Koller brings the Cape Epic title to Switzerland

Nicole Koller und Anne Terpstra räumen am Cape Epic ab.

Photo: Nick Muzik

At the 20th edition of the Absa Cape Epic, Nicole Koller and her team colleague Anne Terpstra not only win the overall classification. The Swiss-Dutch duo took all eight stage victories in the internationally strong field. In the men's race, Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini got off to a flying start. However, bad luck and a very strong duo of Matthew Beers and Howartd Grotts prevented Schurter and Fini from achieving overall success.

Swiss double victory in the prologue

The 20th edition of the Absa Cape Epic kicked off the 617-kilometre stage race with the prologue. Held in time trial mode, the prologue covered 26 kilometers and 700 meters of altitude. There was a Swiss victory in both the men's and women's races. Nino Schurter won with his partner, Danish champion Sebastian Fini, by 51 seconds. In the women's race, 26-year-old Swiss rider Nicole Koller and her Dutch partner Anne Terpstra secured victory by over a minute ahead of reigning cross-country marathon world champion Mona Mitterwallner from Austria and South African champion Candice Lill.

Sprint decisions on the second day

On the first stage over 88 kilometers and 2450 vertical meters with start and finish in Saronsberg, Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini retain the leader jerseys and extend their lead. Second place is enough for them. In the sprint, the pair were beaten by Hans Becking (NED) and Wout Alleman (BEL).

And the women also sprinted: After 4:25.42 hours, Koller and Terpstra ride to the finish line wafer-thin ahead of Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill.

Decisive air loss

At 97 kilometers, stage two was also the longest of this year's Absa Cape Epic. Schurter and Fini had no luck on the circuit around Saronsberg. A puncture on the Dane's bike left them both behind and in second place thanks to a strong finish. However, the Beers/Grotts duo gained too much of a lead in their victory and thus took the lead in the overall classification. The German overall winners in 2022, Lukas Baum and Georg Egger, rode to third place.

In the women's race, however, it was another close affair. Nicole Koller and Anne Terpstra were seven seconds ahead of Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill. Sofia Gomez Villafane (CHI) and U23 world champion Samara Sheppard (NZL) were also not far behind in third place, 25 seconds behind.

Another Swiss double

The third stage, from Saronsberg to Wellington, was only slightly shorter at 94 kilometers and 2100 meters of altitude, but temperatures were well over 30 degrees. After 3:40.24 hours, the day's victory went to the German marathon champion Andreas Seewald and the Swiss marathon champion Marc Stutzmann. The chasing group crossed the finish line almost 50 seconds behind, with Matthew Beers (RSA) and Howard Grotts (USA) beating Georg Egger and Lukas Baum in the final sprint. Hans Becking (NED) and Wout Alleman (BEL) extended their overall lead after the Schurter/Fini duo suffered a chain failure.

In the women's race, the overall leaders Anne Terpstra (NED) and Nicole Koller (SUI) secured their fourth stage win in a row. In the final sprint for second place, Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) and Candice Lill (RSA) prevailed over Sofia Gomez Villafane (ARG) and Samara Sheppard (NZL).

Tension on the shortened queen stage

Due to the extreme temperatures, stage four, the queen stage, was shortened from 88 to 73 kilometers and the elevation gain was reduced from 3000 to 2550 meters. After 3:22 hours, the men's race was only decided in the final sprint. Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini secured the day's victory ahead of Matthew Beers and Howard Grotts. The two took the yellow jersey from the Becking/Alleman duo. Andreas Seewald (GER) and Marc Stutzmann (SUI) completed the podium.

In the women's race too, the queen stage was only decided in the final sprint. All of the top three teams in the overall standings were together until the last corner, but the overall leaders Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller once again secured their fifth stage win in a row. In the final sprint for second place, Sofia Gomez Villafane and Samara Sheppard prevailed for the first time against Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill.

Winners in yellow

After just 2:46 hours, the overall leaders Matthew Beers and Howard Grotts secured their first stage win. This allowed them to extend their overall lead to just under three minutes. The German/Swiss duo Seewald/Stutzmann finished in second place and thus once again on the podium. The winners from the previous day, Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini, completed the podium in third place.

In the women's race, the duo Terpstra/Koller were able to pull away on the final descent to secure their sixth consecutive victory of the day. Second place went to Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill, third place went to Sofia Gomez Villafane and Samara Sheppard.

Beers and Grotts extend their lead

The penultimate stage of the Absa Cape Epic 2024 led over a circuit around Stellenbosch and over 87 kilometers and 2300 meters of altitude. In the men's race, the overall leaders Beers and Grotts pulled away shortly before the end and secured their second stage win in a row. They thus extended their lead to over nine minutes ahead of the final stage. Behind them, the Italian duo of Fabian Rabensteiner and Samuele Porro took second place. Nino Schurter had a small crash at the start of the stage, but was able to continue. Nevertheless, he and his team-mate were unable to match the pace of the leading teams.

In the women's race, the Dutch/Swiss duo of Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller remained unbeaten. In second place again Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) and Candice Lill (RSA), now 3:51 minutes behind the overall leaders. Sofia Gomez Villafane (ARG) and Samara Sheppard (NZL) completed the podium in third place.

Nothing new at the end

In the UCI men's race, Simon Schneller (GER) and Urs Huber from the BULLS Mavericks Team, who were beaten in the overall classification, came out on top. The Italian duo Fabian Rabensteiner and Samuele Porro - Wilier Vittoria Factory - came second on the day. Matthew Beers (RSA) and Howard Grotts (USA) from the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne Team completed the podium and secured the overall victory of the Absa Cape Epic 2024. Matt Beers defends his title and now stands at three and for Howard Grotts this is the second overall victory at the Cape Epic.

Nino Schurter and his Danish partner Sebastian Fini from Team World Bicycle Relief finished the Cape Epic in second place after finishing the 67-kilometre final stage in fifth place.

The Dutch/Swiss duo of Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller from Ghost Factory Racing completed their series - they remained unbeaten at the Absa Cape Epic 2024. And on their first participation! Marathon world champion Mona Mitterwallner and her partner Candice Lill from the Cannondale Factory Racing Team are in second place in the daily and overall standings. Last year's winners Vera Looser (NAM) and her partner Alexis Skarda (USA) from the Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM team are on the podium for the first time at the Cape Epic 2024. Third place overall went to Sofia Gomez Villafane (ARG) and Samara Sheppard (NZL).