Prologue – Meerendal Wine Estate, Durbanville, Cape Town (27km with 900m of climbing)
The 9th edition of the race kicks off with a 27km prologue. It will be the fourth time in the race’s history that a short team time trial opens proceedings at the Meerendal Wine Estate on the Durbanville Wine Route, passing through protected Renosterveld. Far from just a ceremonial stroll, it will be flat out from the start ramp heading through Contermanskloof, Hillcrest and Kliprug, railing the sublime single-track in the Tygerberg Hills. On the final push on the lung-bursting climb up to the mountaintop finish, riders will be looking to spectators lining the trail for support, with magnificent views of Table Mountain and Table Bay in the background. Teams will open up their throttles for a good seeding at the official start in Robertson on stage one.

Stage 1 – Robertson to Robertson (115km with 2 350m of climbing)
Stage one is always a rude awakening for participants. Combining the length, climbing, severity of trail surfaces and speed of fresh-legged hares at the front of the field – all will be a shock to the system, even for the best prepared. Three major climbs will loom ahead of the athletes. The first 3km rise will be littered with loose rocks and tilting to 25%, forcing portage, and there will be a risky descent lying in wait. Hangman’s Tree will follow, which may be short, but could take up to half an hour to conquer. Beautiful flowing trails then traverse the mountain ridges, showcasing the breath-taking scenery riders have come to expect from the race. Tortoise Peak will be the third major obstacle and riders will be creeping up this slow, yet rideable 5km ascent, named after its ancient residents. Riders with bar ends will need to take care on the descent, with grabbing branches on the off-camber dual tracks. For their considerable efforts, riders will then be rewarded with a beautiful section of trails through Nama Karoo, with a few gentle rises before finally turning East, back towards Robertson with a final rocky plunge into the picturesque town.

Stage 2: Robertson to Robertson (119km and 1 650m of climbing)
The route will traverse the beautiful rolling dual tracks through the stony Klein Karoo, passing through the charming village of McGregor. It will be a special day out for the riders. For those who manage to avoid tunnel vision, it will be a geologist’s paradise, with remarkable sandstone formations. Some might say this is too much fun for the Absa Cape Epic, but riders will soon be brought back down to earth as the rocks will be sharp with knife-edges shale and deluge of thorns, heavy duty tyres will be essential. Passing through Van Loveren Wine Estate on some severe vineyard hills, a district road will take the race past Ashton as they head towards the mountains for some short, but steep climbs before returning to Robertson.

Stage 3 – Robertson to Caledon (147km and 2 900m of climbing)
Route planner Dr Evil cites four major climbs on the longest stage in Absa Cape Epic history, with the action starting around the 40km mark. The first is a 6km dual track, where riders will fight for traction over large rolling rocks. This will be followed by a 4km mast climb, with a view over Villiersdorp. The next lump in the profile will be a smooth and comparatively easy rise to the “Toll House”, the highest point of the day, with a fast 5km descent dropping 500m into the valley. At the 110km mark, there will be a humungous climb to scale. A sharp rise will be followed by a tricky descent, undoing all the hard work. Then starting again, from the bottom, will be a steep rocky trail where riders will be switching to their granny gears. Riders will then be able to clock up some mileage on the fast downhill district roads before the last 10km slows them down again, traversing farmlands. Riders will be welcomed to their new race village in Caledon.

Stage 4 – Caledon to Caledon (105km with 2 600m of climbing)
Two major climbs jab upwards on the day’s route profile. The first is the loose, long and steep Babylonstoring, followed by the brutal, stony ascent to Charlie’s Heaven with several false peaks. Riders will be watching the weather report closely, hoping for some cloud cover to take the edge off the scorching heat. With views as far as Cape Point and Cape Agulhas it will be worth going through hell to get to the top. Danger will lie ahead on the rough, steep descent, with jagged rocks and deep ruts on this washed out road. The run into the finish will include open farm roads, fast paths along a railway line, some tight single-track through Middleton and a few hundred metres of trails in Caledon’s botanical gardens.

Stage 5 – Caledon to Oak Valley (119km with 2 350m of climbing)
Leon Evans, aka Dr Evil, has one aim on Stage 5 and that is to get riders to that famed Oak Valley single-track as soon as possible. It will be a fast, flowing start, before heading to the fynbos-lined mountain tracks. As participants edge closer to Elgin/Grabouw, their morale will be buoyed by the striking views from the Highlands Plateau onto the Botrivier Lagoon and Kleinmond Beach. A steady 10km climb will take them through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, famous for its biodiversity and rare fynbos. A combination of new and old flowing single-track will wind through Lebanon, Thandi and Oak Valley on some unforgettable loops in apple country. However, the last few steep single-track climbs will throw agonising combination punches to the legs in the final push towards the lush fields of the race village in Oak Valley.

