Stage 4: Worcester to Worcester (32km; 800m of climbing)
It is a first for the Absa Cape Epic – two time trials in the 2011 race. This was a 32km route through the foothills of Brandwacht. As in 2010, riders traversed the western side of Worcester in this semi-desert environment. Added to last year’s route was an extra 5km loop along dual tracks past the local golf course. The route data showed 860m of climbing which may not seem like a lot, but over such a short distance, it still required a hard effort. As usual, the top teams left at 1 minute intervals, racing only against the clock, some looking for a stage win and others to consolidate. Riders needed to hold back on this stage and save themselves for the next half of the Cape Epic saga.
View the gallery for stage 4 - All photos supplied by Greg Beadle
For full results & live information go to http://www.procycling.co.za/features/absa-cape-epic
Men’s Category
Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser and his South African team mate Burry Stander (36ONE Songo Specialized) are on a winning streak by again finishing first in the trial ride (Stage 4) of this year’s Absa Cape Epic. They completed the tough 32km course in a time of 1:10.01,1 and are now 7 minutes and 48 seconds in the lead. They were again followed by Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking in 1;11.34,0 with the Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing team of Sergio Gutierrez Mantecon and Carlos Nicolas Coloma in third place in 1:12.08,0.
Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander maintain their overall lead with a time of 15:44.14,9. In second position overall are Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking in 15:52.03,3, followed by the Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in 15:55.53,8. In fourth place overall are the Stöckli Pro team of Urs Huber and Konny Looser who finished in fifth place today (16:11.01,0), with Versluys-Evenza’s Nicolas Vermeulen and Kevin van Hoovels in fifth place overall (16:13.29,8). They finished in 8th place today.
Says Burry Stander of 36ONE Songo Specialized: “This is the first day in this year’s Absa Cape Epic that I really felt good and had good legs. I didn’t need to rely on Christoph and could finally push him as he has done with me the last couple of days, putting me through the paces. It’s also nice that we a have a bit more time today to recover ahead of the last two long stages. We’ve extended our lead but it’s hard to say what’ll happen in the next three days. We’re doing what we need to every day and trying to ride conservatively as well as increase our lead. I just hope we have Lady Luck on our side.” Christoph Sauser adds: “I’ve learnt that it’s never good for me to think I’m going to have a nice racing day. We caught up with Genze and Käss in the big downhill, rode together for a bit and in the next uphill pulled away. It’s always a cool feeling catching the guys in front. If it’s just down to pedalling, we stand a good chance to stay in front, but this race is not like an office job and an 8 minute lead is not a lot.”
Hannes Genze of Multivan Merida Biking reckons his partner Jochen Käss had a very good day. “I was feeling a bit weak this morning, but Jochen had obviously recovered and pushed the hammer down. After the first kilometre, I thought wow, Jochen is in good form. But luckily after about 10 minutes I also got into a nice rhythm. We wanted to increase our lead on the Bulls team today and I think we managed to do that.” Jochen Käss adds: “I felt very good – definitely better than yesterday - so I pushed Hannes. It was quite windy on the course and I was riding in front on the flat sections. We passed the Bulls in the middle of the race and are very happy with our fourth podium finish, but I think Sauser and Stander are too far ahead for us to catch up.”
Says the current Spanish Cross Country Champion Sergio Gutierrez Mantecon (Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing): “We’re extremely happy with our first podium finish and felt good today. This race is very difficult and the competition is exceptionally fierce with the best riders in the world participating. It’s also a fantastic atmosphere with the school kids welcoming us at the finish line. It’s a fun race and I’m sure we’ll be back again.”
Karl Platt of the Bulls team comments that Stander and Sauser caught up with them on a steep climb at the 10 km mark. “It always gives riders an extra push to pass the leaders in front of them. Stefan is finding it tough to get his rhythm this year and you have to admit that you can’t have the same legs every year. Christoph and Burry are super strong this year and one can’t say whether there’ll be a price to pay for riding so hard. Susi (Sauser) is in excellent shape and he seems to be getting stronger as the stage progresses. Burry is still young but old doesn’t necessarily mean slower. I’m really surprised by Christoph – he gets skinnier each day and more confident. They’re doing a great job.” To the comment that Sauser is training with a coach again, Platt comments that one never stops learning. “You need to learn all the time - even when you’re 60.”
