MTB News: It remains exciting! With another stage win, the Investec-Songo-Specialized team with Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy was able to further reduce the lead of Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini in the overall classification. Team Cannondale Factory Racing XC remains in the lead, but their pursuers are hot on the heels of the two leaders, just 1.20mXNUMXs behind.
The Cape Epic 2017 is hard to beat for excitement - and the third stage is no exception. Both the men's and women's races were decided in the sprint. In the men's category in particular, the three current leaders in the overall classification are moving closer together. The “only” fourth place of Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini today also contributes to the excitement – the expectations are of course very high after the last stages. The third stage, which was relatively short at 78 kilometers, led from the Elandskloof Race Village to the small settlement of Genadendal and through the Greyton trail network. Just beaten, Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) had to settle for second place.
Accordingly, the five-time Epic winner Christoph Sauser was happy at the finish: "A great day for us! We won the stage and made up time. At this relatively short distance we didn't expect to get anything out of Cannondale. That was the bonus for winning the stage!”. Matthias Stirnemann, on the other hand, was disappointed: “Actually, we thought that this was exactly our stage. But I started my sprint to the finish too early, so that Susi was able to pass me. Still a great day, I really enjoyed the trails here.” The Centurion Vaude 2 team with Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr finished third.
The women's finish line was also very close. With a wafer-thin lead, Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) won the third stage. Esther Süss / Jennie Stenerhag (Meerendal CBC), who are second today, remain in the lead thanks to the small time difference in the overall classification.
Rating Cape Epic 2017 #3 – Top 3
1. Christoph Sauser / Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialized) 3:03.46,0
2. Nino Schurter / Matthias Stirnemann (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) +0,4
3. Nicola Rohrbach / Daniel Geismayr (Centurion Vaude 2) +8,5
1. Sabine Spitz / Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) 3:41.20,6
2. Esther Suss / Jennie Stenerhag (Meerendal CBC) +0,2
3. Mariske Strauss / Annie Last (Hansgrohe Cadence OMX Pro) +3.04,8
Overall classification Cape Epic 2017
1. Manuel Fumic / Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing XC) 11:05.51,4
2. Christoph Sauser / Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialized) +1.20,2
3. Nino Schurter / Matthias Stirnemann (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) +4.03,8
1. Esther Suss / Jennie Stenerhag (Meerendal CBC) 13:13.23,0
2. Sabine Spitz / Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) +8.57,8
3. Mariske Strauss / Annie Last (Hansgrohe Cadence OMX Pro) +24.22,1
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