Starting Stage 1 just 30 seconds behind after the Prologue, team e-FORT.net | SeattleCoffeeCo began conservatively with the leading women’s groups, until Amy Wakefield had a horrific crash about 35kms in.
Undeterred by the huge gash in her [Amy’s] arm, Candice Lill duct taped the wound closed, enabling them to set off once more and start reeling in the opposition.
They subsequently passed the leading women, Team NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized, at the 60 or 70 kilometre mark, to ride away on the flats to a historic stage win in a time of 4 hours 57 minutes and 46 seconds. Team e-FORT.net | SeattleCoffeeCo has become the first all-South African team to lead this iconic race since 2008. The victory sees them start Stage 2 in the CM.com UCI Women’s jersey, and the team also leads the ABSA African Team competition.
Here’s what went down during Stage 1, in the words of Lill:
“What a day! Today was an amazing day – I never pictured going into the orange jersey. It’s my first time [wearing the orange jersey] and I think Amy’s first time as well, which under these conditions is absolutely crazy.
At about 35kms into the stage, Amy went round a corner catching a branch which completely opened up her whole arm. When I saw it, I thought we were going to stop the race… that there was no way she’d be able to continue. But, being stubborn Amy, she said ‘no way are we stopping, we are carrying on!” We made a plan with some duct tape, taping the huge gash closed for the rest of the stage. We then slowly but surely made our way back and overtook both teams in front of us. We rode away from Team NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized about 60kms in, and kept it strong and consistent to the line.
I am really proud of us – I have so much admiration for Amy and the fight she put up today. It really shows what she is made of. I hope everything can get sorted [with Amy’s arm] so that we can ride nicely in our orange jerseys tomorrow!”
And words from Wakefield, shared while on her way to hospital:
“The ladies started quite slowly – we were all very fresh – but started conservatively in lieu of the long stage ahead. The pace was pretty easy, and we were all in control. Both Candice and I were feeling good. And then the tree incident happened!
The orchard has been freshly pruned and the branches were quite thick, and I didn’t see one that was sticking out a bit further than the others. It was a freak accident. I didn’t even fall off the bike, but came to a grinding halt. I pulled open my sleeve and was in utter shock – my bicep was working, but the cut was very deep. Suddenly I thought about all the preparation for this race and how important it was for me, and decided there was no way I was pulling out unless I absolutely had to. I asked Candice for duct tape, and felt this wave of nausea and dizziness – I couldn’t even look at the wound. I held the wound closed while Candice ‘gooi-ed’ the duct tape around my arm.
We carried on riding and caught Kim [Le Court] and Vera [Looser] sooner than expected. I realised, if they were only a minute behind when we [the leading women’s teams] were all together, that we had a chance of taking the stage. I felt good so we raced on and dropped team Efficient Infiniti Insure, catching team NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized about 60 or 70kms in. It was quite flat, so there was no getting away from them in the wind, but as soon as the last climb started, we created a gap. We managed to ride 5 minutes into them and I just could not believe this was happening; it was absolutely surreal.
When I turned into the school at the finish, my whole body got goosebumps – we had done it! We had the orange jersey, which is a dream come true. Between Candice and myself, we have both raced 9 Cape Epic’s and never been in the orange jersey. We are very aware that it’s only Stage 1 and we aren’t going to get ahead of ourselves, but it’s an extremely magical and surreal feeling being in orange.”
The UCI Women’s General Classification after Stage 1:
1st: e-FORT.net | SeattleCoffeeCo – Amy Wakefield (ZAR) and Candice Lill (ZAR) – 6:17:14
2nd: NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized – Sofia Gomez Villafane (ARG) & Katerina Nash (CZE) – +5:24
3rd: Efficient Infiniti Insure – Kim Le Court (MUS) & Vera Looser (NAM) – +10:45
Photo 1 Caption: Amy Wakefield and Candice Lill are the first all-South African team to lead the iconic Cape Epic, after winning Stage 1 on Monday, 20 March 2023. Photo: Renata Bossi / Supplied
With editing by gsport
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