Belgian champion Nicolas Vermeulen (team Versluys-Evenza) is happy with his team’s performance. “I think our result in the overall is good. Milka-Trek had a mechanical, as did the Multivan Merida team. It was bad luck for them but good for us.”
African Leader Jersey
Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) maintain their lead in the African Jersey with an overall time of 16:53.47,3, followed by Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) in 17:34.29,0. In third place are Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 17:33.27,9. Heymans and Niyonshuti are now in 10th position overall.
South Africa’s Brandon Stewart, riding with Shan Wilson as team Toyota DCM, says: “We were quite close to the leading team in the African jersey up to yesterday, but then Shan had two big crashes and we lost some time. We suspect he has a fractured collar bone and broken septum. We took it nice and easy today as tomorrow’s stage will be really tough. This is Shan’s 8th Absa Cape Epic and I have a feeling nothing will let him pull out unless he really has to. He takes a couple of pain killers in the morning and carries on. In cycling, sometimes you’re giving it and sometimes you’re taking it. This is a team race and we’re in it together whether it’s good or bad. We’ll try our best and hope to have some fun along the way, as that’s important.” His team mate Shan Wilson adds: “We were fighting for the African jersey but then I broke a fork and had to carry on like that for 100km. This will be a fight to the finish. We’re third in the African jersey and will do our best to defend it. It’s all in the head and one can train only so much. I love this race and the drama. It’s the best novel or movie and you’re the star actor in it. Today’s time trial wasn’t good. It felt as if someone with a hammer and nail was drilling into my collar bone. But this is what the Cape Epic is about. I’m a determined guy by nature and won’t easily give up.”
Says Namibian Marc Bassingthwaighte of team Garmin adidas 2: “We’re not fighting for the African jersey. Our team mates have it and we’re just trying to protect it. It means a lot to our team that we help them and we’ll definitely be there for them if they have any problems.”
Ben Melt Swanepoel of the Ghost Specialized team reckons the weather was nice today. “I have a good partner and bike and we’ll give it everything we have.”
Ladies Category
Eva Lechner and Nathalie Schneitter (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol) won the Ladies Category for the fourth time, finishing in 1:27.16,3 (overall 22:10.54,7), ahead of Sally Bigham and Karien Van Jaarsveld (team USN) in a time of 1:37.04,1 (overall 21:02.18,7). In third place were Naomi Hansen and Jodie Willett of adidas in 1:37.54,8 (overall 21:59.55,5) with Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of team Absa aBreast in fourth (1:40.41,3; overall 21:28.02,4). Bigham and Van Jaarsveld lead this category by 25 minutes and 43 seconds.
Says Nathalie Schneitter of Switzerland (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol): “The race was still quite hard today and in the nice single-track we gave it our all. We had excellent team work today and were both feeling strong.” Eva Lechner adds: “We’re really happy with the race. Nathalie worked hard in the middle section of the race and I at the beginning and end. We finished in good time and look forward to the last three days of the race.”
Karien van Jaarsveld (USN) comments that they had a fun race. “Today was my kind of riding. It was pretty steep, but conditions were nice. We still have a long way to go – tomorrow’s a monster of a day - so we'll just ride safely and conservatively to get to the finish.” Bigham adds: “We really had good fun today. It was perfect to have a short course in the middle of the race to recover a bit. We’ll enjoy some recovery time and get ready for tomorrow.”
Ischen Stopforth of team Absa aBreast also enjoyed this stage. “Yesterday was really hard and we were a little bit tired today. We had some nice downhills though and it was great not to be in the saddle for 7 hours.”
