Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) were in a class of their own on the Queen Stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 5 over 90km with 2150m of climbing from Greyton to Stellenbosch on Friday, 20 March, 2026.
The General Classification leaders extended their overall lead to 14 minutes 18 seconds over Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation).
Lill and Keller seized control early when Seiwald was forced to stop just 10km into the stage after a stick became lodged in her rear mechanism.
Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi capitalised immediately, and by halfway had built an almost nine-minute gap as Seiwald worked to keep pace with world marathon champion partner Courtney, as Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) closed in from behind.
Lill and Keller crossed the finish line at Coetzenburg in 4:29.08, more than nine minutes clear of Courtney and Seiwald.
“It was a tough stage but we didn’t want to get involved in racing the She Sends Foundation team the whole way,” said Lill.
“My favourite way of racing is to race from the front, where we can set our own pace and rhythm.”
Stage 5 Winner, Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi’s Candice Lill
Seiwald was candid about her struggles on the day. “Kate was my hero today. She literally pushed me up every hill, I just didn’t have the legs today.”
Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) finished third on the stage, with Monica Calderon and Tessa Kortekaas (Massi ISB Sport) fourth and Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet (Torpado FSA Kenda) fifth.
Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller Cruise to Stage 6 Win as She Sends Foundation Reduced to One
Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald Break Through with Stage 4 Cape Epic Win
Unstoppable Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller Press their Advantage with a Stage 3 Cape Epic Win
Team Lill and Keller Overcome Big Challenge to Extend Overall Cape Epic Lead after Stage 2
Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller Turn Up the Heat in Stage 1 to Extend Overall Cape Epic Lead
Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller Lead From Start to Finish in Sweltering Cape Epic Prologue
In the Toyota Mixed category, Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen (Team 69) continue to lead the GC with a cumulative time of 25:01.41.
Stage 6 on Saturday takes the women’s elite peloton over 62km with 1850m of climbing.
Elite Women Stage 5 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Friday, 20 March, 2026
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (4:29.08)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (4:38.37 | +0:09)
3. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (4:40.40 | +11:32)
4. Massi ISB Sport: Monica Calderon & Tessa Kortekaas (4:43.32 | +14:24)
5. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (4:44.43 | +15:34)
Elite Women General Classification after Stage 5
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (18:48.02)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (19:02.21 | +14:18)
3. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (19:31.27 | +43:24)
4. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (19:39.07 | +51:04)
5. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (19:53.03 | +1:05:00)
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
General Classification Special Jerseys after Stage 5
Toyota Mixed GC
Team 69: Jenny Rissveds & Simon Andreassen (25:01.41)
Absa African Women GC
Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (19:59.45)
Open Women GC
Joy Ride: Jennifer Burtner & Callah Robinson (35:01.36)
GIC Grand Masters Women GC
UAG Epic: Martha Koekemoer & Jenny Rönngren (32:15.17)
NTT Data Masters Women GC
Iglu Therapy Chemchamp Racing: Juanita Rose Mackenzie & Rouxda Grobler (31:19.04)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey GC
Exxaro Manganese Ladies 1: Tsholofelo Nkosi & Bontle Phepiso (40:01.06)
Original Copy: The Epic Series Global MTB, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) were in a class of their own on the Queen Stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 5 over 90km with 2150m of climbing from Greyton to Stellenbosch on Friday, 20 March, 2026. All Photos: Michael Chiaretta / The Epic Series Global MTB
Photo 2 Caption: Lill and Keller seized control early when Greta Seiwald had to stop 10km into the stage after a stick lodged in her rear mechanism.
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