Prologue Largely Dominated by South AfricansMatthew Beers and Tristan Nortje of Team Toyota Specialized Imbuko won the 20-kilometer Cape Epic prologue in Meerendal on Sunday, March 15. The South African duo thus secured the first yellow leader’s jersey. Their lead over Italians Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto of Team Wilier Vittoria is six seconds. Another six seconds behind them are Spaniard David Valero and Swiss rider Marc Stutzmann from Team Klimatiza Orbea. For Beers and Nortje, the race is also special because they aim to become the first all-South African duo to win the Cape Epic. However, their partnership was formed just ten days before the start, after Beers’ original partner, Keegan Swenson (USA), had to withdraw due to injury.In the women’s race, Candice Lill from Cape Town and Alessandra Keller of Team Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi celebrated a commanding opening victory. Lill, who has finished second five times in six appearances, thus got off to an ideal start alongside Keller. The South African-Swiss duo finished 56 seconds ahead of Kate Courtney (USA) and Greta Seiwald (ITA) of Team She Sends Foundation, as well as Rosa Van Doorn (NED) and Vera Looser (NAM) of Team Buff BH Efficient Infiniti. Courtney also recently teamed up with Seiwald after her original partner, Melissa Rollins, was injured just under a week before the start. The conditions on the course are extremely challenging for elite riders and the approximately 1,400 amateurs. On parts of the course, temperatures rise to as high as forty degrees. Beers and Nortje lead the race from the first split times onward and defend their narrow lead all the way to the finish. For Beers, the 2026 edition is the next opportunity to further expand his palmares, which already includes three Cape Epic victories. Nortje, who won the jersey for the best African team last year with Marco Joubert, takes the yellow jersey as the overall leader for the first time.In the women’s race, the winning duo also leads the field from the first checkpoint. Lill and Keller are already considered co-favorites before the start, as both compete at the highest international level in cross-country and regularly race in the World Cup. Their success in the prologue gives them a very strong starting position for the coming days, even though the overall victory is still up for grabs.The first official stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic starts on Monday, March 16, in Montagu. The stage covers 90 kilometers and 2,150 meters of elevation gain. Prologue ResultsElite MenTOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (44:37.4)​ WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (44:43.7 | +6.3) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (44:50.2 | +12.8) ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis Azzaro & Juri Zanotti (45:03.0 | +25.6) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (45:35.6 | +58.2) Elite WomenTHÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (51:24.6) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (52:21.4 | +56.8) BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI​: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (53:33.9| +2:09.3) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (54:11.8 | +2:47.2) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (54:30.6 | +3:06.0)

Alleman and Stosek Win the First Stage Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) staged one of the most impressive comebacks in racing history during a stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. After suffering a flat tire and falling four minutes behind, they fought their way back to third place, thereby defending their overall lead. The stage victory goes to Belgian Wout Alleman and Czech Martin Stosek (Buff-BH). In the women’s race, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) extend their overall lead with a commanding performance. After a rear wheel mechanical just before the halfway point, things initially look bleak for the leaders, Beers and Nortje. But on the 90-kilometer stage with 2,150 meters of elevation gain around Montagu, they fought their way back to the front over technically demanding, dusty terrain. In the sprint of a large leading group, they were ultimately narrowly defeated. Alleman and Stosek won the frantic finale, finishing in 3:38:42 hours. Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) finish second, with Beers and Nortje following just two seconds later in third place. In the overall standings, the two South Africans continue to lead with a four-second advantage over Wilier-Vittoria. David Valero Serrano and Marc Stutzmann (Klimatiza Orbea) are in third place, 20 seconds behind.There were also several setbacks in the men’s race: Luca Schwarzbauer (GER) and Sam Gaze (NZL) lost ground early on due to a mechanical issue, while Klimatiza Orbea also had to make up time after a late flat tire. Most impressive, however, was the comeback by Beers and Nortje. Beers said afterward: “When I saw that the gap was 3:40 minutes, I thought: Oh dear, that’s a really big gap. But we kept up the pace in the turns and found our rhythm. That way, you can sometimes ride significantly faster than a group.” Nortje benefited from having already scouted the trails around Montagu back in February: “I knew what was coming, where the fast descents were, and where we had to push.” In the women’s race over 66 kilometers and 1,800 meters of elevation gain, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller pulled decisively ahead halfway through the race. They won with a 1:35-minute lead over Rosa van Doorn and Vera Looser (Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti). Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) finished third, 1:56 minutes behind. Lill said: “It was very tough right from the first climb, but that’s exactly what made the race exciting.” Keller remarked with a laugh after her first full Cape Epic stage: “The suffering is the same as in cross-country; it just lasts longer.”The second stage follows on Tuesday, covering 102 kilometers and 2,250 meters of elevation gain; for the women, it covers 80 kilometers and 1,750 meters of elevation gain. Stage 1 Results Elite Men Stage BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (3:38.43) WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (3:38.44 | +1) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (3:38.46 | +2)ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis Azzaro & Juri Zanotti (3:38.46 | +3)KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (3:38.53 | +10) Elite Men Interim StandingsTOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (4:23.23) WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (4:23.28 | +4) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (4:23.43 | +20) ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis Azzaro & Juri Zanotti (4:23.49 | +26) • TORPADO KENDA FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (4:25.01 | +1:38) Elite Women Stage• THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:01.52) BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (3:03.28 | +1:36) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:03.48 | +1:57) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (3:10.07 | +8:15) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (3:14:03 | +12:12) Elite Women Interim Standings THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:53:16) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:56.10 | +2:53) BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (3:57.02 | +2:53) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (4:04.18 | +11:02) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Haley Smith (4:08.34 | +15:18)

Gaze and Schwarzbauer Play the Sprint Map The New Zealand-German duo Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer capitalized on their strengths in the fast-paced finish on Stage 2 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic to secure the stage victory. Behind the Canyon duo, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) finish second, while Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) take third. In the women’s race, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller celebrate their third consecutive stage victory.On the 102-kilometer stage around Montagu, featuring significant elevation gain in the first half, a large leading group stays together initially following the early climbs. Eight teams remain at the front as they cross the Ouberg Pass, while Beers and Nortje set the pace for a long stretch. With 25 kilometers to go, the race intensifies. First, David Valero Serrano picks up the pace, then Gaze and Schwarzbauer in particular launch the decisive attacks. The leading group breaks apart, and in the final stretch, the two Canyon riders perfectly capitalize on their explosive power. Schwarzbauer says after the victory: “It was a lot of fun, but the suffering was even greater. We attacked hard twice, and luckily it worked the second time. The final today was like a short-track race because everything depended on positioning.” Gaze and Schwarzbauer win in 3:54:55 hours ahead of Braidot and Avondetto. Beers and Nortje finish third. In the overall standings, the Canyon team moves up to sixth place but still trails by 4:58 minutes. Beers and Nortje defend the overall lead, though their advantage over Wilier-Vittoria shrinks to two seconds. Gaze remains confident nonetheless: “There are still five days left, and this is the Cape Epic. We had bad luck yesterday; maybe we’ll benefit from it later.” Nortje says: “Today was a strange day. We rode at the front to stay safe because rocks were flying everywhere. But the cross-country riders launched some really hard attacks in the final stretch.” In the women’s race over 80 kilometers and 1,750 meters of elevation gain, Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald set the pace early on. Soon, only the leading duo of Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller remained at the front. Nine kilometers from the finish, Lill and Keller launched the decisive attack on a short climb. Keller says: “Once we had the gap, we really pushed hard all the way to the finish. We wanted to gain as much time as possible.” Lill and Keller