South Africans Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes notched up the first South African win in the 2015 Absa Cape Epic after an audacious early break on Wednesday’s rugged 111km Stage 4.
The looped route – starting and finishing in Worcester – included some back-breaking climbs and rocky surfaces, giving rise to many tyre problems throughout the field. The sunny day also made conditions difficult for some of the backmarkers.
But the top contenders for the overall win all managed to get through without much drama and the yellow zebra jersey remained on the shoulders of the Investec-Songo-Specialized team of Swiss Christoph Sauser and his Czech teammate Jaroslav Kulhavy.
An elated Buys admitted after crossing the finish line that he and Beukes (Scott Factory Racing) had taken a “long shot” gamble by breaking away inside the first hour.
“We went hard from the start,” he said. “I said to Matthys that I couldn’t hold the pace for another three hours, so we backed off.”
“But then I started feeling better and the gap just kept growing. Towards the end we controlled it … accelerating when we felt good,” said Buys.
At one stage the lead had grown to over six minutes, but the big guns behind them – not too concerned about Buys and Beukes because they are not a threat in the overall general classification – closed it down a bit over the three closing “Skyscraper” climbs.
Topeak Ergon’s Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic and Austrian Alban Lakata finished together with Sauser and Kulhavy, three-and-a-half minutes behind the South Africans.
Sauser and Kulhavy generally rode conservatively and to protect the yellow zebra jersey on the day: “Every day wearing the yellow is like winning a break point in tennis and today was another set point,” smiled Sauser.
Hynek and Lakata remain in second place overall, with Spain’s Jose Hermida and Dutch partner Rudi van Houts (Multivan Merida) in third. Four time winner Karl Platt of Germany and Swiss partner Urs Huber are fourth after losing another two minutes to the leading teams on Wednesday.
In the Sasol Women’s category Team RECM Specialized continue to dominate at the Absa Cape Epic. They strengthened their grip on the orange leader's jersey with another powerhouse display on the 111km loop of the Worcester countryside.
Second over the line for Stage 4, more than 20 minutes after Team RECM Specialized, was a much happier looking Team Ascendis Health, with both Jennie Stenerhag and Robyn de Groot finishing with grins instead of grimaces. Third in the Sasol Women’s category on Stage 4 were Esther Suss and Alice Pirard of Team Meerendal Wheeler.
“It was really sandy again, and so rocky at the start,” said Kleinhans. “It was also real Karoo riding out there today, so you had to watch for thorns and sharp stones.” The pair are riding slightly heavier and thicker tyres than normal, and it’s a strategy that appears to be paying off.
“They are only slightly heavier than our usual tyres,” said Kleinhans, “but it really gives you the confidence to push on, especially when you are slightly tired towards the end of the day and you aren’t able to dodge obstacles quickly. With these you can go over stones feeling confident that you won’t puncture.”
From this stage of the race riders start to tire and mistakes can derail a charge for victory and ruin months of training. “That’s the nature of stage races,” said Kleinhans. “Everyone starts to get tired from now but you just have to push on.”
RED-E Blend’s Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock wore the red Absa African special jersey on Wednesday’s stage but had to give it up after finishing eight-and-a-half minutes behind Buys and Beukes. They are now two minutes behind in the overall standings. KwaZulu Natal’s Rourke Croeser and Travis Walker (USN) are lying third in the race for red. “We finally got the red jersey … that is what we came for,” said Buys.
Meanwhile, the race for the Dimension Data Masters category continues to be a thrilling one, with Dutch mountain biking legend Bart Brentjens and his Brazilian teammate Abraao Azevedo (BETCH.nl-Superior) just one minute and 26 seconds ahead of South Africans Nico Pfitzenmaier and Robert Sim (Dorma/Robert Daniel).
The local team won Wednesday’s category race by just 12 seconds and have battled to shake off the Dutch/Brazilian combination.
“It was so tough today … we tried to get away the whole time,” said Pfitzenmaier. “On the uphills and downhills we tried to drop them, but Bart just kept going. It is really hard racing this.”
