Stage Three of the 2022 Cape Epic offered little respite for the field of racers. With a high rate of attrition after the first three days, many wondered if more would fall today – and whether the general classification would see another mix up.
Local heroes on form in CM.com Women’s race
Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss (Faces Rola) rode a brilliant tactical race at the Absa Cape Epic today in the CM.com Women’s category to claim the 101km Stage 3. After a few up and down days at the event, Lill and Strauss were finally able to put together the complete performance for their first-ever Absa Cape Epic stage win as a team.
The victory also puts them into second place in the CM.com Women’s category general classification. Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten (NinetyOne-songo-Specialized), second on Stage 3, still lead overall by 10 minutes.
The racing started to take shape on the rolling hills out of the Elandskloof race village when Hayley Preen and Mari Rabie (Private Client Holdings) upped the tempo on a climb. The rest of the women were reluctant to chase the break, allowing Preen and Rabie to build a two-minute gap. The gap was eventually closed by NinetyOne-songo-Specialized and Faces Rola ahead of the 60km mark, with all three teams then riding together for the rest of the stage.
Victory prospects were looking good for Private Client Holdings until the final climb of the day when Lill decided to attack. Strauss appeared to be struggling a little bit with the pace but went with Lill as Faces Rola and NinetyOne-songo-Specialized passed Private Client Holdings.
On the steep up-and-downs heading to the finish, there was some cat and mouse riding between the leading teams, with Lill and Strauss both ultimately managing to get ahead of Batten and Villafane on the final singletrack. Faces Rola tactics had worked a charm and the South African riders were able to sprint home for a famous stage win.
“That was so good!” said Strauss. “It feels so good to win this stage. Today was all about executing our plans; it finally came together for us. All our strategy kicked in. We found our flow early into the stage and just rode well until the end.”
Lill admits that letting riders of the quality of Preen and Rabie race ahead was risky but Faces Rola had faith in their tactics. “I said to Mariske we can’t let Hayley and Mari get too far ahead because they are such good riders. They were so strong today, but we stuck with them and managed to make our move near the end. The race was a lot of fun and very tactical, a very cool day on the bike. Mariske and I did our homework on the stage; we knew the finish was tight and that you needed to be in front going into the last stretch. We managed to execute our plan and from there we were able to take the stage.”
Despite losing the lead after such a strong ride, Private Client Holdings enjoyed the day in front of the bunch. “That was a great day out,” said Mari Rabie. “We always knew we would build into the race; it was a really great ride and so much fun to ride together with the other women’s teams at the front. I think it’s awesome to have two all-South African teams in the top three on a stage at the Absa Cape Epic.”
Speedy racing in men’s field
Defending champion Matt Beers (Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized) started Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic with an explosion of high-octane mountain biking. With riders still getting into their pedal stroke in the start chute, Beers revved away from the pack, dragging a few startled teams along for the ride.
It was a short-lived display of power, but it set the tone for the stage when Lukas Baum and Georg Egger (Speed Company Racing) took up the challenge laid down by Beers. Baum and Egger moved to the front of the race before the 20km mark and never looked back, ultimately winning the stage two minutes ahead of Beers and Christopher Blevins. Their scorched-earth ride also took them into second place on the general classification.
Race leaders Andreas Seewald and Martin Stošek (Canyon Northwave MTB) finished third on the stage, a further minute behind Beers and Blevins. They retain the yellow Ciovita leader jerseys for Stage 4, but both Speed Company Racing and Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized have chipped away at their overall lead.
The racing on Stage 3 was dominated by Speed Company Racing’s intensity. Santa Cruz (Maxime Marotte and Keegan Swenson) and Imbuko {Type} DEV (Pieter du Toit and Marco Joubert) put on a good show in the early stages, but as the race wore on and the pace increased, the chasing teams appeared to run out of puff.
Nino Schurter (SCOTT-SRAM) also gave chase early on, but his partner Lars Forster seemed to be struggling. Schurter and Forster ended up finishing nine minutes behind the stage winners.
By the third water point, Speed Company Racing were out in front by themselves, two minutes ahead of the chasers. Their lead only grew over the next 40km with only Beers and Blevins giving chase (though at one point, a wild bunny did enter the fray, making a mad sprint between the wheels of the bunch).
Baum and Egger were thrilled with the win. “Today was the first day we both felt normal! Yesterday my stomach was giving me issues, and the day before it was Lukas. But today we both felt good. I don’t actually know what happened out there, we just went full gas from the start! I didn’t know much about the route, it was all about going flat-out today. I hurt a little at the end, but Lukas was so strong; he got us home in the end.”
Now second overall, Speed Company Racing has threatened a performance of this calibre all week. “Georg and I have been friends for over 10 years; we have raced together since under-15 level, so we know each other so well. I know when he’s feeling good, and I know when his legs are strong. We have a great understanding of each other’s abilities. We raced hard from the start today. At the last water point, we just filled up with a bit of Coke, and then it was full gas all the way to the end. It’s great to win the stage.”
Although their challengers are closing in, Canyon Northwave MTB was still happy with the third-place result and another day in yellow. “I got a flat through a field somewhere,” said Martin Stošek, “It was something a didn’t see; it was 2km to the tech zone so it wasn’t a major issue. We had to chase the group after that, but it was still a solid day and we are happy to keep yellow. Every day in yellow is nice, especially starting in yellow each morning!
Ominously for the rest of the field, Beers says he feels back to his best. “I felt a lot better today. The Speed Company Racing team was superb. But I am feeling back in business now and ready for racing.”
Stage 4 is another showcase of Greyton’s trails and the wider Overberg region. It’s short, punchy, and will be full of fireworks from the teams hunting down the yellow jersey.