won in 3 hours and 30 minutes and extended their lead in the overall standings. Courtney and Seiwald lose 37 seconds but solidify their second-place finish. Dutch rider Rosa van Doorn and her Namibian teammate Vera Looser provide some drama: After a flat tire for van Doorn and further issues, the duo drops to ninth place in the stage and slips to fifth in the overall standings.Margot Moschetti (FRA) and Claudia Peretti (ITA) of Team Symbtech.Net move up to third place overall and are now 25 minutes behind the leaders. Wednesday brings the longest stage of this year’s race, covering 140 kilometers with 1,750 meters of elevation gain. The women’s race covers 108 kilometers and 1,450 meters of elevation gain. Stage 2 ResultsElite Men StageCANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (3:54.55)WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (3:54.56 | +2)TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (3:54.59 | +4)TORPADO KENDA FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (3:55.06 | +11) • ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis Azzaro & Juri Zanotti (3:55.07 | +12) Elite Men Interim StandingsTOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (8:18.22) WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (8:18.24 | +2) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (8:18.51 | +29) ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis Azzaro & Juri Zanotti (8:18.56 | +34) TORPADO KENDA FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (8:20.07 | +1:45) Elite Women Stage THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:30.00) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (3:03.48 | +1:57) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:40.43 | +10:43) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (3:40.44 | +10:43) SANI2C EFFICIENT INFINITI: Samantha Sanders & Bianca Haw (3:42.49 | +12.49) Elite Women Interim Standings THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (7:23.17) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (7:26.48 | +3:31) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (7:48.21 | +25:04) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (7:49.18 | +26:00) • BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (7:50.11 | +26:54)

First 32-inch victory on the longest stage The South African-Swiss duo of Marc Pritzen and Felix Stehli (Honeycomb 226ers) secured a surprise victory on Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic with a bold attack 40 kilometers from the finish. Behind them, Wout Alleman and Martin Stosek (Buff-BH) secured second place, while Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) took third place and claimed the yellow jersey. In the women’s race, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller celebrated their fourth consecutive stage victory.Many had speculated on a sprint finish from a larger leading group, but on the fast 140-kilometer stage from Montagu to Greyton—featuring just 1,750 meters of climbing—Pritzen and Stehli capitalized on a brief moment of hesitation in the peloton and launched their attack. On rain-soaked and muddy trails, they rode boldly ahead and held onto their lead all the way to the finish. After 4:19:52 hours, they are declared the stage winners. Alleman and Stosek lead the chasing group across the finish line 1:10 minutes later, with Braidot and Avondetto also riding in the group. Beers and Nortje, who fall back again after an early mechanical issue, finish 2:26 minutes behind the winners and must relinquish the overall lead to Wilier-Vittoria. Braidot and Avondetto are now 1:14 minutes ahead of the South African duo. Pritzen says after the race: “It’s an incredible feeling to achieve such a result here. We didn’t have a set plan; we just rode on instinct.” When the peloton hesitated, they seized the opportunity immediately. Stehli also wrote a chapter in cycling history because he was riding a bike with 32-inch wheels, marking the first victory with this wheel size. “It’s ideal for these conditions. It rolls exceptionally well and really helped me today,” explains the Swiss rider. The new overall leaders are also satisfied. Avondetto says: “We didn’t have a grand plan, but we wanted to stay up front and avoid mechanical issues. Being in the yellow jersey now feels really good.”In the women’s race over 108 kilometers and 1,450 meters of elevation gain, Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald put pressure on the leaders multiple times. They managed to open small gaps on several occasions, but Lill and Keller were able to neutralize all attacks and, just like the day before, pull away decisively late in the race. Lill says: “It was a pretty crazy day today. Kate and Greta attacked several times; we had to react, but we had the legs to ride over the gaps every time.” Despite falling behind, Courtney remains positive: “The conditions were brutal, but that’s the Cape Epic. We gave it our all.” In the mixed category, Jenny Rissveds and Simon Andreassen continue to dominate, winning this stage as well and now holding a clear lead in the overall standings.On Thursday, Stage 4 will see the men tackle 87 kilometers