The Grand Masters race was again dominated by Swiss strongman Barti Bucher and Austrian Heinz Zoerweg (Meerendal BIXS KTM), who now lead by nearly 50 minutes from South Africans Greg Andersen and Andrew Mclean (Ascendis Health).
The Mixed category again went to ETIS’s Peter Vesel of Slovenia and Ivonne Kraft of Germany, with South African Nizaam Essa and his British partner Catherine Williamson (Asrin Cycling) having an excellent day to come home second. The Slovenian/German combination are now 22 minutes ahead overall in the category.
In the Exxaro special jersey contest Phillimon Sebona and Jan Motshioa (Exxaro PWC) have extended their lead over Exxaro/EOH’s Rilamulele Gadabeni and Tovhawani Mavundavhi to nearly 19 minutes.
Stage Results
1. Scott Factory Racing 7-1 Philip Buys (South Africa) 7-2 Matthys Beukes (South Africa) 4:19.19,0
2. Topeak Ergon 1-1 Kristian Hynek (Czech Republic) 1-2 Alban Lakata (Austria) 4:22.50,5 +3.31,5
3. Investec-Songo-Specialized 2-1 Christoph Sauser (Switzerland) 2-2 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) 4:22.50,6 +3.31,6
Overall Results
1. Investec-Songo-Specialized 2-1 Christoph Sauser (Switzerland) 2-2 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) 19:05.20,4
2. Topeak Ergon 1-1 Kristian Hynek (Czech Republic) 1-2 Alban Lakata (Austria) 19:12.42,2 +7.21,8
3. Multivan Merida 6-1 Jose Hermida (Spain) 6-2 Rudi van Houts (Netherlands) 19:18.05,9 +12.45,5
4. Bulls 4-1 Karl Platt (Germany) 4-2 Urs Huber (Switzerland) 19:20.10,9 +14.50,5
5. Novus OMX Pro 23-1 Martin Gujan (Switzerland) 23-2 Fabian Giger (Switzerland) 19:49.31,3 +44.10,9
6. Meerendal Centurion Vaude 5-1 Jochen Kaess (Germany) 5-2 Daniel Geismayr (Austria) 19:52.48,0 +47.27,6
7. Scott Factory Racing 7-1 Philip Buys (South Africa) 7-2 Matthys Beukes (South Africa) 19:53.09,7 +47.49,3
8. RED-E Blend 36-1 Darren Lill (South Africa) 36-2 Waylon Woolcock (South Africa) 19:55.14,8 +49.54,4
9. USN #1 11-1 Rourke Croeser (South Africa) 11-2 Travis Walker (South Africa) 20:03.07,5 +57.47,1
10. EAI South Africa 33-1 Gawie Combrinck (South Africa) 33-2 Johann Rabie (South Africa) 20:08.08,6 +1:02.48,2
2015 Stage 4 Sasol Women
Stage Results
1. RECM Specialized 50-1 Ariane Kleinhans (Switzerland) 50-2 Annika Langvad (Denmark) 4:55.57,4
2. Ascendis Health 55-1 Jennie Stenerhag (Sweden) 55-2 Robyn Lee de Groot (South Africa) 5:16.33,3 +20.35,9
3. Meerendal Wheeler 51-1 Esther Suss (Switzerland) 51-2 Alice Pirard (Belgium) 5:19.24,5 +23.27,1
Overall Results
1. RECM Specialized 50-1 Ariane Kleinhans (Switzerland) 50-2 Annika Langvad (Denmark) 22:59.08,0
2. Ascendis Health 55-1 Jennie Stenerhag (Sweden) 55-2 Robyn Lee de Groot (South Africa) 23:29.02,5 +29.54,5
