On a warm and sunny day in the Macheras mountains, the trio that is also ahead in the overall standings dominates the final cross-country race. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing) and Jordan Sarrou (BH-Sr Suntour-KMC) got away a little and Kulhavy then slowed down a little, allowing his Czech compatriot Jan Skarnitzl (Sram Mitas Trek) to close the gap. Hans Becking (CST Sandd American Eagle), loses all chances due to an early puncture.

The leading trio stays together until the last lap. Then the Frenchman Sarrou increased the pace in the battle for the stage win and Skarnitzl lost touch. Kulhavy, who was in third place at this point, was able to close the gap with ease.
Sarrou takes the last climb at full throttle and manages to get to the singletrail first. He is able to defend his position there and Kulhavy knows that there is hardly any chance of overtaking him. So Jordan Sarrou wins the stage with Jaroslav Kulhavy on his wheel, while Jan Skarnitzl finishes third, 51 seconds behind.

The order in the overall standings remains the same as before the final day. Kulhavy wins the Afxentia stage race for the third time after 2010 and 2012, drawing level in terms of victories with Fabian Giger (Kross Racing), who finishes eighth overall.

Jaroslav Kulhavy: "I rode my own pace throughout the race. Only when Sarrou attacked and I was in third place did I have to go full throttle to close the gap. It was clear that Sarrou wanted to win the stage. It was important for me to defend the overall lead and I didn't want to take any risks. I will train for a few more days in Cyprus towards the Cape Epic. My form seems to be better than I thought."

Jordan Sarrou: "Jaro was too strong to attack him for the overall classification. On the last lap, I tried to accelerate. But that was more to practice a hard last lap. I'm very happy with this week, I can't blame myself, I gave everything. I like riding here. There is a great atmosphere and the organization is good. Finishing second behind Jaroslav Kulhavy is no problem. I'm very happy with my form."

Jan Skarnitzl: "I felt good, but the pace at the start was a bit too fast for me. Jaro then slowed down at the front so that I could catch up. Jaro led in the flat sections, I took the lead twice. But I knew that the last lap would be about the stage win between Jaro and Sarrou. I'm really happy with my third place."

Dahle-Flesjaa repeats her victory from last year

Impressive how mountain bike legend Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Merida Gunn-Rita) secured victory on the final stage of the Afxentia Stage Race, repeating her success from the previous year. The record-breaking world champion took the lead on the starting lap and never relinquished it.

Yana Belomoina (CST Sandd American Eagle) and, until the first lap, Malene Degn (Ghost Factory Racing) also tried to follow her pace, but the Norwegian's bike was working like clockwork on this day in Mantra tou Kampiou. She had no chance in the overall standings after a defect in the opening stage, but on Sunday she extended her lead more and more and finished the race after 1:16:21 hours with a lead of 1:05 minutes over Yana Belomoina. The Ukrainian is fighting to keep Sabine Spitz (WIAWIS) at bay, but the German has her eyes more on the rear.

Spitz virtually in the lead

She went into the cross-country race 25 seconds behind Githa Michiels (Versluys) in the yellow jersey. After the second lap, Spitz already had a virtual lead of six seconds. However, the 45-year-old then lost time when she made a mistake in a technical passage and fell into the bushes. Michiels reduced her deficit on Spitz to ten seconds and was back in the lead.

Sabine Spitz tries everything on the last half lap. Over the last two kilometers, she extends her lead over Michiels to 22 seconds - but that is three seconds too little. Michiels was able to celebrate her first victory in the Afxentia stage race and thus prevent Spitz's first. Barbara Benko (Focus XC), who was 20 seconds behind Michiels in second place before the final, didn't have good legs after her victory the day before and finished sixth. Nevertheless, she remains on the podium in third place overall.

Githa Michiels: "I can hardly believe it, this is one of the biggest successes of my career. I stayed calm the whole time because I felt strong on the climbs. I wasn't so confident on the downhill, but I knew I could still do a lot at the end. But it was a totally exciting finale, unbelievable that it was so close after four days of racing. After a difficult year, it's really nice for me that everything is coming together again."

Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa: "That was my day. I know from training that I can ride cross-country races well. We train this during the winter, but climbs are a maximum of seven minutes long in my programs. Cross-country, that's my thing and I'm happy that I can leave Cyprus with a win."

Sabine Spitz: "I steered myself at the top of the trail and it pushed me off course. Those were the decisive seconds. I also dropped the chain on the first lap. But Githa was very strong and deserved to win. Second place is not too bad. I wanted to use the Afxentia for the Cape Epic and I'm very happy with that."

Barbara Benko: "My idea today was to go my own pace. I already knew that Sabine and Gunn-Rita would be very strong today, they just have so much experience. I felt very, very bad today, but I gave everything I had to keep my place on the podium. That's why I'm happy and I could see that the form was right."

"Yana Belomoina: "My legs were very sore today after the three days before, but I tried everything to keep Sabine at a distance on the flat sections. That is my weak point. I'm happy that I can finish the Afxentia with a place on the podium."

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Results Afxentia stage race stage 4
Men Elite
1.	Jordan Sarrou (FRA)	1:22.13
2.	Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)	1:22:14
3.	Jan Skarnitzl (CZE)	1:23:04
4.	Karl Markt (AUT)	1:23:35
5.	Bartlomiej Wawak (POL)	1:23:36
6.	Fabian Giger (SUI)	1:23:55
7.	Thomas Litscher (SUI)	1:24:03
15.	Simon Vitzthum (SUI)	1:26:26
16.	Joris Ryf (SUI)	1:26:29
24.	Ramon Lauener (SUI)	1:29:46
29.	Casey South (SUI)	1:30:50
34.	Nico Eichenberger (SUI)	1:33:24
Women Elite
1.	Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR)	1:16:21
2.	Yana Belomoina (UKR)	1:17:27
3.	Sabine Spitz (GER)	1:17:39
4.	Githa Michiels (BEL)	1:18:01
5.	Alexandra Engen (SWE)	1:18:24
17.	Chrystelle Baumann (SUI)	1:27:44
19.	Verena Huber (SUI)	1:30:32
20.	Marine Groccia (SUI)	1:32:43
Overall ranking men elite
1.	Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)	6:19:10
2.	Jordan Sarrou (FRA)	6:19:59
3.	Jan Skarnitzl (CZE)	6:21:47
8.	Fabian Giger (SUI)	6:25:53
17.	Thomas Litscher (SUI)	6:38:59
21.	Joris Ryf (SUI)	6:45:14
22.	Simon Vitzthum (SUI)	6:46:24
23.	Ramon Lauener (SUI)	6:46:31
32.	Casey South (SUI)	7:08:57
35.	Nico Eichenberger (SUI)	7:10:34
Overall ranking women elite
1.	Githa Michiels (BEL)	7:11.15
2.	Sabine Spitz (GER)	7:11:19
3.	Barbara Benko (HUN)	7:12:55
18.	Chrystelle Baumann (SUI)	8:01:25
20.	Marine Groccia (SUI)	8:05:56