Stage 6 – Oak Valley to Oak Valley (85km with 2 200m of climbing)
Riders should not be fooled by the distance of the stage. It will be a hard day of climbing and Nuweberg will be the first big challenge ahead with the dangling carrot of stunning vistas at the top. On the penultimate day, nearing the climax of race week, the grand old lady Groenlandberg, will appear. Deep into this highly unique and remote landscape, riders will savour the solitude of the 30km of dual tracks through this pristine Cape Nature reserve as they tackle her in two parts. The first steady rise will bring them to a rutted descent. From here the path will contour along the side of this beautiful mountain, followed by the final ascent towards the saddle, followed by yet another tricky, washed-out descent. Riders will then get to enjoy the coveted single-track in Oak Valley.

Stage 7 – Oak Valley to Lourensford (64km with 1 350m of climbing)
Dr Evil has found a new way to the Champs Elysees of mountain biking, again reminding riders there will be no easy day at the Absa Cape Epic. Lourensford will await the tired athletes as they make their way from Oak Valley over Twin Peaks above the Elgin Dam, and down the ever-familiar portage section of Gantouw Pass. Extended single-track sections will then offer a final reward, before a last test of resolve – a few steep ascents with magnificent views of False Bay and Table Mountain. Once again, Lourensford hosts the Grand Finale festivities as riders experience that bittersweet feeling at the end of the arduous, yet epic journey of the Absa Cape Epic.

Says Vermaak: “Our aim is not to make the route tougher each year just for the sake of it. We aim to offer participants from around the world an awesome trail that showcases the best that the Western Cape has to offer. We want new routes, with suitable technical and challenging riding, that take the riders to new towns whilst at the same time giving them the most beautiful and remote scenery, with wild animals to boot. Without the incredible support of Cape Nature Conservation, this would not be possible as they give us access to their reserves.

“The Absa Cape Epic has grown in popularity worldwide and is increasingly becoming an iconic endurance event. Finishing the Absa Cape Epic is and will always be an enormous physical and mental challenge, and riders will need as much dedicated training and preparation to earn the title ‘Absa Cape Epic Finisher’,” he says.

He said the young Rwandan mountain biker was currently in winning form after securing the African jersey with Namibian team-mate Mannie Heymans at the recent Absa Cape Epic.

At the same time, Knox, who skipped the brutal eight-day event, would be fresher than most of their opposition, he said. “Max will also be an ideal mentor.”

Mclean added that, of the top teams, the duo was the only one that consisted of two “pure” mountain bikers.

“Their technical superiority could play a role as the race unfolds. Barring mechanicals, they may just be the team to beat.”

They will come up against FedGroup Berg and Bush’s unlikely combination of South African road champion Darren Lill and former national cross country titleholder Brandon Stewart.

Roadies Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock, representing Malcolm Lange’s new Team RECM, are also expected to be in the mix.

Mclean said riders with a road background should be “absolutely fine” on the flat terrain of the opening two stages, but that they would battle when it came to the technical stretches in the area of the Sterkfontein Dam.

“Mountain bikers like Knox, Niyonshuti and Stewart will start to come to the fore on the single track later on.”

While Mclean and partner Shan Wilson will not be defending their title, last year’s runners-up, the Kenyan team of David Kinjah and Davidson Kamau (Safari Simbaz Fairbairn Capital), will be on the start line.

Mclean however expressed his doubts whether they would be able to go one better than last year given the standard of entries in 2011.

“With prize money of R300 000, the race is starting to attract the top pros. As nice as these guys are, at this level of competition they’re just not a threat.”

With regard to the women’s race, Mclean said his money was on former MTN Series champion Ischen Stopforth and her British team-mate Catherine Williamson (Team bizhub).

“If they’ve both rested well after the Epic, they will have the edge.”

Last year’s winner Yolandi du Toit and new partner Aurélie Halbwachs (Develop) would also be “right up there”, he added.

Mclean stressed the fact that it was a test of endurance and that the race would not be won on the first day. “Nine hundred kilometres is a long way and a lot can happen in nine days.”

He said riders would need to watch their nutrition, stay healthy and “hope for a bit of luck”.

Mclean, who is still recovering from an iron-deficiency related illness, said he would join the 220 two-man teams on stages six through eight as a guest.