Current Downhill Mountain Biking World Champion Tracy Moseley from the United Kingdom says “today was fun and of course the rain helped a bit. It’s nice to have some time to rest as it looks as if the next two days will be sheer hell. The Absa Cape Epic is way bigger than I expected – it’s massive. Yesterday was pretty rough, but I enjoyed today. Hopefully I’ll survive the next two days and make it to the finish line at Lourensford.”
Master’s Category
The Juwi team (Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts) won the time trail stage in 1:18.14,0 (overall 17:23.48,2), followed by the Nandos team of Adrian Enthoven and Gerrie Beukes in a time of 1:22.33,8 (overall 18:34.53,1). In third place were Robert Sim and Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team in 1:22.44,3 (overall 18:10.07,1). Sim and Brown are still in second place overall in this category and the Juwi team lead by 1 hour, 11 minutes and 5 seconds.
Says Adrian Enthoven of the Nandos team: “Every stage in this race is punishment, but the racing atmosphere is so fantastic that I can’t hold back. Luckily Adrien and I are similar riders. This was another hard day – shorter doesn’t mean easier. The shorter distance means it’s intensity is higher. The cooler weather made a difference though and we enjoyed it.”
Mixed Category
The Wheeler – BIXS team, Bärti Bucher and Esther Sϋss again won the Mixed category in 1:23.26,7 (overall 18:52.47,1), again followed by Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi (of Contego Giant Sludge) in 1:27.44,0 (overall 19:35.19,2). Ivonne Kraft and Peter Vesel of Raedisch Race finished in third place today in 1:29.00,7 (5th overall; 21:16.02,2). The Swiss team of Daniel Annaheim and Renata Bucher (Baumat / zaboobikes.com) finished in fourth place today (1:29.06,1) but are placed 3rd overall (20:25.37,2). The Wheeler – Bixs team lead this category by 42 minutes and 32 seconds.
Says reigning MTB Marathon World Champion Esther Süss, of team Wheeler – BIXS: “I had fun today. It was also hard but great mountain bike riding. We at least have time to rest today. I had a sore throat and headache this morning, so taking time out will help a lot. Tomorrow we’ll ride with a group because we need to look after ourselves.”
Erik Kleinhans of the Contego Giant Sludge team enjoyed this stage. “Ariane went for it today and we’re quite disappointed that we didn’t win. We’d really like to win a stage and are getting better as the race goes on, but they’re a strong team and it’ll be hard to beat them. They would need to have a bad day.” Lüthi adds: “I only started mountain biking 18 month ago and trained really hard for this race. Erik is an excellent coach. Single track was a bit of a weakness of mine, but he helped me. We realised that I hold my head down – I used to be a swimmer – and only after that could I adapt and improve my style. I must complement Dr Evil - the route is very rewarding and beautiful.”
Stage 5: Worcester to Oak Valley (143km; 2350m of climbing)
It’s a real classic Absa Cape Epic day out, the longest stage in years. With fast open roads, marked by 3 obstacles along the way, riders are advised to save their strength and cooperate with other teams to form larger groups, to take turns at the front to lighten the load. The first climb of the day will be a shock to the system, not only from the gradient but also the track’s surface. In parts, the climb is rideable, barely, and only the fittest and best bike handlers are likely to make it up without dabbing a foot. As with everything, what goes up must come down, and those with full suspension bikes will be grateful for their weapon of choice. More open roads will help get some kilometres under the belt before the radio mast comes into view. Down the other side of this deceptive climb is a fast chute into farmlands and waiting for riders is a set of rolling hills that’ll deaden the legs of even the most hardened campaigner. At the 100km mark, riders reach the foot of the exquisite Groenlandberg, the grand old legend inviting us back in 2011 thanks to Cape Nature Conservation. The 15% gradient on the concrete path should be placed conservatively, with the remainder of the climb taking most riders well over an hour to complete. The north-facing slope will make for a challenging ascent on a hot afternoon but the rocky downhill sections leads to the famed Oak Valley single-track to make it all worth it.
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