take its toll.
There was more bad luck for third-placed Topeak Ergon Racing, when Kristian Hynek crashed towards the end of the stage and crossed the line with a bloodied arm and battered ribs.
On Tuesday, Hynek broke his shoe, which derailed their Stage 2 efforts. Hynek and teammate Alban Lakata are now 11 minutes behind Team Bulls.
In the women’s race, Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad of Spur-Specialized won in a time of 5hr 18min 47sec, moving closer to clinching their third straight Epic title. "It was a very close race and we had no idea how it was going to finish. The racing was super close and very tough because we were all together until the last 20km or so," said Langvad.
Topeak Ergon finished second and Ascendis Health’s pairing of Jennie Stenerhag, and South African Robyn de Groot in third place. Stenerhag collapsed over the finish line after a tough and hot ride and was immediately taken to the Mediclinic tent to be checked out.
Stenerhag later pulled out of the race and De Groot indicated she would probably continue on her own as an Outcast — a UCI rider whose partner has left the race.
In the Absa African Special Jersey competition, Team USN Purefit’s Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock strengthened their grip on the red jersey after finishing seventh. They have a 15-minute lead on their nearest African challengers, Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell of NAD Pro MTB.
"We felt good again today," said Woolcock, "Darren punctured on the first climb. We stayed calm and just rode at our own pace to the finish. Things are going well."
Thursday’s Wellington loop will see the riders tackle a distance of 75km with 1,850m of climbing.
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