3. Meerendal Wheeler 51-1 Esther Suss (Switzerland) 51-2 Alice Pirard (Belgium) 23:36.55,4 +37.47,4
4. SasolRacing 56-1 Yolande de Villiers (South Africa) 56-2 Janka Keseg Stevkova (Slovakia) 24:08.52,2 +1:09.44,2
5. RBS 137-1 Theresa Ralph (South Africa) 137-2 Jeannie Bomford (South Africa) 24:12.30,4 +1:13.22,4
6. Novus OMX Pro 79-1 Mariske Strauss (South Africa) 79-2 Cherie Vale (South Africa) 25:43.41,3 +2:44.33,3
7. SasolRacing 2 59-1 Leana de Jager (South Africa) 59-2 Yolandi du Toit (South Africa) 26:08.37,2 +3:09.29,2
8. Lovechock Specialized 57-1 Sanne van Paassen (Netherlands) 57-2 Jolien Janssen (Netherlands) 27:32.00,4 +4:32.52,4
9. Dawn Wing/Momsen 78-1 Ann Harrison (South Africa) 78-2 Marleen Lourens (South Africa) 27:43.22,9 +4:44.14,9
10. Central Family Practice 381-1 Genevieve Weber (South Africa) 381-2 Wanda Tattersall (Namibia) 29:37.03,4 +6:37.55,4
2015 Stage 4 Dimension Data Masters
Stage Results
1. Dorma / Robert Daniel 61-1 Nico Pfitzenmaier (South Africa) 61-2 Robert Sim (South Africa) 4:39.24,2
2. BETCH.nl-Superior 60-1 Bart Brentjens (Netherlands) 60-2 Abraao Azevedo (Brazil) 4:39.36,9 +12,7
3. Assos Werksmannschaft 258-1 Daniele Nardello (Italy) 258-2 Karl Zoetemelk (France) 4:48.30,5 +9.06,3
Overall Results
1. BETCH.nl-Superior 60-1 Bart Brentjens (Netherlands) 60-2 Abraao Azevedo (Brazil) 21:12.24,6
2. Dorma / Robert Daniel 61-1 Nico Pfitzenmaier (South Africa) 61-2 Robert Sim (South Africa) 21:13.50,2 +1.25,6
3. Assos Werksmannschaft 258-1 Daniele Nardello (Italy) 258-2 Karl Zoetemelk (France) 21:46.08,4 +33.43,8
4. GoldNutrition/Portugal 487-1 Vitor Gamito (Portugal) 487-2 José Rosa (Portugal) 21:57.50,0 +45.25,4
5. TerreActive IT security 327-1 Marc Baechli (Switzerland) 327-2 Daniel Christen (Switzerland) 22:58.19,5 +1:45.54,9
6. Iron-Lion 400-1 Franso Steyn (South Africa) 400-2 Leon Erasmus (South Africa) 23:00.59,6 +1:48.35,0
7. GCH Bike+ 277-1 Andy Davies (England) 277-2 David Garrett (South Africa) 23:15.06,8 +2:02.42,2
8. Technofit 64-1 Pascal de Kort (Belgium) 64-2 Bart van de Water (Belgium) 23:17.34,8 +2:05.10,2
9. Sasol Mitas Racing 46-1 Johan Labuschagne (South Africa) 46-2 Gerrie Beukes (South Africa) 23:18.59,6 +2:06.35,0
10. Rug Meesters 122-1 Pieter Calitz (South Africa) 122-2 Russell Lund (South Africa) 23:23.41,0 +2:11.16,4
2015 Stage 4 Grand Masters
Stage Results
1. Meerendal BIXS KTM 65-1 Barti Bucher (Switzerland) 65-2 Heinz Zoerweg (Austria) 5:02.40,4
2. Ascendis Health 66-1 Greg Anderson (South Africa) 66-2 Andrew Mclean (South Africa) 5:11.05,4 +8.25,0
3. Pitstop1Sport24hrs 69-1 Waleed Baker (South Africa) 69-2 Glen Haw (South Africa) 5:20.44,6 +18.04,2
Overall Results
1. Meerendal BIXS KTM 65-1 Barti Bucher (Switzerland) 65-2 Heinz Zoerweg (Austria) 22:25.39,0