The race leaves Heidelberg in the south of Johannesburg on April 29 and arrives on the beach at Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on May 7.

MTN-DoItNow’s Adrien Niyonshuti (Photo: craigdutton.com) and Max Knox (Photo: Jon Ivins) are being tipped for overall honours in the 900- kilometre Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c mountain bike race that starts
on April 29.

Visit www.joberg2c.co.za, follow joberg2c_journo on Twitter or join the official Facebook group.

A MANAGER’S TALE

It is a quarter to five in the morning and the race village of the 2011 ABSA Cape Epic is beginning to stir for another tough day in the world’s premier MTB stage race. While the majority of the field is being accommodated in the tented village, many of the professional riders are staying in the adjacent camper van area and this where the defending champions, Team Bulls are readying themselves for the days action.

Team Bulls have two teams entered in the race along with their support staff, who are busy preparing the rider’s food on only a few hours sleep after working late into the previous evening to make sure that everything is in order.

These are the men and women behind the scenes, who keep the team rolling ensuring the riders need only ride their bicycles in pursuit of victory.

“What keeps the team running smoothly is that while we all have our individual functions, we all help each other out if need be, whether it be laundry, shopping, mechanics or other errands, we are one.” These are the words of Freidemann Schmude, manager of Team Bulls. The affable Schmude welcomes me into the Bulls ”kraal” of two camper vans, support “bakkie” (South African for pickup truck) and a gazebo which shelters team mechanic Lukas Nottarp as he tweaks the Bulls bikes after the rocky singletrack above the South Western Cape hamlet of Tulbagh.

Hard working Bulls manager, Friedemann Schmude, enjoys a rare quiet moment after making the shopping run in Tulbagh. (Courtsey Chantelle Mathewson)

“I have been friends with Karl (Platt) since the mid nineties when I was still racing as a full time cross country mountain biker” explains the affable Schmude as we discuss the team’s origins. “I was a good rider but found that I was only seeing marginal improvement in performances annually. Combined with my university studies at the time, I was a rather busy fellow wondering how much longer I could continue along that path.”

It was in the beginning of 2007 that Platt approached his longtime friend Schmude about the possibility of managing a brand new mountain bike team with a marathon focus, an opportunity which Schmude says he grabbed with both hands. “It certainly was a great time,” reflecting on his racing career, “but the chance to manage a top MTB squad was exciting and four years later I can say the definitely made the correct decision.”

But what attributes does one need in order to manage the world’s premiere marathon MTB team? “Sure, being a former pro rider is an advantage and you will see that many former riders make a smooth transition to team management for both MTB and road disciplines. But you also need good organizational skills as a well as a calm temperament – things do not always go to plan. When that happens, we need to focus on staying calm and not stressing the riders out. After all, our (the backup staff’s) job is to ensure that the riders need only worry about riding their bikes.”

Friedemann is a very “hands on” manager, something he explains is imperative in creating a good esprit de corps. “It not just sitting back and barking orders. In order for the staff to respect you, you need to talk to them as equals.”

Uber-mechanic Lukas Nottarp (Copyright: TEAM BULLS 2011)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONNECTION
It is fairly well known that Karl Platt and his team mate Stefan Sahm have spent a large part of their buildup for this year’s Cape Epic preparing in sunny Cape Town, sampling the delights of the Tokai and Silvermine mountain bike trails on a daily basis. “Typically Karl and Stefan would spend some time in South Africa every year in the pre-season phase,” explains Schmude, “but this year has been slightly different with Karl spending a longer period here in South Africa. Being based in Camps Bay. He also participated in the Attakwas and Sabie MTB marathons. We were also training in Cyprus like other years, but Karl spent more time in Cape Town this time. Stefan was also here but for not as long.”

Another South African angle of Team Bulls is their soigneur, Vincent Durand, a Paarl-based sports massage therapist and passionate cyclist who has been with team since its inception. I meet Durand as he is working on Stefan Sahm, soothing the aches and pains of another long day in the saddle. “I was helping Mister African Mannie Heymans and the Team GT riders in the 2005 Epic when we struck up a friendship with Karl (Platt) and his Rocky Mountain teammate. They had come to that year’s Epic alone without any support staff or masseurs and parked their camper van next to ours. So I basically became their masseur as well, often working until eleven or twelve at night to ensure all the riders were massaged and fed – certainly a busy time but very rewarding.”

