After yesterday's queen stage, the starting field faced a relatively short but challenging 88-kilometer stage today. Another stage that should suit XC specialists Nino Schurter and Philip Buys of Scott Odlo. According to Buys, Schurter was in a class of his own today, effectively motivating his teammate and pulling him along on the flat, fast sections. "We worked together very well on the flats, but I really struggled on the many climbs ," commented Buys on his performance today.
They built up a lead of 5:53.5 minutes over second-placed Robert Mennen and Kristian Hynek. These two were once again rescued by Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Käß . Hynek suffered an irreparable puncture just five kilometers after the start, but thanks to another wheel change, he was quickly able to regain his pace and rejoin the leading group.
“Next stage…next flat tire…next drama ,” said Hynek. Mennen is well aware that she deprived Kaufmann and Käß of the chance for a stage win: “I have to apologize to both of them. We took away their chance for another stage win. I don’t know how yet, but we will get our revenge on 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 appear to have already sealed the deal on the penultimate day. They won today's stage by a ten-minute margin. This extends their lead over the current second-placed pair, Esther Süß and Sally Bigham, to a commanding 26 minutes, allowing them to approach tomorrow's final stage with relative peace of mind. "Yesterday's heat was simply too much, but the beautiful singletrack trails on today's stage were a lot of fun. Even knowing that we're relatively safe at the top, we'll give it our all tomorrow and try to ride as strongly and quickly as we have in recent days," said the leading 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