Speedy and Williamson Extend Epic Lead

Team Dawn Wing's Ann Harrison and Marleen Lourens on their way to a fifth-place finish of stage 4 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race, from Saronsberg Wine Estate in Tulbagh to Wellington on the 21 March 2013. Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson (Energas) won their third stage in a row in 5:49.59,2. They now lead this category by 1 hour, 40 minutes and 31 seconds (overall 24:50.06,2). In second place, with their second podium finish, were Sara Mertens and Laura Turpijn of C-Bear in 6:16.02,7 (overall 27:29.28,4). Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of Pragma Volcan Ladies finished in third place in 6:23.45,4 (overall 26:30.37,9).

Stage 4 started with cool temperatures in the morning. It was a fast stage with lots of single-track, characterised by three major climbs and extremely varied terrain.

The first 15 kilometers were on flat gravel and also some tar road. The route then turned onto forestry roads, gaining some elevation while skirting the side of the mountain. Riders quickly reached water point one, but the next stretch was slow going.

Cherise Stander shows what it takes, after finishing the mixed category stage 4 in 2nd place. Photo: Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SportzpicsA five-kilometer steady climb on gravel road with an average of seven percent gradient waited at Kluitjieskraal.

On the other side, the trail roughened until it became an eight-kilometer bike-swallowing descent. The gradient was not steep but the track was washed out, rocky (and sandy) with many ruts and holes. After water point two, a flat gravel road led to the foot of the 16-kilometer tar climb of Bain’s Kloof Pass.

On the other side, only the first bit of the descent was on tar before riders plunged into the Bain’s MTB Trails at Welvanpas: smooth flowing ups and downs, perfectly carved into the mountain side.

However, there was one more big climb, most of it on forestry roads, before four kilometers of handcrafted downhill single-track through fynbos vegetation. There was one more tiny bump and the last couple of kilometers were plain sailing into the race village in Wellington.

Says Yolande Speedy: “It was definitely a hard day with some proper climbing. We felt pretty strong and it was quite a fast stage with some stunning single-track. We’re very happy with our results.

“Our legs are sore and our bodies tired, but we’re still managing to get in a good effort.”

Adds her Energas teammate, British rider Catherine Williamson: “We had a good start and it was a really nice stage with some nice trails and forests. I had a bit of a crash but nothing major. We rode at our own pace and it was the best day so far.”

An elated face for Mixed category leader Ariane Kleinhans (Switzerland) of Team RE:CM. Photo: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SportzpicsMixed Category:

The RE:CM team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won their fifth stage in a row in the Mixed category in 5:34.28,2 (overall 23:02.25,9), followed by Cherise Stander and Duane Stander of Africanmtbkid 1 in 5:37.07,3 (overall 25:41.53,3).

In third place were Theresa Ralph and Damian Perrin of Biogen Britehouse (5:40.22,2; overall 25:49.48,2). Erik and Ariane Kleinhans lead this category by 1 hour, 20 minutes and 42 seconds.

Says Cherise Stander: “I definitely didn’t think we’d finish in second place – it’s very unexpected. Today six years ago Burry and I started dating, so it would be the perfect day for us to finish on the podium. I’m just very happy at this stage.”

Stage 5: Wellington to Wellington (75 km, 1 800 m of climbing):

The fifth day is like a bonus day – short, sweet and, most importantly, great fun! Riders will already have had a taste of the Bain’s MTB Trails at Welvanpas on the previous day. It is a fantastic purpose-built network of single-track, perched between the Wellington vineyards and the slopes of Bain’s Kloof.

The relatively short distance of 75 kilometers offers more single-track than any previous Absa Cape Epic stage, featuring some amazing cross-country terrain and lots of twisting ups and downs – all in all an extra enjoyable day to re-energise body and mind. To avoid any congestion on the trails, the start groups will be staggered over 1,5 hours.

Follow the riders on the live site at www.cape-epic.com, the mobi site (m.cape-epic.com), on Twitter (#absacapeepic), Facebook (www.facebook.com/capeepic) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/absacapeepic).

 

Leading Ladies Results after Stage 4 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Tulbagh to Wellington, on Thursday, 21 March, 2013:
1. Energas 5:49.59,2 (Yolande Speedy; Catherine Williamson)
2. C-Bear +26.03,5 (Sara Mertens; Laura Turpijn)
3. Pragma Volcan Ladies +33.46,2 (Hanlie Booyens; Ischen Stopforth)
4. ASPEN +51.42,1 Sarah van Heerden; Jackie Church)
5. Dawn Wing +54.25,1 (Ann Harrison; Marleen Lourens)
6. www.rrsport.co.nz +1:04.32,1 (Kath Kelly; Erin Greene)
7. Wings +1:32.24,5 (Wilmerie Jacobs; Estie Potgieter)
8. NO BREAKS – Mudder and daudder 1:55.35,4 (Joyce Benade; Desiree Briedenhann)
9. Rudy Project Pedali di Marca +2:01.11,8 (Giuliana Massarotto; Ilaria Balzarotti)
10. CX Odyssey +2:11.21,0 (Eva Micklewood; Franci Joubert)
 
Leading Mixed Results after Stage 4 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Tulbagh to Wellington, on Thursday, 21 March, 2013:
1. RE:CM 5:34.28,2 (Erik Kleinhans; Ariane Kleinhans)
2. Africanmtbkid 1 +2.39,1 (Duane Stander; Cherise Stander)
3. Biogen Britehouse +5.54,0 (Theresa Ralph; Damian Perrin)
 