Paarl resident and Bulls soigneur, Vincent Durand proves that the his job skills are also of the culinary variety. (Copyright: TEAM BULLS 2011)

Stefan Sahm relaxes while receiving his daily massage. (Courtsey Chantelle Mathewson)

This inevitably became a long term working relationship between Durand and Platt with Vincent being approached to join Team Bulls in 2007. “I’m certainly privileged to work for such a professional set up. I reached the point in my sports massage practice where I achieved all I wanted to. I view my work with the Bulls as a vocation which has also led to my other business as a bicycle importer.”

Durand is the South African agent for Bulls Bikes, a German brand, which falls under the umbrella of a holding corporation, ZEG. “I run my bicycle agency, Stage N9ne Distribution along with my wife in Paarl. While I am away with the team, my wife runs the show.”

STAGE N9NE Distribution – The story behind the name: “The company name originated after the 2009 ABSA Cape Epic, which Team Bulls won,” explains Durand. “We had a huge party late into the night and when I woke up the next morning with terrible hangover, Karl and Stefan had already gone riding on the Jonkershoek MTB trails. After the eight stages of the Epic, this was the ninth stage – their passion for mountain biking was evident even after eight days of hard racing.”
www.bullsbikes.com

THE SCHEDULE – A QUESTION OF PRIORITY
“The Cape Epic is our big goal of the season” explains Schmude when asked about the teams annual schedule. “We tend to plan our season around the two biggest MTB stage races, Cape Epic and Trans Alps, the two intermediate stage races which include the Trans Germany and the Trans Schwarzwald and the international and national marathon titles.”

Other races are factored into the schedule but only if they suit the riders and are beneficial to the team. “We fill up the rest of the season with smaller MTB races and festivals which are very popular in Europe and include road races if the schedule permits. It is important to balance the riders racing schedules with proper recovery.”
While Schmude is a full time employee of ZEG, he coordinates the team from his home in Stuttgart, a set up which he feels is advantageous for running a bike team. “Working from home enables me to be more flexible with my time, which is divided over many tasks. I sometimes have to work late into the night to ensure that everything is order. Media releases and website maintenance take up a lot of time. Even whilst on the Cape Epic, we maintain our Facebook page with regular updates and photos so our fans know what is going on here in South Africa.”

While away on a tour such as the Cape Epic, Schmude often finds himself multi-tasking, which is exactly what he was doing when I approached him to do this article – he talking on the phone while sending an email. “Yes, I definitely help everybody out from time to time” he muses as I note the food table we are sitting next which would rival any hotel buffet. “I was fortunate that I was sort of self-taught in the bike mechanics when I was still riding, so I help Lukas (Nottarp – team mechanic) out from time to time. Shopping for food is also very time consuming, especially here in Tulbagh with town being way from the race village.”

I notice that the Team Garmin-Adidas camp are situated next door to the Bulls camp and ask Friedemann how well Mannie Heymans is known in Germany, given the Namibian’s long association with Karl Platt. “Mannie still has a good profile in Germany, although I think it was better some time back. Karl and Mannie, while not normally on the same team, would often pair up for the stage races in Europe making quite a formidable combination. It is great to see him still doing so well, even with him getting a bit older now and the standard of marathon racing on the upward spiral. His contribution to the sport by mentoring his young rider’s is phenomenal.”

MISTER AFRICAN – The legend continues: Mannie Heymans (40) proves that age is no barrier competing in this year’s Cape Epic with the Rwandan prodigy Adrien Niyonshuti and finishing ninth overall. But how did the nickname “Mr African” come into being? “I won a big MTB marathon in Germany in 1999 and some guy asked the race organiser where the black guy from Africa who won the race was. He didn’t know that I was standing right next to him!”
www.mr-african.com

Obviously still in good shape, Schmude reveals that he still rides when he finds the time although not at all seriously. “I ride maybe 3000 kilometers a year, but to echo Thomas Frischknecht, I don’t train anymore. I just ride my bike. If it starts raining, I turn around a go home. After all those years of training and racing riding a bike is a purely leisure activity for me.”

A relaxed Karl Platt warms up for the Worcester time trial. (Courtsey Chantelle Mathewson)

Tim Boehme snacks on a sandwich after the 140km stage from Worcester to Grabouw. (Courtsey Chantelle Mathewson)

TEAM BULLS 2011

Karl Platt
Stefan Sahm
Thomas Dietsch
Tim Böhme
Friedemann Schmude (manager)
www.bulls.de

Moments after finishing the last stage on Sunday at Lourensford Heymans made it clear that finishing ninth overall in the Epic and winning the African Jersey with Niyonshuti is a definite highlight in his already illustrious mountain biking career.

