Cycling: The Czech locomotive Jaroslav Kulhavy could not be swayed from the road to success even in temperatures of over 30 degrees. Together with Christoph Sauser (SUI), Team Investec-Songo-Specialized, the mountain bike Olympic champion defended the yellow zebra leader jersey at the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa. Meanwhile, Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad were able to regain their lead. With a phenomenal drive, they pulled out 27 minutes.
The also favored Topeak Ergon riders, the former marathon world champion Alban Lakata (AUT) and last year's winner Kristian Hynek (CZE) stayed on the heels of the Specialized riders, but had to let them go 15 kilometers before the finale and finished with just under 26 seconds behind as stage second in Worcester. Topeak Ergon thus moved up to second place in the overall standings, beating out Team Bulls' co-favourites, Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI).
“We had to let the two (Sauser/Kulhavy) go on a bumpy stretch on an embankment with 13 kilometers to go. Kristian was able to hold Jaro's rear wheel, but then dropped back to me. We fought brutally and then wanted to keep the gap to some extent, we managed that relatively well, but it was still hard work. We are now second overall, everything is still open.", said Alban Lakata at the finish.
Alban Lakata:
Four-time Epic winner Platt rumbled four kilometers on the rim to the third aid station, where the rear wheel could be swapped. The leading group with the second Topeak Ergon team Robert Mennen (GER) and Jeremiah Bishop (USA) and Multivan Meridas José Hermida (ESP)/Rudi van Houts (NED) was already two minutes away - a gap that could no longer be made up. In fifth place, Platt/Huber were 6:48,5 minutes behind and slipped to 4th place overall behind Multivan Merida. The gap to the overall leaders is now 13.33,1:XNUMX minutes.
Christopher Sauser:
Ariane Kleinhans (RECM Specialized) was in tears at the finish line - with joy and pain, because with Annika Langvad (DEN) she had secured the stage with an incredible effort after yesterday's time penalty and was hoping for the overall lead again. The stopwatch ticked when the Swiss and the marathon world champion from Denmark washed the thick layer of dust off their faces and legs.
When no other women's team was in sight at 27 minutes and six seconds, the two hugged each other. Due to a mistake yesterday, the sovereign women had been given a time penalty of more than an hour. Wildly determined, they were already sitting on the rollers in the starting area in Oak Valley to warm up. The overall result of the stage shows how fast the Swiss-Danish combination was: 20th place overall.
“We gave everything. We wanted to stay in the fast men's group of favorites for as long as possible. When we couldn't keep them any longer, even though I tried to push Ariane along, we went full throttle like in a time trial. On the flat sections and the tarmac sections at the end, I bent low over the handlebars and tried to get the maximum speed out of the aero position.", says Annika Langvad happily.
Ariane Kleinhans:
The Ascendis Health women who started in the leader jersey, the South African champion Robyn Lee de Groot with Swedish partner Jennie Stenerhag, overdid a bit yesterday and slowed down in the last third of the 126-kilometer stage: 6th place at the finish. "We wanted to take it easy, started off pretty relaxed and suddenly we're in second place", the multiple world champion rejoiced
Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesja, who rides for Team World Bicycle Relief with Swiss rider Kathrin Stirnemann. "We're taking it from day to day now, who knows, maybe we'll step on the gas in between to see how we're doing"said a relaxed Gunn-Rita at the finish. The third-placed women, Swiss bike legend Esther Süss and Alice Pirard from Team Meerendal Wheeler, pushed the pace together with World Bicycle Relief and took third place on the podium.
Austrian champion Christina Kollmann, racing with Sally Bigham for Team Sellaronda Hero in the Epic, suffered heat stroke and was unable to finish the stage.
Kathrin Stirnemann came in second with a glass of red wine
"I felt pretty good last night. After more than five hours on the bike, it was time to relax. Unfortunately, the obligatory massage was quite painful, which wasn't really enjoyable. But so far all good.
Shortly before dinner there was another stupid incident. A bee stung me. Ironically, in the neck. And the trouble is, I'm allergic to bug bites. I immediately took my medication and was lucky. There was no allergic reaction and no major swelling.
However, I was quite restless that night. I was sweating and didn't sleep very well. So this morning we went into the start of this longest stage of the Epic, a flyover route from Oak Valley to Worcester, with a very relaxed attitude. 128 kilometers is no small matter. But we had decided that we would just take everything as it comes.
Then things went surprisingly well for us. We always caught good groups and got through the sandy soil and bumpy trails without any problems. We couldn't have guessed that we would then also come in second place in the stage.
Well, Gunn-Rita and I are definitely mega happy and will treat ourselves to another glass of red wine tonight. Cheers!"