After yesterday's king's stage, today's starting field expected a 88-kilometre, relatively short and yet crisp stage. Another stage that should suit XC specialists Nino Schurter and Scott Odlo's Philip Buys. According to Buys, Schurter was in a class today and was able to motivate his team-mate well and pull on the flat, fast sections. "We got along very well on the flat, but I struggled a lot on the many climbs", Buys comments on his performance today.
They gained a lead of 5.53,5:XNUMX minutes over second-placed Robert Mennen and Kristian Hynek. These were again by Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Käß saved. Hynek suffered irreparable tire damage just five kilometers after the start and, thanks to another wheel change, was able to quickly pick up the pace and ride back into the leading group.
"Next stage...next records...next drama", according to Hynek. Mennen is well aware that she was robbing Kaufmann and Käß of a stage win:"I have to apologize to both of you. We denied them the chance of another stage win. I don't know how yet, but we will reciprocate them in a big way.”
Christoph Sauser and Frantisek Rabon, who are currently second overall, lost another 34 seconds to Mennen and Hynek - a gap that will be difficult to close on tomorrow's final stage, which at 68 kilometers is even shorter than today's. Rabon himself comments that he had a bad day today and that his legs just weren't fit enough. However, Sauser and Rabon have big plans for tomorrow's fian day and so, according to their own statements, they want to put pressure on right from the start and determine the pace.
The German/German duo Bulls 2 with Tim Böhme and birthday boy Simon Stiebjahn also drove a good race. They were able to further extend their lead over the Torpado Factory Team, but with a lead of almost four minutes they cannot rest on the last day of the Absa Cape Epic.
Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad seem to have closed the sack on the penultimate day. They won today's stage by a ten minute margin. The gap to Esther Süsss and Sally Bigham, who are currently second, is extended to a proud 26 minutes and they can go into tomorrow's final relatively carefree. “Yesterday's heat was just too much of a good thing, but the beautiful single trails on today's stage were really fun. Even with the knowledge that we are relatively safe at the top, we will do our best tomorrow and try to drive strong and fast like in the past few days.", according to the management duo.
Theresa Ralp and Jennie Stenerhag finished third, almost 25 minutes behind. In the overall standings, they are safely in third place with a one-hour lead over fourth-placed Milena Landtwing and Hielke Elferink. However, they will no longer be able to intervene in the fight at the top.
result men
1. Nino Schurter / Philip Buys (Scott Odlo MTB) 3:34.51,2
2. Robert Mennen / Kristian Hynek (Topeak Ergon) +5.53,5
3. Christoph Sauser / Frantisek Rabon (Meerendal Songo Specialized) +6.29,3
4. Tim Boehme / Simon Stiebjahn (Bulls 2) +6.42,4
5. Roel Paulissen / Riccardo Chiarini (Torpado Factory) +7.35,2
result women
1. Ariane Kleinhans / Annika Langvad (RECM 2) 4:12.44,0
2. Esther Suss / Sally Bigham (Meerendal) +10.12,3
3. Jennie Stenerhag / Theresa Ralph (Cape Brewing Company) +25.19,5
4. Sara Mertens / Laura Turpijn (Meerendal Wheeler 2) +29.58,2
5. Milena Landtwing / Hielke Eiferink (Meerendal Wheeler) +36.25,7
Rating men
1. Robert Mennen / Kristian Hynek (Topeak Ergon) 27:24.16,3
2. Christoph Sauser / Frantisek Rabon (Meerendal Songo Specialized) +10.23,5
3. Tim Boehme / Simon Stiebjahn (Bulls 2) +16.41,6
4. Roel Paulissen / Riccardo Chiarini (Torpado Factory) +20,47,4
5. Nino Schurter / Philip Buys (Scott Odlo MTB) +24,28,3
Appreciation women
1. Ariane Kleinhans / Annika Langvad (RECM 2) 31:21.54,7
2. Esther Suss / Sally Bigham (Meerendal) +25.36,8
3. Jennie Stenerhag / Theresa Ralph (Cape Brewing Company) +2:09.34,4
4. Milena Landtwing / Hielke Eiferink (Meerendal Wheeler) +3:59.02,2
5. Sara Mertens / Laura Turpijn (Meerendal Wheeler 2) +4:57.12,3