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For the first time since winning the Prologue, the MTN Energade team of Kevin Evans (RSA) and David George (RSA) sprinted first across the finish line in Hermanus for the 6th stage of the Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas – their first stage win for this year’s event (4:53:01). Stage winners from the day before, the Bulls team of Karl Platt (GER) and Stefan Sahm (GER), secured a second place two seconds later at 4:53:03.They were followed one second later by the overall leaders Cannondale Vredestein, Roel Paulissen (BEL) and Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), who aggressively defended their yellow jersey honours at a time of 4:53:04.
After encountering numerous problems the day before, including having to ride the final 18km on a rim during Stage 5 (Roel Paulissen) and finishing in fifth position, the Cannondale Vredestein team worked hard to ensure that they hang on to a comfortable overall lead of 9 minutes over the Bulls (29:25:11 for Cannondale Vredestein and 29:34:25 for Bulls). MTN Energade will have to work hard to catch up with the Bulls, who enjoy a seven and a half minute advantage (MTN Energade is at 29:41:55). They do however enjoy a 10 minute lead over Dolphin Trek, who are in the fourth position with an overall time of 29:52:22.
For Stage 6, Absa Cape Epic participants travelled from Bredasdorp to Hermanus (130km, 2 095m climbing). The start out in Bredasdorp offered fast gravel roads through the surrounding farmland. A rugged warm-up climb followed by a loose descent got riders ready for the day’s big challenge: Salmonsdam Nature Reserve. It was a 14km ascent from around 6% to 12% on rugged jeep tracking, winding its way through mountain fynbos. The views along the way, as well as the loose and rocky drop down towards the vineyards, made it worth the effort. But the finish line was still a long way away. A short stretch on tar gave riders a welcome rest before dirt roads and farm tracks headed for the sea. A quick nip over the dunes took riders into the shores of Walker Bay to cross the Stanford River mouth – a knee-deep wade before they reached the spectacular finish at the Old Hermanus Harbour.
A Time bonus was once again awarded during Stage 6, similar to Stage 2. This was the first time in the 5-year history of the Absa Cape Epic that time bonus advantages were introduced at various hotspots in the race. Although time bonuses are common in road stage races, the Absa Cape Epic is the first mountain bike stage race to introduce the concept to mountain biking.
Overall leader Jakob Fuglsang (Cannondale Vredestein) says that they were taking it easier today on the downhill, because they didn't want to risk a flat. “Instead, we went full blast on the uphill,” he says. His teammate Roel Paulissen says that all the participants had to cope with wind from the front for the entire day, as well as deal with corrugated road for 40km. “We absolutely hated it as we could only go 17-20 km/h and had to work really hard. We were grateful that we were riding in a group of three strong teams, but it was almost too few riders to share the hard work.”
He adds that the beginning of the stage was already tough, but teams had to still cope with a difficult part during the end – a 35 to 40km long washboard killer. “I feel sorry for the amateurs as it was not an easy challenge. Until the first climb we were a group of 50 to 60 riders. Then at the first Waterpoint Bart Brentjens stopped so briefly that we had to rush back on our bikes to get to him. I started to attack at the first long climb at Salmonsdam.”
Following this, Fuglsang took the lead, but soon fell behind again and Paulissen waited for him. It was during the downhill that the Bulls team decided to go full blast for the time bonus.
Stefan Sahm (Bulls) says, “At the long climb Roel was attacking really hard. I needed at bit more time at the Water Point to put oil on my chain and thought ‘please don’t let it be another huge gap that we must close’. Fortunately we could close the gap quite quickly and when we had caught them on top of the mountain we took a risk on the downhill and went full blast. When we arrived on our own at the bottom, we carried on to grab the time bonus.”
MTN Energade was also aiming for the time advantage, but the Bulls team was so fast they couldn’t keep up the pace.
“I was very impressed with David’s performance on that downhill,” says Evans. “He gained so much experience and learnt so much during this last week of the Absa Cape Epic. Four days ago we would have lost four to five minutes on that downhill. Today it was only 60 seconds!”
