The women’s race at Stage 6 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic was robbed of the second-placed She Sends Foundation team, as overall leaders Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) won their fifth stage over 62km with 1850m of climbing in commanding fashion, in Stellenbosch, on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
Lill and Keller won the women’s elite stage with relative ease after the second-placed She Sends Foundation team’s hopes were dashed when Italian Greta Seiwald developed a fever overnight and withdrew shortly after the start through illness, leaving world marathon champion Kate Courtney from the US to continue on alone.
The withdrawal meant that Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) moved into second position after finishing third on the stage. Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti (Symbtech.net) took second place on Saturday to move from fifth to fourth on the overall.
After the early withdrawal of Seiwald, it was clear that the class of Lill and Keller would be difficult to beat as Chemchamp Honeycomb and Symbtech.net fought it out for the podium. By the 40km mark, the two had already cruised to a 1-minute lead and began to stretch it out as the local fans cheered on the pair.
“It was really sad about Greta this morning and we never want to see our competitors have to pull out like that. It’s been great racing them all week,” said Lill.
“We had a really nice day today. I enjoyed following Alessandra on the downhills, and I think I’m definitely improving my skills there thanks to her.”
Cape Epic GC Leader, Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi’s Candice Lill
Preen and Smith proved that consistency is key as they moved into second on the GC.
“This is the way I like to race this race,” said Preen. “I always start further back and work my way up. But we can’t get too excited until the end of tomorrow.”
In the Toyota Mixed category, Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen (Team 69) continue to lead the GC with a cumulative time of 28:42.48.
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The final stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic takes place over 58km with 2150m of climbing. The course is the same for the women’s elite race.
Elite Women Stage 6 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Saturday, 21 March, 2026
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (2:56.08)
2. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (2:58.55 | +2:47)
3. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (3:01.09 | +5:01)
4. Massi ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (3:01.52 | +5:44)
5. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:05.43 | +9:35)
Elite Women General Classification after Stage 6
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (21:44.11)
2. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (22:32.36 | +48:25)
3. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (22:44.50 | +1:00:39)
4. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (22:51.59 | +1:07:48)
5. Massi ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (23:05.01 | +1:20:50)
General Classification Special Jerseys after Stage 6
Toyota Mixed GC
Team 69: Jenny Rissveds & Simon Andreassen (28:42.48)
Absa African Women GC
Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (23:12.42)
Open Women GC
Joy Ride: Jennifer Burtner & Callah Robinson (40:50.29)
GIC Grand Masters Women GC
UAG Epic: Martha Koekemoer & Jenny Rönngren (37:50.41)
NTT Data Masters Women GC
Iglu Therapy Chemchamp Racing: Juanita Rose Mackenzie & Rouxda Grobler (36:39.42)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey GC
Exxaro Manganese Ladies 1: Tsholofelo Nkosi & Bontle Phepiso (46:54.26)
Elite Women Prologue Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Sunday, 15 March, 2026
Elite Women Stage 1 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Monday, 16 March, 2026
Elite Women Stage 2 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Tuesday, 17 March, 2026
Elite Women Stage 3 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Wednesday, 18 March, 2026
Elite Women Stage 4 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Thursday, 19 March, 2026
Elite Women Stage 5 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Friday, 20 March, 2026
Original Copy: The Epic Series Global MTB, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The women’s race at Stage 6 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic was robbed of the withdrawal of the second-placed team, as overall leaders Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) won their fifth stage over 62km with 1850m of climbing in commanding fashion, in Stellenbosch, on Saturday, 21 March 2026. All Photos: Michael Chiaretta / The Epic Series Global MTB
Photo 2 Caption: World marathon champion Kate Courtney (left) rides along with the South African Sani2C Efficient Infiniti pair Bianca Haw and Samanthan Sanders, after Greta Seiwald’s withdrawal.
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