The now-familiar pairing of Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane maintained their unbeatable combination to win Stage 4 of the Cape Epic, a short, punchy day of cross-country racing over 80km with 1950m of elevation gain, across Western Cape farmlands on Thursday, 20 March, 2025.
The Danish and Argentine Toyota / Specialized team crossed the day’s finish line just 50 seconds ahead of team Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM’s Namibian Vera Looser and American Alexis Skarda in the Aramex UCI Women’s Category, extending their general classification lead to 14 minutes and 49 seconds.
In good news for the leaders, Langvad displayed little or no discomfort after two heavy falls on yesterday’s Stage 3 and was able to match Villafane pedal stroke for pedal stroke on Stage 4.
“We didn’t know how we would feel this morning after a few knocks yesterday,” said Villafane. “So our plan for the stage was to ride conservatively. We kept the day at a nice steady pace and then took it easy on the descents. This is not the stage of the race where you want to make a silly mistake.”
Despite their good fortune, Thursday’s results revealed the closest finish times for the leading three teams past the finish, but the unconquered leading team’s healthy advantage over the field should allow them to maintain their advantage while risking less in their pursuit of the 2025 champions title.
At times Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM) were able to catch the Orange Jersey leaders, but the Toyota | Specialized duo tapped on reserves each time to up the tempo and pull away to maintain their winning streak.
Langvad said while the trails were enjoyable, the dust and the terrain influenced their strategy. “When it’s so loose, anything can happen – like it did yesterday. Our goal today was to recover a bit on the stage. I am definitely feeling better now and very happy that we have added more time to our overall lead.”
In the women’s race of the Absa African Special Jersey, the leading South African pair of Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb) continued their excellent run of form at the 2025 Absa Cape Epic.
The two only came together as a team a few days before the race, with Preen only speaking to Haw for the first time earlier in the year.
Unbothered by such minor trivialities, Haw and Preen are racing like a seasoned team, finishing each stage with smiles and laughter. “Me and Hayley have similar racing styles,” said Haw. “We just go until we blow!”
2025 Absa Cape Epic Aramex UCI Women’s Category Stage 4 Race Results
1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 3:50:45
2. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 3:51:35 (+50)
3. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 3:52:14 (+1:29)
4. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 3:57:27 (+6:42)
5. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti – Torpado Kenda FSA WMN – 3:58:11 (+7:26)
Stage 3 Results
1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 4:14:53
2. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 4:19:30 (+4:37)
3. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 4:21:58 (+7:05)
4. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti – Torpado Kenda FSA WMN – 4:29:04 (+14:11)
5. Haley Smith and Ella Bloor – (MAAP) – 4:29:56 (+15:03)
Stage 2 Results
1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 2:43:14
2. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 2:45:23
3. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 2:45:38
4. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 2:47:26
5. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti – Torpado Kenda FSA WMN – 2:48:25
Stage 1 Results
1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 4:43:35
2. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 4:49:17
3. Rosa van Doorn and Janina Wüst – Buff Megamo – 4:51:37
4. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 4:53:41
5. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 4:55:02
Aramex UCI Women’s Category General Classification
1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 16:45:00
2. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 16:59:49 (+14:49)
3. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 17:12:30 (+27:30)
4. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti – Torpado Kenda FSA WMN – 17:31:38 (+46:38)
5. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 17:36:51 (+51:51)
Original Copy: Absa Cape Epic, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane maintained their unbeatable combination to win Stage 4 of the Cape Epic, a 80km and 1950m of elevation gain day of cross-country racing across Western Cape farmlands on Thursday, 20 March, 2025. All Photos: Michael Chiaretta /Cape Epic
Photo 2 Caption: It was the top 3 teams’ closest finish of the four stages, with second-placed Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda reaching the leaders on occasion.
Photo 3 Caption: The Toyota / Specialized duo tapped on reserves each time to up the tempo and pull away to protect their win record.
Photo 4 Caption: South Africa’s leading pair strengthened their third place standings, finishing less than a minute after the second placed Looseer and Skarda.
Photo 5 Caption: Team TitanRacing SE Honeycomb’s Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen marking their lead in the Absa African Women’s Special Jersey standings.
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