“I don’t have words to describe the feeling. It was our plan to win the African Jersey and it means as much as winning the first Absa Cape Epic with Karl Platt in 2004.

“I am so happy that the hard work I put into making Garmin-adidas/MTN paid off since this will open even more doors for a super rider like Adrien.

“I achieved a lot in my long cycling career and it was time to give back. It was a pleasure to teach Adrien some of my racing secrets during the last ten days.

“For example I even got him to relax more in front of the television cameras. Give him another year or two and his English will be as good as his riding.”

Doug Ryder, team owner of MTN/Qhubeka, made it clear that it is a great result for both team and their respective sponsors – MTN/Qhubeka and Garmin-adidas.

“Adrien could not have asked for a better Epic-partner. Mannie was unbelievable. I am sure that Adrien learned during the Epic about what it takes to become a winner on a mountain bike.

“For example Mannie helped Adrien to stay calm during the stages. In the past Adrien sometimes made the mistake of immediately racing off with the race leaders and then ‘exploding’ during the latter part of a race.”

Heymans and Niyonshuti’s overall winning time in the African Jersey competition was (30:29.36,5. They were followed by Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 31:33.52,7. Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) finished in third position in 32:01.11,9.

The 36ONE Songo Specialized team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser walked away with top honours as overall winners of this year’s exciting Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas.

Stander and Sauser finished the last 8 days of the Magical and Untamed Mountain Bike Race of 707km in an overall time of 28:44.44,0. It is the first time in the history of the race that a South African is part of the winning team.

In second place in an overall time of 28:51.52,8 were the German team of Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss (Multivan Merida Biking), with the Bulls, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, in third place overall in 29:05.53,7.

With a ten minute and 51 second lead time at the start, Stander and Sauser finished the last 8 days of the Magical and Untamed Mountain Bike Race of 707km in an overall time of 28:44.44,0.

In second place in an overall time of 28:51.52,8 were the German team of Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss (Multivan Merida Biking), with the Bulls, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, in third place overall in 29:05.53,7.

Platt and Sahm won the Absa Cape Epic in 2007, 2009 and 2010, and Karl Platt won in the inaugural year (2004) with Mannie Heymans from Namibia. He is the most successful participant in the history of the race having won four times with eleven stage wins.

The Swiss Flückiger brothers, Lukas and Mathias, of the Trek World Racing team, won the final stage on Sunday in 2:33.18,6 with Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss (Multivan Merida Biking) in second place (2:35.37,1). They were closely followed by José Hermida and Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking 3) in 2:39.06,1, with Alexandre Moos and Balthasar Weber of BMC Mountainbike Racing in fourth place (2:39.07,4).

Stander and Sauser took a slower pace once they reached the final 200 metres in order to enjoy the overwhelming welcome of the crowds, finishing in fifth place in 2:39.19,7.

Stander said: “We didn’t start off well today. We lost about 4 minutes with a flat. We then chased hard again to catch up with the leading group, only to find out that Multivan Merida attacked. We finally caught up with them and could then relax and enjoy it to the finish. Today was still hard, but we were prepared for that. To be the first South African to win this race is on par to winning the World Championships. The Absa Cape Epic takes more work because for eight days you have to be perfect instead of only one day.”

Sauser added: “This is only my opinion, but I was surprised when they attacked (Multivan Merida) when we were having problems. We then had to risk not staying with our back-up teams to make up some time. When we finally caught up with them, we could enjoy the rest of the race.  This race is definitely up there with the World Championships. I can’t describe the feeling of winning in words, but I know the exhaustion will hit us tomorrow.”

Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) won the African Jersey in an overall time of 30:29.36,5, followed by Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 31:33.52,7. Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) finished in third position in 32:01.11,9. Heymans and Niyonshuti finished in 9th  position overall.

In the Ladies category Sally Bigham and Karien Van Jaarsveld (team USN) finished in third place today (3:30.37,5) and are the overall winners of the Ladies category in 37:44.09.0.

Eva Lechner and Nathalie Schneitter (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol) finished second in a time of 39:18.02,7. They also won the final stage on Sunday in 3:29.04,7. In third place overall was the Absa aBreast team of Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth in 39:24.09,6. They finished in fifth place today in 3:43.49,0. In second place  was the Attix5 Ladies team of Hannele Steyn and Leana de Jager in a time of 3:30.30,1.