and 1,750 meters of elevation gain, while the women will face 61 kilometers and 1,450 meters of elevation gain. Stage 3 Results Elite Men Stage HONEYCOMB 226ERS: Marc Pritzen & Felix Stehli (4:19.53)​ BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (4:21.03 | +1:10) WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (4:21.03 | +1:10) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (4:21.21 | +1:29) • TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matt Beers & Tristan Nortje (4:22.19 | 2:26)​ Elite Men Interim StandingsWILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (12:39.28) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (12:40.41 | +1:14)​ KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (12:41.57 | +2:29)BUFF-BH Wout Alleman Martin Stosek (12:44.21 | +4:53)CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (12:44.38 | +5:10) Elite Women Stage THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:58.56) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (4:00.18 | +1:22) BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI: Rosa Van Doorn & Vera Looser (4:03.05 | +4:08) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (4:03.06 | +4:10) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (4:03.07 | +4:10) Elite Women Interim Standings 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 & Hayley 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)

Courtney and Seiwald Claim Their Long-Awaited VictoryKate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) finally celebrate their first stage win on Stage Four of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. In a dramatic race, they prevailed in the final sprint against overall leaders Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller. In the men’s race, Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer win their second stage after a crash decisively influences the finish. The women’s stage, covering 61 kilometers and 1,450 meters of elevation gain, starts off calmer than the first few days, but by the time they reach the big climb up to the UFO Trail, the two top teams show their class. Courtney and Seiwald gave it their all in the final stretch to finally secure a victory. On the narrow singletrack, Seiwald briefly pulled ahead, while Courtney skillfully blocked the leaders behind her. The duo crossed the finish line with a narrow two-second lead. Seiwald said afterward: “We had discussed various tactics and scenarios, and in the end, everything worked out perfectly.” To celebrate the day, the two announced they would donate their prize money to two local charities. Lill and Keller had to relinquish the day’s victory for the first time after four wins. Lill said: “Today they really played it smart in the final. Kate was extremely strong. Yes, there was some blocking, a battle for positions, and sometimes you had to put a foot down, but that’s just part of racing.”The race was overshadowed by Rosa van Doorn’s serious crash. The Dutch rider took a hard fall while battling for third place, hitting her knee and losing a tooth. She was unable to continue the race, while her partner Vera Looser rode alone to the finish line. Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) benefited from this. The South African and the Canadian finish third for the day and solidify third place in the overall standings. In the men’s race, a crash also plays a decisive role. On the technically tricky Middelplaas descent, Wout Alleman loses control and crashes heavily. This slows down Tristan Nortje, who has to catch up to his partner Matt Beers. As a result, Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer pull away alongside overall leaders Braidot and Avondetto. Casey South is less fortunate than Alleman, who is able to continue the race. Together with Italian Fabian Rabensteiner, the Swiss rider is fighting for a top-5 spot in the overall standings. However, South crashes hard and breaks his collarbone, which spells the end for both of them. In the sprint, Gaze and Schwarzbauer prove unbeatable. Gaze said: “The final climb was brutal. We wanted to pace ourselves well and stay in contact with the leaders. Then the BH riders suddenly hit the ground, and from there it was full throttle.” Despite losing the sprint, Braidot and Avondetto defended their overall lead and extended it to 1:37 minutes. Avondetto said: “We wanted to win the stage, but Sam and Luca are outstanding sprinters. Our main goal is to keep the jersey and save energy for the final tough days.” Stage 4 ResultsElite Men StageCANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (3:29.31)WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Bradiot & Simone Avondetto (3:29.32 | +1)TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (3:29.55 | +23) SINGER KTM RACING 2: Simon Stiebjahn & Martin Frey (3:31.38 | +2:06) DOUBLE DUTCH: Hans Becking & Teus Rujter (3:31.42 | 2:11) Elite Men Interim Standings WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Bradiot & Simone Avondetto (16:08.59) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (16:10.37 | +1:37)​ CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (16:14.09 | +5:10) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (16:14.51 | +5:51) BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (16:16.04 | +7:05) Elite Women StageSHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (2:56.37) THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (2:56.40 | +2) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (2:58.21 | +1:43) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:00.36 | +3:59) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (3:00.59 | 4:22) Elite Women Interim Standings THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (14:18.54) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (14:23.44 | +4:50) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (14:50.46 | +31:52) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (14:54.23 | +35:29) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (15:01.49 | 42:55)

Overall Leaders Dominate the Queen Stage in Challenging Conditions On the wet and muddy queen stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, the overall leaders cemented their dominance. In the men’s race, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) celebrated their first stage win of the week and extended their overall lead. In the women’s race, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) rode to their fourth stage victory. The 134-kilometer men’s stage from Greyton to Stellenbosch, featuring 2,750 meters of climbing, was the toughest of the day. Early on, Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje attempted to put pressure on the leaders with an attack in crosswinds. Later, Luis Meija and Keyron Fonseca manage to break away temporarily, but are reeled back in before the decisive climbs. As on previous days, Braidot and Avondetto ride smartly and in a controlled manner. They often stay out of the lead work but respond to every attack, thus saving energy for the decisive kilometers. After the portage section at Gantouw Pass and the long climb to Lourensford, only a small leading group remains together at the front. On the final singletrack, Avondetto attacks; he even crashes shortly afterward but is able to catch up immediately. Together with Braidot, he maintains enough of a lead to the finish to celebrate the first stage victory of the week.Avondetto said: “We really wanted a win, and it’s great to get it on the queen stage. The first 40 to 50 kilometers were very demanding today.” Beers offered an honest assessment after the race: “We saw the crosswinds and tried a hammering move. Some teams panicked, but we were hoping to wear down even more competitors. Later, our legs were empty, and we just had to find a way to get home.” Klimatiza Orbea moves up to third place in the overall standings with this second-place finish, while Beers and Nortje maintain their second-place position in the general classification. In the women’s race over 90 kilometers and 2,150 meters of elevation gain, Lill and Keller left no doubt from the start. After just ten kilometers, Greta Seiwald lost valuable time due to a rear derailleur malfunction, and the leading duo seized the opportunity immediately. By the halfway point, they had already built a lead of nearly nine minutes and controlled the race confidently all the way to the finish. Lill said: “It was a tough stage, but we didn’t want to get caught up in a constant duel with She Sends. I prefer to ride at the front, where we can set our own pace.” Seiwald openly admitted her struggles: “Kate was my hero today. She practically pushed me up every climb. I just didn’t have the legs today.” Lill and Keller now lead the overall standings with a 14:18-minute advantage.Stage 5 ResultsElite Men StageWILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (5:09.51)KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (5:09.59 | +8)TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (5:10.03 | +12)CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (5:11.01 | +1:09) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO 2: Marco Joubert & Travis Stedman (5:12.56 | +3:04) Elite Men Interim Standings WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (21:18.51) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (21:20.40 | +1:49) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (21:24.50 | +5:59) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (21:25.10 | +6:19) BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (21:34.25 | +15:34) Elite Women StageTHÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (4:29.08) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (4:38.37 | +9) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (4:40.40 | +11:32) MASSI ISB SPORT: Monica Calederon & Tessa Kortekaas (4:43.32 | +14:24) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (4:44.43 | +15:34) Elite Women Interim StandingsTHÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (18:48.02) SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (19:02.21 | +14:18) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (19:31.27 | +43:24) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (19:39.07 | +51:04) • SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (19:53.03 | 1:05.00)