2. Ascendis Health 66-1 Greg Anderson (South Africa) 66-2 Andrew Mclean (South Africa) 23:14.38,9 +48.59,9
3. Nampak 67-1 Izak Visagie (South Africa) 67-2 Linus van Onselen (South Africa) 23:59.20,6 +1:33.41,6
4. AAA & BBC 68-1 Peter Selkrig (Australia) 68-2 Garry James (Australia) 24:35.09,0 +2:09.30,0
5. Pitstop1Sport24hrs 69-1 Waleed Baker (South Africa) 69-2 Glen Haw (South Africa) 24:51.34,2 +2:25.55,2
6. Ernesto's Cycling 112-1 Deon Wilkins (South Africa) 112-2 Raul Navarro Acuna (Venezuela) 25:33.22,1 +3:07.43,1
7. Gutta Boyz 182-1 Trond Hilde (Norway) 182-2 Ivar Tollefsen (Norway) 26:11.28,2 +3:45.49,2
8. Cycling Emotion BMC 390-1 Sam Sprunger (Switzerland) 390-2 Antonio Spidalieri (Italy) 26:53.16,0 +4:27.37,0
9. Absa Cytomax 405-1 Graham Taylor (South Africa) 405-2 Craig Lindeque (South Africa) 27:07.00,0 +4:41.21,0
10. Orphans Africa MTB 145-1 Ahmed Zaid Mahomed (South Africa) 145-2 Pablo Rodriguez (Argentina) 27:17.14,5 +4:51.35,5
2015 Stage 4 Mixed
Stage Results
1. ETIS 71-1 Peter Vesel (Slovenia) 71-2 Ivonne Kraft (Germany) 5:14.32,1
2. Asrin Cycling 70-1 Nizaam Essa (South Africa) 70-2 Catherine Williamson (England) 5:18.36,5 +4.04,4
3. Dietrich/Rocky Mountain 73-1 Carsten Bresser (Germany) 73-2 Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) 5:18.51,5 +4.19,4
Overall Results
1. ETIS 71-1 Peter Vesel (Slovenia) 71-2 Ivonne Kraft (Germany) 23:43.52,5
2. ENS RH77 77-1 Rene Haselbacher (Austria) 77-2 Sabine Sommer (Austria) 24:05.04,9 +21.12,4
3. Asrin Cycling 70-1 Nizaam Essa (South Africa) 70-2 Catherine Williamson (England) 24:09.05,8 +25.13,3
4. Open - Kappius components 75-1 Jean-Francois Bossler (France) 75-2 Coralie Redelsperger (France) 24:23.32,3 +39.39,8
5. Dietrich/Rocky Mountain 73-1 Carsten Bresser (Germany) 73-2 Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) 24:27.52,1 +43.59,6
6. Bike Office 76-1 Josef Ajram (Spain) 76-2 Mayalen Noriega Belausteguigoitia (Spain) 25:27.17,0 +1:43.24,5
7. Giant Obwalden 265-1 Hans Fluck (Switzerland) 265-2 Anita Bucher (Switzerland) 25:33.07,4 +1:49.14,9
8. Liqui Fruit 102-1 Joel Stransky (South Africa) 102-2 Anriette Schoeman (South Africa) 26:12.37,8 +2:28.45,3
9. Zurreal Mixed 44-1 Hannele Steyn (South Africa) 44-2 Fourie Kotze (South Africa) 26:28.17,3 +2:44.24,8
10. sputnik-bikeshop.ch 324-1 Marcel Boss (Switzerland) 324-2 Yvonne Boss (Switzerland) 26:42.25,2 +2:58.32,7
2015 Stage 4 Absa African
Stage Results
1. Scott Factory Racing 7-1 Philip Buys (South Africa) 7-2 Matthys Beukes (South Africa) 4:19.19,0
2. USN #1 11-1 Rourke Croeser (South Africa) 11-2 Travis Walker (South Africa) 4:27.42,1 +8.23,1
3. RED-E Blend 36-1 Darren Lill (South Africa) 36-2 Waylon Woolcock (South Africa) 4:27.52,2 +8.33,2