In the Master’s Category the Juwi team (Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts) secured their 7th stage win in 2:58.10,2 and won the Masters category in 31:31.26,1. They were followed by Robert Sim and Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team in 3:00.20,9 (2nd overall Masters, 32:30.16,7), with the Toyota Cyclelab team of Gary Marescia and Bruce Diesel in third place in 3:05.26,2 and fourth overall  33:58.02,2. In third place overall (Masters) were Adrian Enthoven and Gerrie Beukes (team Nandos) in 33:32.34,5.

In the Mixed Category Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi (of Contego Giant Sludge) finally had their first stage win by finishing first in the Mixed category in 3:04.42,2 and second overall in 34:52.27,7. The Wheeler – BIXS team, Bärti Bucher and Esther Süss, having won 7 stages of this year’s event, finished in second place in 3:05.41,1 and first overall in 33:53.12,5.  In third place overall were Ivonne Kraft and Peter Vesel (Raedisch Race) with a time of 37:04.39,7. They finished fourth place today (3:11.28,5).

No South African has ever won the overall title at the ABSA Cape Epic, but on Sunday, Burry Stander could change that. The 23-year-old KwaZulu-Natalian and his Swiss teammate, Christoph Sauser (34) have not only been consistent, but also dominant during the past week, taking five stage wins and two second places.

Christop and Burry

And on Sunday, the world’s most prestigious mountain bike stage race wraps up with the South African/Swiss combination, racing for Team 36One-Songo-Specialized and holding 10-minute lead. Normally, a 10-minute lead going into the final day of any sports event would be considered comfortable. But in mountain bike racing, unpredictability is as much a rider’s companion as his padded shorts and helmet.

Should they avoid major mechanical problems, illness or injury on Sunday’s 79km trip from Oak Valley Wine Estate to Lourensford Wine Estate, Stander and Sauser should win. And it will be a well-earned, long-awaited win. Sauser, a two-time former world champion and Olympic medallist, won the race overall in 2006 with compatriot Silvio Bundi.

But in their first three attempts as teammates (2008–2010), Sauser and Stander, always starting as title favourites, have fallen victim to injury, mechanical failure and illness – in that order.

On Saturday’s tough 128km Stage 6 that started and finished at Oak Valley, the 36One-Songo-Specialized pair were beaten to finish by Spain’s current Olympic Cross-country world champion, Jose Hermida and his Swiss teammate, Ralf Naef, a former Marathon world champion.

Hermida and Naef had to work hard for the stage win though and only managed to shed Sauser and Stander close to the finish where they clocked a winning time of 05hr 00min 47sec.

Stander and Sauser rolled home 49 seconds later, with the Swiss Fluckiger brothers, Thomas and Mathias (Trek World Racing) claiming the final podium spot, two-and-a-half minutes later.

Nobody has posed a consistent daily threat to Stander and Sauser this year, but the team closest to them on the overall classification, Germans Jochen Kaess and Hannes Genze (Multivan Merida 2) finished Saturday’s stage fifth, losing another two minutes to 36One-Songo-Specialized. A distant third is the German Bulls team, defending champions and three-time winners.

Karl Platt

It also appears as if a South African will win the women’s title. South African marathon champion, Karien van Jaarsveld and her Team USN teammate, British marathon champion, Sally Bigham, finished third on Saturday’s stage, but extended their lead significantly to 1hr 26min over the all-South African pair of Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth (ABSA aBreast).

Stage winners on Saturday, Italian Eva Lechner and Swiss Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago-Arreghini-Sudtirol) moved to less than a minute-and-a-half within a final podium place and are expected to chase that goal with purpose on Sunday.

The Master’s category on Saturday was won by Germans Cartsen Bresser and Udo Boelts (Team juwi), who lie 15th overall and have almost a one-hour lead over South Africans Robert Sim and Doug Brown with one stage remaining. Women’s marathon world champion, Esther Suss and Barti Bucher (Wheeler BiXS) have won every stage of the 2011 Mixed category race and have a one-hour advantage over second-placed South African, Erik Kleinhans and his Swiss fiancé, Ariane Luthi (Contego-Giant-Sludge).

Namibian Mannie Heymans and Rwandan Adrien Nyonshuti (Garmin adidas MTN), both sporting icons in their respective countries are ninth overall and the leading African team.

Mannie Heymans

After seven days, the 2011 ABSA Cape Epic, which started with 1200 riders from 54 countries, will conclude. The 404 remaining teams and 44 individual riders that lost teammates along the way, will start the final stage having completed 648km and climbed 12850 vertical metres.