Battle for the Overall Title Heats Up Heading into the final stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic, everything is up for grabs again in the men’s race. Matthew Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) closed the gap by 1:37 minutes on overall leaders Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto during the penultimate stage and are now just 13 seconds behind. Wout Alleman and Martin Stosek (Buff-BH) take the stage win. In the women’s race, the leading duo of Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller win convincingly once again, while Greta Seiwald is forced to withdraw due to illness. The 76-kilometer stage around Stellenbosch, featuring 2,450 meters of elevation gain, once again throws the overall standings into disarray. Although Braidot and Avondetto start the race as favorites following their victory on the queen stage, it becomes clear early on that Braidot is suffering from the strain of the week. With 16 kilometers to go, Beers and Nortje launch the decisive attack on the long climb up to “The Doctor” trail.Beers even physically pushes his partner at times, driving him forward in front of enthusiastic local fans. At first, the pair catch up to Gaze and Schwarzbauer; later, they also make up much of the gap to the overall leaders. At the very front, however, Alleman and Stosek are uncatchable on the final singletrack sections. They secure their second stage win of the week.Alleman said: “It was a blast with all the spectators along the course. We wanted to show that, despite all the bad luck this week, we’re still in top form.” Beers and Nortje finished second and can now hope for the overall victory. Beers said: “We saw that Luca was struggling, but Tristan was also having a tough time. But he’s a tough guy and never gives up. I knew he’d come back.” Nortje confirmed: “That was my bad day. Between Luca and me, it was a matter of who was suffering more. But I always believed in it and didn’t want to be the first to give up.”After the race, Avondetto took sole responsibility for the Wilier-Vittoria team’s statement, as Braidot quickly left the media area: “It was a tough day; Luca was at his limit in the final stretch. But we’re still fighting for the yellow jersey. Thirteen seconds is nothing, but being in front is better than chasing.”In the women’s race over 62 kilometers and 1,850 meters of elevation gain, the situation quickly became clear following Greta Seiwald’s early withdrawal. The Italian developed a fever overnight and had to withdraw shortly after the start. Kate Courtney rode the stage alone. Lill and Keller then confidently controlled the race and won their fifth stage. Lill said: “It was really sad about Greta this morning. You never want to see competitors have to drop out like that. But we had a really nice day today.” In the battle for the remaining podium spots, Haley Preen and Haley Smith move up to second place in the overall standings. Preen said: “This is how I like to ride this race best. I tend to start further back and then work my way up. But we shouldn’t get too excited just yet before tomorrow.” Sunday’s final stage covers 58 kilometers with 2,150 meters of elevation gain; the women’s race follows the same route. Stage 6 Results Elite Men Stage BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (3:13.49) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (3:14.08 | +18) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (3:14.20 | +30)TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO 2: Marco Joubert & Travis Stedman (3:15.36 | +1:46)WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (3:15.44 | +1:55) Elite Men Interim StandingsWILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (24:34.35) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (24:34.48 | +13) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (24:39.31 | +4:55) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (24:44.39 | +10:03) BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (24:48.14 | +13:38) Elite Women StageTHÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (2:56.08) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (19:53.03 | 1:05.00) (2:58.55 | +2:47) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (3:01.09 | +5:01)MASSI ISB SPORT: Monica Calederon & Tessa Kortekaas (3:01.52 | +5:44)TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (3:05.43 | +9:35) Elite Women Overall Standings THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (21:44.11) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (22:32.36 | +48:25) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (22:44.50 | +1:00.39) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti (22:51.59 | 1:07.48) MASSI ISB SPORT: Monica Calederon and Tessa Kortekaas (23:05.01 | +1:20.50)