Overall Results
1. Scott Factory Racing 7-1 Philip Buys (South Africa) 7-2 Matthys Beukes (South Africa) 19:53.09,7
2. RED-E Blend 36-1 Darren Lill (South Africa) 36-2 Waylon Woolcock (South Africa) 19:55.14,8 +2.05,1
3. USN #1 11-1 Rourke Croeser (South Africa) 11-2 Travis Walker (South Africa) 20:03.07,5 +9.57,8
4. EAI South Africa 33-1 Gawie Combrinck (South Africa) 33-2 Johann Rabie (South Africa) 20:08.08,6 +14.58,9
5. Dorma / Robert Daniel 61-1 Nico Pfitzenmaier (South Africa) 61-2 Robert Sim (South Africa) 21:13.50,2 +1:20.40,5
6. Scott Factory Racing 2 13-1 Gert Heyns (South Africa) 13-2 Arno Du Toit (South Africa) 21:14.27,1 +1:21.17,4
7. Biogen-Volcan 10-1 Kevin Evans (South Africa) 10-2 Max Knox (South Africa) 21:32.59,0 +1:39.49,3
8. RSAWEB Biogen 90-1 Nic Lamond (South Africa) 90-2 Carl Pasio (South Africa) 21:50.20,7 +1:57.11,0
9. Novus Pinners 37-1 Oliver Munnik (South Africa) 37-2 Charles Keey (South Africa) 21:54.55,4 +2:01.45,7
10. William Simpson A 218-1 Michael Posthumus (South Africa) 218-2 Derrin Smith (South Africa) 22:22.14,8 +2:29.05,1
2015 Stage 4 Exxaro
Stage Results
1. Exxaro PWC 82-1 Phillimon Sebona (South Africa) 82-2 Jan Motshioa (South Africa) 5:10.31,4
2. Exxaro / EOH 108-1 Rilamulele Gadabeni (South Africa) 108-2 Tovhawani Mavundavhi (South Africa) 5:13.53,2 +3.21,8
3. Absa Diepsloot MTB 440-1 Clement Mabula (South Africa) 440-2 Sean Baloyi (South Africa) 5:34.14,7 +23.43,3
Overall Results
1. Exxaro PWC 82-1 Phillimon Sebona (South Africa) 82-2 Jan Motshioa (South Africa) 23:05.44,1
2. Exxaro / EOH 108-1 Rilamulele Gadabeni (South Africa) 108-2 Tovhawani Mavundavhi (South Africa) 24:24.12,4 +1:18.28,3
3. Exxaro / RMB 83-1 Lucky Mlangeni (South Africa) 83-2 Tshepo Tlou (South Africa) 24:41.13,3 +1:35.29,2
4. Absa Diepsloot MTB 440-1 Clement Mabula (South Africa) 440-2 Sean Baloyi (South Africa) 25:13.21,8 +2:07.37,7
5. Exxaro / Tronox 84-1 Khupi Kobe (South Africa) 84-2 Khutso Tlou (South Africa) 26:17.45,3 +3:12.01,2
6. Exxaro / Datacentrix 121-1 Johnny Taueatoala (South Africa) 121-2 Thokozani Mahlangu (South Africa) 26:53.33,6 +3:47.49,5
7. Exxaro / Nedbank Capital 305-1 Masala Khumbudzo (South Africa) 305-2 Delton Matsenene (South Africa) 27:25.34,9 +4:19.50,8
8. TasYepCycling 465-1 Bonga Ngqobane (South Africa) 465-2 Sinethemba Vaphi (South Africa) 27:41.16,3 +4:35.32,2
9. Exxaro / Peptosport 304-1 Sabelo Mncwabe (South Africa) 304-2 William Lubambo (South Africa) 27:53.35,6 +4:47.51,5
10. Exxaro/TheBicycleCompany 583-1 Tony Ramatladi (South Africa) 583-2 Emmanuel Ratlebjana (South Africa) 29:42.22,3 +6:36.38,2
Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser win NTT Masters category in fine style