At 79km with 1700 metres of climbing, Sunday’s final stage isn’t quite a procession, but does usually see the category leaders with large advantages taking it a little easier. After what has been described as probably the toughest edition of the Cape Epic yet, you can’t really blame them.

They were followed by the Flückiger brothers, Lukas and Mathias, of Trek World Racing in a time of 5:19.41,2, with the Multivan Merida team, Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss, in third place with 5;19.51,1.

Sauser and Stander now lead overall by 8 minutes and 8 seconds with an overall time of 21:03.45,6.

In second position overall are Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking in 21:11,54,4, followed by the Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in 21:19.04,4. In fourth place overall are the Versluys-Evenza team of Nicolas Vermeulen and Kevin van Hoovels (21:39.22,6). They have moved up from fifth place overall yesterday. Andreas Kugler and Markus Kaufmann of the Multivan Merida Biking 2 team are now in fifth position overall (21:54.36,0).

The difference in time between the leaders and last year’s winners, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm is 15 minute and 18 seconds.

Stander said: “Today was a long stage, but for most of the way we could take it easy. The first 100km we rode in a big group into Groenlandberg with both Multivan Merida and Trek World Racing riding with us. We broke away in the last 2,5 km. Every day we get closer to the finish. We still have a long day tomorrow and the next day is the final stage. If we can finish tomorrow without any mechanicals and with our lead intact, we have a good chance of winning. But as always we’ll wait for the finish line to be sure. We’ve lost this race too many times to take it for granted.”

His team mate Sauser added: “The Milka-Trek 2 team of Pietersma and Vastaranta were in front for most of the day, but we knew we’d say hello to them again. It was just a matter of time until we caught up with them. We pretty much know tomorrow’s route and feel quite confident. Our legs are good, but something could still happen-this is the Cape Epic.”

Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) maintain their lead in the African Jersey with an overall time of 22;21.04,1, followed by Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 23:09.59,6. They have moved up to second position overall. Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) are now in third position in 23:29.03,7. Heymans and Niyonshuti are in 9th position overall, steadily moving up one position with each stage for the last two days.

The Attix5 Ladies, Hannele Steyn and Leana de Jager won today’s stage in a time of 6:28.32,2 (3rd overall; 30:08.51,0).

They were followed by Sally Bigham and Karien Van Jaarsveld (team USN) in a time of 6:31.29,1 (1st overall 27:33.47,8), with Australians Niki Fisher and Jenni King in third place in 6:42.15,4 (overall 30:35.06,2). Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of team Absa aBreast again finished in fourth (6:45.17,9; 2nd overall 28:13.20,3). Bigham and Van Jaarsveld lead by 40 minutes and 28 seconds.

Robert Sim and Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team won stage 5 of the Master’s Category in 5:40.41,7 (overall 23:50.48,8), followed by the Juwi team (Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts) in 5:40.43,2 (overall 23:04.31,4). In third place were the Nandos team of Adrian Enthoven and Gerrie Beukes in a time of 5:53.00,1 (overall 24:27.53,2). Sim and Brown are still in second place overall in this category and the Juwi team lead by 46 minutes and 18 seconds.

The Wheeler – BIXS team, Bärti Bucher and Esther Süss won the Mixed category for the 6th day in a row in 5:59.12,4 (overall 24:51.59,5).

They were again followed by Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi (of Contego Giant Sludge) in 6:05.32,7 (overall 25:40.51,9). Ivonne Kraft and Peter Vesel of Raedisch Race achieved their second podium finish in third place in 6:18.32,6 and are also placed third overall (27:34.34,8).

The Wheeler – Bixs team lead this category by 48 minutes and 52 seconds.

Tomorrow’s Stage 6 is in Oak Valley, spanning 128km, with 2 700m of climbing.

Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander maintain their overall lead with a time of 15:44.14,9. In second position overall are Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking in 15:52.03,3, followed by the Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in 15:55.53,8. In fourth place overall are the Stöckli Pro team of Urs Huber and Konny Looser who finished in fifth place today (16:11.01,0), with Versluys-Evenza’s Nicolas Vermeulen and Kevin van Hoovels in fifth place overall (16:13.29,8). They finished in 8th place today.

