Süss and Nuessli Build on Cape Epic Lead

Esther Süss and Jane Nuessli of BMC Wheeler won the Ladies category ahead of African/British duo Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson (Energas), with South Africans Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of Pragma Volcan ladies finishing the opening stage in third place.

Süss and Nuessli lead Speedy and Williamson by 32 minutes and 47 seconds.

“It was quite a hard day and we had to walk lots of times,” says Jane Nuessli of BMC Wheeler. “There was a lot of sand, which made it really tough.

“The beginning of this stage was demanding and we’re very happy with the victory.” Adds team mate Esther Süss: “I’m very happy with our performance. It proves that my training worked this winter. There was a lot of sand today and we lost a lot of time there.”

The RE:CM team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the Mixed category followed by Peta Mullens and Jarrod Moroni of Target TREK-Moronis Bikes. In third place were Johan Labuschagne and Yolandi de Villiers.

Says Australian Jarrod Moroni: “The second place feels very good, but it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I thought I was on Bondi Beach, there was so much sand. It really is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done – it’s good fun, but hell at the same time.

“This is my first Absa Cape Epic and I think we rode really well. We didn’t know what to expect, but would like to finish on the podium and things are looking good at the moment.” Mullens adds that it was a mentally challenging race. “We’re newbies and haven’t done many stage races. Hopefully it gets easier after tomorrow.”

Stage one was a 96-kilometer loop with 2 350m of climbing on virgin Absa Cape Epic territory that started and finished in Citrusdal, a small farming town at the foot of the Cederberg Mountains.

The stage started with climbing from the word go, up Piekenierskloof on relatively smooth and sandy roads, before descending nearly 600 meters in seven rocky kilometers of a wet Olifants River crossing.

A steady eight-kilometer climb led to a four-kilometer section of rugged dual track and a short, but thrilling, single-track descent. The gradual descent to water point two was on uneven farm roads through citrus orchards.

Riders needed to fill up here as the most challenging section of the day awaited them – seven kilometers of climbing, a brief rutted descent and then a portage that tested bodies and humour. The long descent to water point three was followed by approximately 20 kilometers through the farmlands in the Olifants River Valley.

With no significant climbs, though by no means flat, riders enjoyed a slight reprieve before reaching the final obstacle of the day: a tough, sandy slog up the mountain side and the just reward of a fast, fun descent into the race village in Citrusdal.

Stage 2: Citrusdal to Tulbagh (146 km, 2 350 m of climbing)

Riders head into the Koue-Bokkeveld, known for its spectacular sandstone formations and summer temperatures regularly in the upper-30 degrees Celsius. Riders will put mileage into their piggy banks early on when scaling Middelberg Pass, 900 meters of altitude gain over the first 18 kilometers, on tar and smooth gravel.

The descent onto the plateau is fast with a few sharp bends. Riders can make up some time until just before the halfway mark, where a four-kilometer climb takes them to the highest point of the entire race (1 150 meters above sea level).

Then they will be rewarded with a five-kilometer single-track section that winds through red sandstone formations. This stage will feel fast and relatively flat, until the rugged and challenging wagon trail takes the field into the Witzenberg Valley.

Cleared for the race by local mountain bike-enthusiast farmers, this part of the race offers some of the finest terrain the Western Cape has to offer.

The best is saved for last: a technical five-kilometer single-track, an old wagon trail opened up for the 2010 Absa Cape Epic, plummeting into the Tulbagh Valley. It’s a challenging transition onto a new playground, from the rugged and remote Cederberg to the fertile Tulbagh Valley with its quaint village and wine farms.