Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) made it four stage wins from four at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 3 over 108km with 1450m of climbing from Montagu to Greyton, on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
The stage race leaders extended their unbeaten form despite concerted attacks from nearest challengers Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald, racing in She Sends Foundation colours.
World marathon champion Courtney and Seiwald applied sustained pressure throughout, at one point opening a gap, but Lill and Keller brought back every acceleration before pulling clear with 10km to go to win in 3:58.56.
She Sends Foundation finished second, 1:22 behind on the stage, and now trail the overall leaders by 4:53. Rosa van Doorn and Vera Looser (Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti) claimed third on the stage, with Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) fourth and Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet (Torpado FSA Kenda) fifth.
“It was a pretty crazy day out there today,” said Lill. “It started off as a nice dry track but then it turned into a complete mud fest. Kate and Greta threw in some nice attacks, and we had to chase a few times. But we had the legs to pull it back.”
Courtney remained upbeat despite the widening deficit. “Conditions were formidable, but this is the Cape Epic,” said Courtney. “But we were sending it out there and giving it everything.”
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In the Toyota Mixed category, Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen (Team 69) have won every stage to date and lead the GC by 23:27.
Stage 4 on Thursday takes the women’s elite peloton over 61km with 1450m of climbing.
Elite Women Stage 3 Results for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic on Wednesday, 18 March, 2026
1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:58.56)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (4:00.18 | +1:22)
3. Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti: Rosa van Doorn & Vera Looser (4:03.05 | +4:08)
4. Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (4:03.06 | +4:10)
5. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (4:03.07 | +4:10)
Elite Women General Classification after Stage 3
Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (11:22.13)
She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (11:27.06 | +4:53)
Chemchamp Honeycomb: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (11:52.24 | +30:11)
Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti: Rosa van Doorn & Vera Looser (11:53.16 | +31:02)
Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (11:53.46 | +31:32)
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
General Classification Special Jerseys after Stage 3
Toyota Mixed GC
Team 69: Jenny Rissveds & Simon Andreassen (14:42.36)
Absa African Women GC
Sani2C Efficient Infiniti: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw
Open Women GC
Joy Ride: Jennifer Burtner & Callah Robinson (20:44.38)
GIC Grand Masters Women GC
UAG Epic: Martha Koekemoer & Jenny Rönngren (19:02.09)
NTT Data Masters Women GC
Iglu Therapy Chemchamp Racing: Juanita Rose Mackenzie & Rouxda Grobler (18:24.39)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey GC
Exxaro Manganese Ladies 1: Tsholofelo Nkosi & Bontle Phepiso (22:54.35)
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 four stage wins from four at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, winning the women’s elite Stage 3 over 108km with 1450m of climbing from Montagu to Greyton, on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. All Photos: Michael Chiaretta / The Epic Series Global MTB
Photo 2 Caption: She Sends Foundation’s Greta Seiwald leads Cape Epic 2026 leaders Alessandra Keller and Candice Lill during Stage 3 on Wednesday.
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