A Comeback for a Historic VictoryWith just a 13-second gap between the top two teams, the final stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic promises to be a nail-biter. Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) hold their ground under pressure and become the first all-South African team in the race’s 22-year history to secure the overall victory. Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon) take the stage win. In the women’s race, Candice Lill, alongside Alessandra Keller, is crowned overall champion after seven wins in eight stages.Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) head into the 58-km final stage around Stellenbosch as the top contenders despite losing time on Saturday. But already on the long climb up to Saaltjie, Beers and Nortje gain 35 seconds on the Italians within the first ten kilometers. Later, their lead even grows to two minutes.Then came the moment of terror: shortly past the halfway point, Nortje’s pedal caught on a tree, causing him to crash hard over the handlebars and injure his right elbow and right leg. Nortje said: “I knew immediately that it was a serious crash. My elbow really hurt, and my right leg felt numb afterward. I could barely pedal properly.” Nevertheless, the 24-year-old fought on. Supported by teammate Beers, he held onto the lead to the finish. Beers kept urging his partner on, while Marco Joubert and Travis Stedman also helped out at the front. The Italians made another strong comeback and cut the gap to 40 seconds in the final stretch. But Beers and Nortje held on to their lead to the finish and finished third behind stage winners Gaze and Schwarzbauer. Wilier-Vittoria took fourth place, meaning Beers and Nortje won the overall classification with a 1:04-minute lead. Canyon rounded out the overall podium, 3:33 minutes behind.Visibly moved at the finish, Nortje said: “It doesn’t get any bigger than this. There are so many emotions. I’m thinking of all the sacrifices made by my family, friends, and the team who supported me. Today, I wanted to do it for them and for South Africa.” Beers remarked: “This is something very special because we’ve achieved what many South Africans have been trying to do for years. Tristan rode incredibly all week and showed real character today despite the crash.” For Beers, this is already his fourth overall victory. With this win, he needs just one more to tie the record held by Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser.In the women’s race, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller also rode the final stage in control. After Greta Seiwald withdrew the previous day due to illness, the leaders controlled the race with ease and sealed their overall victory with their seventh stage win in eight days. Monica Caledron and Tessa Kortekaas (Massi ISB Sport) finished second, 2 minutes and 27 seconds behind, while Hayley Preen and Haley Smith (Chemchamp Honeycomb) took third place, 4 minutes and 32 seconds behind. Lill said after her long-awaited triumph: “I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Sometimes you have to go through deep and dark moments to get to this point. That’s exactly why this victory is so special.” Keller added: “It’s a bit like an overall World Cup victory because you have to be consistent over eight days. But here you do it as a team, and that’s exactly what means a lot to me. This race has always been a dream for me.” In the overall standings, Preen and Smith move up to second place following the withdrawal of She Sends Foundation, though they trail by 52:58 minutes. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet (Torpado FSA Kenda) finish third, more than an hour behind the winners.The organizers also announced that early-bird registration for the 2027 Absa Cape Epic opens on Monday at 4 p.m. for Full-Access members and at 5 p.m. for general registration. Final Stage ResultsElite Men StageCANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (2:19.54) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO 2: Marco Joubert & Travis Stedman (2:20.58 | +1:04) TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (2:21.02 | +1:08)WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (2:22.20 | +2:26)KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (2:23.00 | +3:06) Elite Men Overall StandingsTOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje (26:55.51) WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto (26:56.56 | +1:04) CANYON: Luca Schwarzbauer & Sam Gaze (26:59.25 | +3:33) KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David Valero Serrano & Marc Stutzmann (27:07.59 | +12:08) • BUFF-BH: Wout Alleman & Martin Stosek (27:14.51 | +19:00) Elite Women StageTHÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (2:48.27) MASSI ISB SPORT: Monica Calederon & Tessa Kortekaas (2:50.54 | +2:27) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (2:52.59 | +4:32)SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (2:54.18 | +5:51)TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (2:56.46 | +8:19) Elite Women Overall Standings THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (24:32.38) CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley Preen & Hayley Smith (25:25.36 | +52:58) TORPADO FSA KENDA: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet (25:41.37 | +1:08.59) SYMBTECH.NET: Margot Moschetti & Claudia Peretti (25:46.17 | 1:13.39) MASSI ISB SPORT: Monica Calederon & Tessa Kortekaas (25:55.56 | +1:23.18)Full results epic-series.com