Due to defects, there are numerous lead changes on the first stage and chases among the ten leading duos. The first long stage after the opening prologue gives the pros a taste of what is to come. On the 113 kilometers and challenging 2,800 vertical meters through the nature reserve of the Hottentots-Hollands Mountains near Cape Town, almost every one of the top teams has to contend with technical problems. Sauser/Kulhavy lose two minutes due to a slashed sidewall of a tire and change the rear wheel in the tech zone, which spurs the Bulls riders to attempt a breakaway. But the Specialized riders, who were riding in top form, turned the gap into an almost one-minute lead in the final kilometers. "Today was the last big test after the prologue didn't go to plan. I didn't feel so good then. Today I was expecting a really tough day and sometimes it's easier than I thought," says Sauser with relief.

Austrian Alban Lakata, who rode to victory with last year's winner Kristian Hynek (CZE) for Team Topeak-Ergon, also complained about material problems. The pair took the first mountain classification on the dreaded Groenlandberg with its 600 meters of ascent, but were then thrown back by a flat tire and subsequent wheel change. "You can't make up four minutes on the top riders here, especially as we were on our own. The fact that we were in front at the hotspot shows that we could have been in contention for victory today. It was a very tough stage, but there are more tough stages to come. The gap was still limited, I am confident that we can still catch up," says the former marathon world champion Lakata.

The cross-country specialists Rudi van Houts (NED) and José Hermida (ESP) from Team Multivan-Merida delivered a strong performance with a third place. "This is the sixth time I've ridden the Epic," says the humorous Spaniard Hermida, "and apparently I'm getting smart enough for it. A piece of plastic got caught in Rudi's rear derailleur, but we repaired it in peace and were able to continue riding. Tearing something off because you want to get ahead quickly is no good at all, we usually had the leaders in sight and didn't ride at full speed."

The surprising prologue winners from the previous day show that they are no one-day flies. The Swiss team of Fabian Giger and Martin Gujan finish fifth in the Oak Valley vineyard and are still well in contention in the overall standings, just over six minutes behind.

Comfortable lead for Kleinhans and Langvad
In the women's race, Ariane Kleinhans (SUI) and marathon world champion Annika Langvad (DEN) remain in control and widen the gap to second-placed Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) and Robyn de Groot (RSA) from Team Ascendis-Health to almost 22 minutes. Even a crash by the South African by choice Kleinhans could not slow down the favorites. Switzerland's Esther Süss from Meerendal-Wheeler defends her podium ambitions with her team partner from Belgium, Alice Pirard, with a third place in the stage and thus the overall standings. "We are happy to continue to carry this. Nevertheless, we have to be careful, because something can happen quickly in a race like the Cape Epic and the comfortable lead is gone," says Ariane Kleinhans.

Milena Landtwing (SUI) and Hielke Elferink (NED), on the other hand, are unlucky. Three flat feet are too many to reach the podium. Their cushion from the prologue on Süss and Pirard quickly evaporates and the Landtwing/Elferink duo are more than 40 minutes behind the winners. The pair slipped to sixth place in the overall standings.In the mixed lead, former road pro René Haslbacher and team partner Sabine Sommer (Austria, Team ENS RH77) were ahead from the start and finished the stage with a lead of over nine minutes ahead of their pursuers, Peter Vesel (SLO) and the German Yvonne Kraft, Team Etis. Hanka Kupfernagel and Carsten Bresser (Team Dietrich Rocky Mountain) crossed the finish line in fifth place. The multiple
cyclo-cross world champion Hanka Kupfernagel: "I've never suffered so much on a bike."

Outlook stage 2, Oak Valley, Elgin - Elgin, 92 kilometers/2300 vertical meters
The second loop in the Oak Valley fruit and wine-growing region near Cape Town is a good mix of technical descents, fast singletrack sections and tough climbs, such as the one up the Nuweberg, which has sections with a gradient of over 25 percent. One of the highlights is aid station 3 on the Paul Cluver wine farm. On man-made North Shore elements, wooden bridges and footbridges, spectators can experience the mountain bike pros up close. The start is at 7.00 am local time (06.00 am CET), the finish (approx. from 11.45 am CET) can be followed live via the website.

www.cape-epic.com