Canyon Topeak rider Alban Lakata said at the press conference on Thursday: "We marathon riders show the cross-country guys how to ride the Absa Cape Epic." And that's exactly how it turned out on the first day of the race. The marathon specialists Daniel Geismayr and Nicola Rohrbach rode to a controlled victory ahead of the Cannondale Factory Racing Team with Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini. The surprise comes from the Spanish-Portuguese duo Francesc Guerra Carretero and Luis Leao Pinto from the Buff-Scott team, who prevail against top teams such as Schurter/Stirnemann and Kulhavy/Grotts.

"It's a great feeling to win the prologue and the fact that we can start the first stage in the yellow leader's jersey is important for us," says Geismayr and Rohrbach adds: "It's unbelievable that we won today. But we both feel very strong and are looking forward to the coming race days with the long stages."

From left: Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini, Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr, Francesc Guerra Carretero and Luis Leao Pinto. Photo ©Greg Beadle

First match a success

In the women's race, three-time Epic winner Annika Langvad and her young teammate Kate Courtney set a first mark: their lead of over a minute over the second-placed riders, Switzerland's Ariane Lüthi and Belgium's Githa Michiel from Team Spur. Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot finished in third place, more than two minutes behind.

Langvad, the four-time marathon world champion, is very happy with the new team constellation and, of course, the prologue victory: "We had a really good strategy and it turned out to be perfect. Kate and I have never ridden as a team of two like this before. I'm all the more surprised that it worked so well - it was right from the first turn of the pedals."

Ariane Lüthi is not really disappointed that she lost a minute to her former team partner: "I'm very happy with second place. Riding full throttle for an hour is not what I'm normally used to."

Successful Cape Epic debut: Kate Courtney wins the prologue with her experienced partner Annika Langvad. Photo ©Ewald Sadie

Fully fun!

Warm-up is over on the first stage. With 110 kilometers and 1,900 meters of elevation gain, it's right down to the wire - the stage could very well be decisive, even if there are more tough sections to come.

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