STAGE WIN FOR WORLD CHAMPION JOSé HERMIDA AND HIS TEAM MATE RALPH NäF
Stage 6: Oak Valley to Oak Valley (128km; 2 700m of climbing)
In the penultimate stage competitors were on their guard. The route profile and the total ascent indicated how they were tested right to the end of the week on this brutal Oak Valley loop. Again they headed over Groenlandberg, this time following the 2010 route in reverse. After crossing the R43 came the tough sandy climb, nicknamed The Beeatch. A short section on Highlands Road offered some relief. One of the climbs was rewarded with a dramatic view over the Indian Ocean, the Bot River mouth and Kleinmond. The last climb led them through another Cape Nature area featuring some rare fynbos. Shortly after riders enjoyed the flowing single tracks of Lebanon, before they dipped under the N2 for more fun single track through Thandi and back home to Oak Valley – a great way finish a strenuous day in the saddle.
View the gallery for stage 6 - 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
The Spanish/Swiss team of José Hermida and Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking 3) finally secured their first stage win in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Hermida boasts a number of titles including the Elite World Champion (2010), fourth place at the Sydney Olympic Games, six World Cup round victories, runner-up in the European Championships and five times Spanish National Champion. Näf was the European Champion in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2010, World Marathon Champion in 2006, and second in the World Championships in 2007. They finished today’s stage of 128km in a time of 5:00.47,0. They were followed by the 36ONE Songo Specialized team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser in 5:01.38,7, with the Flückiger brothers, Lukas and Mathias, in third place in 5:04.06,0.
Sauser and Stander (overall 26:05.24,3) continue their winning streak and now lead the second team of Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss (Multivan Merida Biking) by 10 minutes and 51 seconds. Genze and Käss maintain their second place overall in 26:16.15,7. In third place overall are the Bulls, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, in 26:23.37,4. They finished in 6th place today and are 18 minutes and 13 seconds behind the leaders and 7 minutes and 22 seconds behind Multivan Merida Biking.
Says José Hermida: “It was our goal to win a stage, so we’re very happy. We worked for our team mates Hannes and Jochen for most of the stage and near the end they saw we could have a chance of winning and gave us the green light to go. We pushed to the end and Susi (Christoph Sauser) and Burry (Stander) seemed to accept the situation and let us go. It was a difficult stage with the most climbing of all the stages. The terrain varied a lot from rocky to sandy and some really nice single track, which was good. It was great fun.” Hermida, who gives the amateur riders a witty summary of the day’s events in the evenings, comments jokingly: “Today I was in the front and finally saw the top riders, so I can tell everyone about it.” Adds Ralph Näf: “It was a great day for us and we’re really happy. For most of this year’s Absa Cape Epic we’ve been helping our team mates to maintain their overall position. They were also strong today. We’re not here for the overall win but rather as final training for the season, so the stage win really means a lot. Of course we’ll try again tomorrow!”
Says Burry Stander of 36ONE Songo Specialized: “Today’s stage was hard, especially after yesterday. Hermida and Näf broke away and our motivation was not so high to catch them. They’re not a threat to us as they’re not close to us on the overall. We’re happy for them. We’ll take some extra parts tomorrow and ride hard to the climbing section. We’ll be more cautious on the descent as we want to get to Lourensford and ensure that we win.” His team mate Christoph Sauser adds: “It was an advantage for me because I know this area quite well. I knew we had to get to the single track first as it’s so tight there, but I didn’t know how all the trails were connected. It was very long towards to the end with lots of twists and turns in typical Dr Evil (route planner Leon Evans’ nickname) style. We’ll keep on riding like this tomorrow. I know the first climb is super hard, but once we get over the pass it’s okay. I hope we can hang on to our lead without killing ourselves. It’s better to ride safe than over the limit and make mistakes. This has been one of my best weeks ever in racing. I feel comfortable and still have some reserve. It feels like 2006 when I won the race and I’m sure next year will be really hard again.”
Karl Platt of the Bulls team also says it was a tough day. “We tried to stay with the front group and fell off, came back, fell off, came back. It was hard for me to find a nice rhythm for Stefan, but we survived. Hopefully we can maintain our third position on the GC (General Classification). I think we’re pretty safe.”
Says Mathias Flückiger of the Trek World Racing team: “Today’s stage was a killer and perhaps the hardest stage of the race for Lukas. The second stage was the hardest one for me. I’m always stronger near the end of the race. I like the uphills. Near the finish I became quite tired. José (Hermida) and Ralph (Näf) attacked and Sauser and Stander followed. I tried but Lukas was riding in the back of the group so we couldn’t follow. We’re very happy with our podium finish.”
Hannes Genze of Multivan Merida Biking comments: “Our team tactic came together this year. We planned to go fast from the start and force the others to spend some energy. But unlucky for us they didn’t and we ended up suffering the most. This has been my worst day in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. We maintained our overall position, and I’m very happy about that.”
For Nicolas Vermeulen (team Versluys-Evenza) this was his worse day physically. “I suffered the whole day and tried to stay in the top 10, but I’m happy we’re still in fourth position overall (26:46.14,8.)”
African Leader Jersey
Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) maintain their lead in the African Jersey with an overall time of 27:41.44,6, followed by Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 28:44.26,1. Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) are in third position in 29:04.39,3. Heymans and Niyonshuti are in 9th position overall.
Says Mannie Heymans: “Today went without incidents for us. The pace was very fast and it was hard for us at the beginning. We decided to ride with Shan (Wilson) and Brandon (Stewart) and rode at a steady pace. We lost them at the last water point – I’m not sure if they had a mechanical. Then we caught up with Milka-Trek 2 and rode with them. We had some fun through the single track. It’s awesome to train here. All in all it was a comfortable day in the saddle and we’re happy with the African leader jersey.””
