Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller, racing in Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi colours, extended their overall lead at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic with a dominant Stage 1 performance, winning the women’s elite race by 1 minute 35 seconds over the 66km route with 1800m of climbing, in Montagu on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Rosa van Doorn and Vera Looser (Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti) finished second, with Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) third, 1:56 behind.
The women’s race started like a sprint from the gun as teams attacked the opening 7km Abrikooskloof climb immediately.
The early aggression whittled the lead group down to just three teams, before Lill and Keller began to apply pressure past the halfway mark. “It was really hard from the start up that first pass,” said Lill.
“But it made the racing cool and more exciting. We started to notice that a few of the teams were starting to struggle just before halfway, and so we just pushed a little harder and pulled out a gap.”
For Keller, completing her first full Absa Cape Epic stage was a new experience despite her world-class cross-country pedigree. “The suffering is still the same, but it’s just a little bit longer,” Keller said.
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Team Lill and Keller Overcome Big Challenge to Extend Overall Cape Epic Lead after Stage 2
Lill and Keller lead the overall standings heading into Stage 2 on Tuesday, with the women’s elite race contested over 80km with 1750m of climbing.
Elite Women Stage 1 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Monday, 16 March, 2026
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:01.52)
2. Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (3:03.28 | +1:36)
3. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:03.48 | +1:57)
4. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (3:10.07 | +8:15)
5. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (3:14.03 | +12:12)
Elite Women General Classification
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:53.16)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:56.10 | +2:53)
3. Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti: Rosa van Doorn & Vera Looser (3:57.02 | +3:45)
3. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:03.48 | +3:45)
4. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (4:04.18 | +11:02)
5. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (4:08.34 | +15:18)
Elite Women Prologue Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Sunday, 15 March, 2026
General Classification Special Jerseys
Toyota Mixed GC
Team 69: Jenny Rissveds & Simon Andreassen (5:12.48)
Absa African Women GC
Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (3:18.49)
Open Women GC
Joy Ride: Jennifer Burtner & Callah Robinson (7:32.09)
Great Grand Masters Women GC
Team Geanco: Rhonda Geiszler & Tamara Tabeek (1:27:02.2)
GIC Grand Masters Women GC
UAG Epic: Martha Koekemoer & Jenny Rönngren (7:07.36)
NTT Data Masters Women GC
USWE SA: Mari du Toit & Janine Muller (6:43.24)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey GC
Exxaro Manganese Ladies 1: Tsholofelo Nkosi & Bontle Phepiso (8:15.13)
Original Copy: The Epic Series Global MTB, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller racing in Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi colours extended their overall lead at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic with a dominant Stage 1 performance, winning the women’s elite race over the 66km route with 1800m of climbing, in Montagu on Monday, 16 March 2026. Photo: Michael Chiaretta / The Epic Series Global MTB
Photo 2 Caption: The women’s race started like a sprint from the gun as teams attacked the 7km opening climb immediately. Photo: Sam Clark / The Epic Series Global MTB
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