Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) made it three from three at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 2 to further extend their lead in the overall classification over 80km with 1750m of climbing in Montagu on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) finished in second, firming up their position in second place overall, ahead of Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet (Torpado FSA Kenda) who claimed third on the stage. Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti (Symbtech.net) moved on to the final step of the overall podium after finishing seventh on the stage.
The women’s race began with a short, sharp climb before the long Ouberg Pass, after which only Lill and Keller were able to follow when Courtney and Seiwald pushed the pace on the second climb.
Drama struck third-placed Rosa van Doorn and Vera Looser (Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti) when Van Doorn punctured just after the first climb and was unable to fix it immediately, forcing her to ride on the soft tyre insert to the next tech zone.
Their troubles were compounded when their men’s team had taken van Doorn’s spare wheel. The pair scrambled to ninth on the stage and dropped to fifth overall, losing 23 minutes to the leaders.
Up front, Courtney and Seiwald continued to apply pressure through much of the stage but were unable to respond when Lill and Keller accelerated on a small climb with 9km remaining.
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“Once we had established a gap, we pushed pretty hard to the finish,” Keller said. “We wanted to put in as much time as we could.”
Stage 3 on Wednesday takes the women’s elite peloton over 108km with 1450m of climbing.
Elite Women Stage 2 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Tuesday, 17 March, 2026
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:30.00)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:03.48 | +1:57)
3. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:40.43 | +10:43)
4. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (3:40.44 | +10:43)
5. Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (3:42.49 | +12:49)
Elite Women General Classification after Stage 2
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (7:23.17)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (7:26.48 | +3:31)
3. Symbtech.net: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (7:48.21 | +25:04)
4. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (7:49.18 | +26:00)
5. Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti: Rosa van Doorn & Vera Looser (7:50.11 | +26:54)
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
General Classification Special Jerseys after Stage 2
Toyota Mixed GC
Team 69: Jenny Rissveds & Simon Andreassen (9:42.33)
Absa African Women GC
Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (7:56.19)
Open Women GC
Joy Ride: Jennifer Burtner & Callah Robinson (13:54.08)
GIC Grand Masters Women GC
UAG Epic: Martha Koekemoer & Jenny Rönngren (12:58.18)
NTT Data Masters Women GC
USWE SA: Mari du Toit & Janine Muller (12:25.38)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey GC
Exxaro Manganese Ladies 1: Tsholofelo Nkosi & Bontle Phepiso (15:35.34)
Original Copy: The Epic Series Global MTB, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) made it three from three at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 2 to further extend their lead in the overall classification over 80km with 1750m of climbing in Montagu on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. All Photos: Michael Chiaretta / The Epic Series Global MTB
Photo 2 Caption: She Sends Foundation’s Kate Courtney (in white) and Greta Seiwald (in blue) attacked from the start, but Lill and Keller powered past in the final 9km for a third win.
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