Ladies Category
Eva Lechner and Nathalie Schneitter (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol) finished in first place again today with their 5th stage win in 6:24.46,5 (2nd overall; 35:48.58,0). They were followed by the Attix5 Ladies, Hannele Steyn and Leana de Jager, in a time of 6:37.53,6 (3rd overall; 36:46.44,6). Sally Bigham and Karien Van Jaarsveld (team USN) finished in third place in a time of 6:39.43,7 (1st overall; 34:13.31,5). Bigham and Van Jaarsveld lead by 1 hour 35 minutes and 26 seconds.
Nathalie Schneitter (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol) says she crashed yesterday. “So it was really hard. I had to ride for 70km without a fork. It was wonderful to win the stage today. It was our plan as the course suited us quite well. We got away at the beginning and had a peaceful day. We closed the gap to the team that was in second place so we’re happy with our performance. We’d really like another stage win tomorrow.” Eva Lechner adds: “It was a nice stage today. The view from on top of the mountain was spectacular. We’ll recover now and perhaps go for a stage win again tomorrow. This is my first Absa Cape Epic and it’s a lot harder than I thought.”
Karien van Jaarsveld (USN) comments that they had a fun race. “It was quite long though. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and the finish line. We have a good lead so can have some fun. I always dreamt of finishing the Absa Cape Epic and to ride in the Leader jersey is a privilege. It’s amazing to ride with Sally. She’s so experienced, strong and disciplined. We have a similar mindset to racing which helps. We’ve also become good friends and have fun riding in such special terrain. The Absa Cape Epic was a goal race for me this year and I’ll first recover before tackling my next goal which is the World Marathon Championships.”
Master’s Category
The Juwi team (Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts) secured their sixth stage win today in 5:28.44,5 (overall 28:33.15,9). They were followed by Robert Sim and Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team in 5:39.07,0 (overall 29:29.55,8), with the Toyota Cyleclab team of Gary Marescia and Bruce Diesel in third place in 5:54.50,4 (30:52.36,0). In fourth place were Adrian Enthoven and Gerrie Beukes (team Nandos) in 5:54.51,1, maintaining their third place overall (overall 30:22.44,3). The Juwi team lead by 56 minutes and 40 seconds.
Says Carsten Bresser (Juwi): “This stage reminded me of the TransAlp. It was a hard stage with more climbs – the TransAlp has bigger but fewer climbs. It was hard because of the distance, but we had fun. We won’t risk anything tomorrow as we’d like to win our category. We’ll race to our own rhythm and won’t attack. I had a really good time here in South Africa.” Adds Udo Boelts: “For the first three hours my legs felt like during a stage in the Tour de France in the Pyrenees. Carsten showed me I had no business being here as a mountain biker. He had to wait for me all the time. I’m really tired and at my limit today.”
Says Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team: “Today was really long and I couldn’t enjoy it after 100km. We’re second overall and will try our best to protect our position. We’re happy to be ahead of the third guys and really look forward to tomorrow’s finish at Lourensford.” Robert Sim adds: “Yes, I truly look forward to going home and sleeping in my own bed.”
Gary Marescia of Toyota Cyclelab says he and his partner, Bruce Diesel, have not been great together. “When he was feeling good I wasn’t and the other way round. Today’s stage was long but luckily the climbs weren’t as rocky and technical as on the first 3 days. We had some really great single track which took the edge off the climbs. I think we’d be happy with another podium finish tomorrow. Let’s see how our legs feel.” Bruce Diesel adds: “Today we finally had a great day together, but the gap is too big. I don’t think we’ll catch up with the other guys. But this is the Absa Cape Epic and anything can happen.” They are placed 4th overall in the Masters (30:52.36,0).
Mixed Category
The Wheeler – BIXS team, Bärti Bucher and Esther Sϋss won the Mixed category for the 7th day in a row in 5:55.31,6 (overall 30:47.31,1). They were again followed by Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi (of Contego Giant Sludge) in 6:06.53,6 (overall 31:47.45,5). Ivonne Kraft and Peter Vesel (Raedisch Race) finished in third place in 6:18.36,4, and are also placed third overall (33:53.11,2). The Wheeler – Bixs team lead this category by 1 hour and 15 seconds.
Says Esther Süss of Wheeler – Bixs: “Today was really hard for me. Every day seems to be more difficult than the previous one. I suffered a lot. I really hope we can win the last stage. It’ll be wonderful to get to Lourensford with a stage win. I think the route is more difficult than last year, but I really liked the single track. Stage 3 was awful but the rest was good.” Bärti Bucher adds:
“Today’s stage was really long, but we got into a good rhythm after the start and could stick to it. It’s very easy when you ride in front. We’d really like a stage win tomorrow – there’s always a fantastic atmosphere at Lourensford. It’s the best finish in mountain biking.”
Erik Kleinhans of the Contego Giant Sludge team says it would be great to win the final stage. “But perhaps our wedding next week would be nicer. It would be the perfect gift if we did win though. The race is absolutely wonderful – we love it.” Bride-to-be Ariane Lüthi adds it was long stage. “I thought the single track will never end. We tried to catch Esther and Bärti, but they’re too good. I’m glad we’re finishing tomorrow as my reserves are up.”
Stage 7: Oak Valley to Lourensford (59km; 1 700m of climbing)
The last of the Absa Cape Epic might be short but it is never easy. Old Viljoen’s Pass and Nuweberg remind riders that it is not over yet. Trail builders cut new routes and Dr Evil has warned riders of a final few surprises before a traditional finish at Lourensford, where riders are reunited with their loved ones – a life’s task accomplished and an experience they will never forget. The Magical and Untamed African Mountain Bike Race – the Absa Cape Epic.
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