At the hot spot 3km in front of Water Point 3, the Bulls team were 1.05 min ahead and comfortably won the time bonus, followed by MTN Energade (2nd) and Cannondale Vredestein (3rd). The Bulls team, who won stage 5 the day before, received a 40 second bonus for their victory. MTN Energade in second place welcomed their 20 second time bonus. Overall leaders Cannondale Vredestein gained 10 second from the time bonus to add to their overall lead.
Dolphin-Trek, Bart Brentjens (NED) and Alban Lakata (AUT), together with Full-Dynamix Rsm, Fredrik Kessiakoff (SUI) and Missimo Debertolis (ITA) and USN/adidas, Brandon Stewart (RSA) and Max Knox (RSA) crossed the hot spot next, but they were already 5:30 minutes behind.
All of the top riders agreed that it was a long ride to the finish and that the race felt tougher than the previous stage.
For stage winner David George the victory was not only an emotional high as it was his
second win in a Mountainbike race ever (1st was the 2008 Absa Cape Epic Prologue), but the location also played a very special part as he grew up and played in Hermanus a lot as a child. His grandmother still lives here.
Comments Evans: “David actually said eight months ago that he would love to win in Hermanus in front of his family. Winning in such a competitive, world class field makes the victory even sweeter. We are both sure that one of the top riders who come out of the Absa Cape Epic will win the first world cup as they are in such good shape and are getting stronger every day.”
George says that they tried to break away 5km before the finish line. “This was the only stage in which I knew what the last km would look like, because I know Hermanus so well. Our objective was to make the podium and that’s what we achieved today. We’re grateful that the next two days are the shortest, but I don’t think they will be easy though.”
Evans says that if they continue to feel strong and are not struck by bad luck they can make it on the GC podium which would be an amazing success for them. “This will be the first time since 2004 if we do make it. Back in 2004 the race was not so competitive yet”. To date, Evan’s Absa Cape Epic highlight was a third place win in 2005 with Silvio Wiletschnig from Austria.
Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) of Full Dynamix-Rsm, who came in 5th today, says that for the first three days of the Absa Cape Epic he felt good and was very motivated, while his riding partner Debertolis Massimo (ITA) was struggling. “Since this is a team race you just have to stick by your partner. But now it is just the other way around. Yesterday and today I suffered. I can’t ride strong all the way to the finish and if you go on you suffer too much and it is hard to recover from that. So as I weakened Massimo regained his strength, which is really frustrating. But we were 5th today and are 6th overall in a world-class field which is a great achievement”.
STAGE 6 RESULTS:
MEN:
1. MTN Energade (1) – Kevin Evans (RSA) & David George (RSA) – 4:53:01
2. Bulls – Karl Platt (GER) & Stefan Sahm (GER) – 4:53:03
3. Cannondale Vredestein – Roel Paulissen (BEL) & Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – 4:53:04
4. Dolphin-Trek – Bart Brentjens (NED) & Alban Lakata (AUT) – 5:01:35