Leading Ladies Results after Stage 3 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Cederberg to the Tulbagh Valley, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2013:
1. Energas 19:00.07,0 (Yolande Speedy; Catherine Williamson)
2. Pragma Volcan Ladies +1:06.45,5 (Hanlie Booyens; Ischen Stopforth)
3. www.rrsport.co.nz +1:43.07,6 (Kath Kelly; Erin Greene)
4. Dawn Wing +1:47.53,7 (Ann Harrison; Marleen Lourens)
5. C-Bear +2:13.18,7 (Sara Mertens; Laura Turpijn)
6. ASPEN +2:35.48,3 (Sarah van Heerden; Jackie Church)
7. NO BREAKS – Mudder and daudder +5:51.36,8 (Joyce Benade; Desiree Briedenhann)
8. Wings +5:53.47,8 (Wilmerie Jacobs; Estie Potgieter)
9. Rudy Project Pedali di Marca +6:58.47,2 (Giuliana Massarotto; Ilaria Balzarotti)
10. Trek Israel 2 +7:05.45,5 (Idit Shub; Rachel Wallfish)
 
Leading Mixed Results after Stage 3 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Cederberg to the Tulbagh Valley, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2013:
1. RE:CM 4:36.46,7 (Erik Kleinhans; Ariane Kleinhans)
2. Biogen Britehouse +3.12,3 (Theresa Ralph; Damian Perrin)
3. Exxaro Cycle Lab 1 +16.57,7 Johan Labuschagne; Yolandè de Villiers
 
Leading Ladies Results after Stage 2 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Cederberg to the Tulbagh Valley, on Tuesday, 19 March, 2013:
https://gsport.co.za/speedy-lauds-williamson-for-cape-epic-orange-jersey/
1. Energas 14:01.30,8 (Yolande Speedy; Catherine Williamson)
2. Pragma Volcan Ladies +36.07,0 (Hanlie Booyens; Ischen Stopforth)
3. BMC Wheeler +49.53,4 (Esther Süss; Jane Nuessli)
4. www.rrsport.co.nz +1:04.54,8 (Kath Kelly; Erin Greene)
5. Dawn Wing +1:13.39,7 (Ann Harrison; Marleen Lourens)
6. C-Bear +1:47.48,5 (Sara Mertens; Laura Turpijn)
7. ASPEN +2:02.19,6 (Sarah van Heerden; Jackie Church)
8. NO BREAKS – Mudder and daudder +4:22.51,3 (Joyce Benade; Desiree Briedenhann)
9. Wings +4:39.56,0 (Wilmerie Jacobs; Estie Potgieter)
10. Trek Israel 2 +5:14.48,8 (Idit Shub; Rachel Wallfish)
 
Leading Mixed Results after Stage 2 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, from Cederberg to the Tulbagh Valley, on Tuesday, 19 March, 2013:
1. RE:CM 12:51.11,0 (Erik Kleinhans; Ariane Kleinhans)
2. Target TREK-Moronis Bikes +43.38,7 (Peta Mullens; Jarrod Moroni)
3. Exxaro Cycle Lab 1 +48.59,5 (Johan Labuschagne; Yolandè de Villiers)
 
Leading Ladies Results after Stage 1 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, in Citrusdal, on Monday, 18 March, 2013:
1. BMC Wheeler 5:29.00,5 (Esther Süss; Jane Nuessli)
2. Energas +29.12,2 (Yolande Speedy; Catherine Williamson)
3. Pragma Volcan Ladies +34.44,2 (Hanlie Booyens; Ischen Stopforth)
4. www.rrsport.co.nz +52.16,5 (Kath Kelly; Erin Greene)
5. C-Bear +54.56,0 (Sara Mertens; Laura Turpijn)
6. Dawn Wing +57.26,7 (Ann Harrison; Marleen Lourens)
7. ASPEN +1:24.19,6 (Sarah van Heerden; Jackie Church)
8. NO BREAKS – Mudder and daudder +2:42.00,0 (Joyce Benade; Desiree Briedenhann)
9. Wings +2:53.43,2 (Wilmerie Jacobs; Estie Potgieter)
10. Trek Israel 2 +2:55.04,6 (Idit Shub; Rachel Wallfish)
 
Leading Mixed Results after Stage 1 of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, in Citrusdal, on Monday, 18 March, 2013:
1. RE:CM 5:17.44,3 (Erik Kleinhans; Ariane Kleinhans)
2. Target TREK-Moronis Bikes +20.39,7 (Peta Mullens; Jarrod Moroni)
3. Exxaro Cycle Lab 1+24.34,1 (Johan Labuschagne; Yolandè de Villiers)
 
Leading Ladies Results after the Prologue ahead of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic, in Durbanville outside Cape Town, on Sunday, 17 March, 2013:
1. BMC Wheeler 1:08.21,6 (Esther Süss; Jane Nuessli)
2. Topeak Ergon +1.57,6 (Sally Bigham; Milena Landtwing)
3. Energas +3.34,8 (Yolande Speedy; Catherine Williamson)
4. Pragma Volcan Ladies +7.01,3 (Hanlie Booyens; Ischen Stopforth)
5. C-Bear +7.35,6 (Sara Mertens; Laura Turpijn)
6. Dawn Wing +8.15,8 (Ann Harrison; Marleen Lourens)
7. www.rrsport.co.nz +8.53,1 (Kath Kelly; Erin Greene)
8. ASPEN +14.00,3 (Sarah van Heerden; Jackie Church)
9. NO BREAKS – Mudder and daudder +23.17,9 (Joyce Benade; Desiree Briedenhann)
10. JAG/CycleLabTours/5hour +23.24,6 (Eulogy du Plessis; Maritza Terblanche)

 

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