5. Full-Dynamix Rsm – Fredrik Kessiakoff (SUI) & Massimo Debertolis (ITA) – 5:03:42
LADIES:
1. Rocky Mountain – Pia Sundstedt (FIN) & Alison Sydor (CAN) – 5:45:01
2. Trek/Vw Wsd – Susan Haywood (USA) & Jennifer Smith (NZL) – 5:57:21
3. Scott Contessa – Jane Seggie (RSA) & Ischen Stopforth (RSA) – 6:20:24
4. Absa Ladies – Erica Green (RSA) & Hanlie Booyens (RSA) – 6:56:12
5. Valhalla – Petruschka Constancon (RSA) & Louise Hemmes (RSA) – 7:05:27
MASTERS:
1. Adidas William Simpson – Shan Wilson (RSA) & Walter Platzgummer (ITA) – 5:29:25
2. Pragma Masters – M.C. Franken (RSA) & Peter Buggle (IRE) – 5:37:04
3. Absa Masters – Doug Brown (RSA) & Barti Bucher (SUI) – 5:41:45
4. Private Client Holdings – Andrew Johan Cillie (RSA) & Leon Olivier (RSA) – 5:56:33
5. Chamizo-Sportful – Franky Taelman (GER) & Danny Flies (GER) – 5:57:14
MIXED:
1. Joybike Guided by Vmt and Maloja – Ivonne Kraft (GER) & Nico Pfitzenmaier (GER) – 5:56:18
2. Cyclelab Toyota – Johan Labuschagne (RSA) & Yolande de Villiers (RSA) – 5:56:19
3. Absa Mixed – Kobus Barnard (RSA) & Fienie Barnard (RSA) – 5:59:56
4. Unicef Austria 1 – Anita Waiss (AUT) & Andreas Muhlbacher (AUT) – 6:09:49
5. Adidas-Medsport-Checker Pig – Markus Pielenz (GER) & Sandra Sumerauer (GER) – 6:15:41
OVERALL RESULTS:
MEN:
1. Cannondale Vredestein – Roel Paulissen (BEL) & Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – 29:25:11
2. Bulls – Karl Platt (GER) & Stefan Sahm (GER) – 29:34:25
3. MTN Energade (1) – Kevin Evans (RSA) & David George (RSA) – 29:41:55
4. Dolphin-Trek - Bart Brentjens (NED) & Alban Lakata (AUT) – 29:52:23
5. Alb-Gold Mountainbike – Hannes Genze (GER) & Jochen Kaess (GER) – 29:52:27
6. Full-Dynamix Rsm – Fredrik Kessiakoff (SUI) & Massimo Debertolis (ITA) – 30:24:44
7. Usn/adidas – Brandon Stewart (RSA) & Max Knox (RSA) – 30:45:30
8. Etto Hoydahl (3) – Martin Bratland (NOR) & Kristian Torgersen (NOR) - 31:24:50
9. Etto Hoydahl (2) Rune Hoydahl (NOR) & Ola Kjoren (NOR) – 31:41:01
10. MTN Energade (2) – Mannie Heymans (NAM) & Melt Swanepoel (RSA) – 31:50:02
LADIES:
1. Rocky Mountain – Pia Sundstedt (FIN) & Alison Sydor (CAN) – 35:04:16
2. Trek/Vw Wsd – Susan Haywood (USA) & Jennifer Smith (NZL) – 36:12:53
3. Scott Contessa – Jane Seggie (RSA) & Ischen Stopforth (RSA) – 38:14:15
4. Absa Ladies – Erica Green (RSA) & Hanlie Booyens (RSA) – 38:56:48
5. Valhalla – Petruschka Constancon (RSA) & Louise Hemmes (RSA) – 43:49:20
MASTERS:
1. Absa Masters – Doug Brown (RSA) & Barti Bucher (SUI) – 32:54:23
2. Adidas William Simpson – Shan Wilson (RSA) & Walter Platzgummer (ITA) – 33:03:57
3. Pragma Masters – M.C. Franken (RSA) & Peter Buggle (IRE) – 34:01:13
4. Private Client Holdings – Andrew Johan Cillie (RSA) & Leon Olivier (RSA) – 36:23:13
5. Oracla – Claudio Pellegrini (ITA) & Orazio Casaccio (ITA) – 36:35:00
MIXED:
1. Joybike Guided by Vmt and Maloja – Ivonne Kraft (GER) & Nico Pfitzenmaier (GER) – 35:40:09
2. Cyclelab Toyota – Johan Labuschagne (RSA) & Yolande de Villiers (RSA) – 35:58:28
3. Absa Mixed – Kobus Barnard (RSA) & Fienie Barnard (RSA) – 36:57:46
4. X.O Felt Swiss – Adrian Burri (SUI) & Franziska Roethlin (SUI) – 37:52:17
5. Adidas-Medsport-Checker Pig – Markus Pielenz (GER) & Sandra Sumerauer (GER) – 39:18:12
Visit www.cape-epic.com to view the full results.
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