Says Burry Stander of 36ONE Songo Specialized: “This is the first day in this year’s Absa Cape Epic that I really felt good and had good legs. I didn’t need to rely on Christoph and could finally push him as he has done with me the last couple of days, putting me through the paces. It’s also nice that we a have a bit more time today to recover ahead of the last two long stages. We’ve extended our lead but it’s hard to say what’ll happen in the next three days. We’re doing what we need to every day and trying to ride conservatively as well as increase our lead. I just hope we have Lady Luck on our side.” Christoph Sauser adds: “I’ve learnt that it’s never good for me to think I’m going to have a nice racing day. We caught up with Genze and Käss in the big downhill, rode together for a bit and in the next uphill pulled away. It’s always a cool feeling catching the guys in front. If it’s just down to pedalling, we stand a good chance to stay in front, but this race is not like an office job and an 8 minute lead is not a lot.”

Hannes Genze of Multivan Merida Biking reckons his partner Jochen Käss had a very good day. “I was feeling a bit weak this morning, but Jochen had obviously recovered and pushed the hammer down. After the first kilometre, I thought wow, Jochen is in good form. But luckily after about 10 minutes I also got into a nice rhythm. We wanted to increase our lead on the Bulls team today and I think we managed to do that.” Jochen Käss adds: “I felt very good – definitely better than yesterday – so I pushed Hannes. It was quite windy on the course and I was riding in front on the flat sections. We passed the Bulls in the middle of the race and are very happy with our fourth podium finish, but I think Sauser and Stander are too far ahead for us to catch up.”

Says the current Spanish Cross Country Champion Sergio Gutierrez Mantecon (Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing): “We’re extremely happy with our first podium finish and felt good today. This race is very difficult and the competition is exceptionally fierce with the best riders in the world participating. It’s also a fantastic atmosphere with the school kids welcoming us at the finish line. It’s a fun race and I’m sure we’ll be back again.”

Karl Platt of the Bulls team comments that Stander and Sauser caught up with them on a steep climb at the 10 km mark. “It always gives riders an extra push to pass the leaders in front of them. Stefan is finding it tough to get his rhythm this year and you have to admit that you can’t have the same legs every year. Christoph and Burry are super strong this year and one can’t say whether there’ll be a price to pay for riding so hard. Susi (Sauser) is in excellent shape and he seems to be getting stronger as the stage progresses. Burry is still young but old doesn’t necessarily mean slower. I’m really surprised by Christoph – he gets skinnier each day and more confident. They’re doing a great job.” To the comment that Sauser is training with a coach again, Platt comments that one never stops learning. “You need to learn all the time – even when you’re 60.”

Belgian champion Nicolas Vermeulen (team Versluys-Evenza) is happy with his team’s performance. “I think our result in the overall is good. Milka-Trek had a mechanical, as did the Multivan Merida team. It was bad luck for them but good for us.”

African Leader jersey fits comfortably on team Garmin adidas MTN

Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) maintain their lead in the African Jersey with an overall time of 16:53.47,3, followed by Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) in 17:34.29,0. In third place are Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 17:33.27,9. Heymans and Niyonshuti are now in 10th position overall.

South Africa’s Brandon Stewart, riding with Shan Wilson as team Toyota DCM, says: “We were quite close to the leading team in the African jersey up to yesterday, but then Shan had two big crashes and we lost some time. We suspect he has a fractured collar bone and broken septum. We took it nice and easy today as tomorrow’s stage will be really tough. This is Shan’s 8th Absa Cape Epic and I have a feeling nothing will let him pull out unless he really has to. He takes a couple of pain killers in the morning and carries on. In cycling, sometimes you’re giving it and sometimes you’re taking it. This is a team race and we’re in it together whether it’s good or bad. We’ll try our best and hope to have some fun along the way, as that’s important.” His team mate Shan Wilson adds: “We were fighting for the African jersey but then I broke a fork and had to carry on like that for 100km. This will be a fight to the finish. We’re third in the African jersey and will do our best to defend it. It’s all in the head and one can train only so much. I love this race and the drama. It’s the best novel or movie and you’re the star actor in it. Today’s time trial wasn’t good. It felt as if someone with a hammer and nail was drilling into my collar bone. But this is what the Cape Epic is about. I’m a determined guy by nature and won’t easily give up.”

Says Namibian Marc Bassingthwaighte of team Garmin adidas 2: “We’re not fighting for the African jersey. Our team mates have it and we’re just trying to protect it. It means a lot to our team that we help them and we’ll definitely be there for them if they have any problems.”

Ben Melt Swanepoel of the Ghost Specialized team reckons the weather was nice today. “I have a good partner and bike and we’ll give it everything we have.”

Stage 3 was 125km, with 1900m of climbing between Saronsberg/Tulbagh and Worcester.

Stander and Sauser still lead overall by 6 minutes and 15 seconds, with three times winners Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm (Bulls team) in fourth place overall and 8 minutes and 32 seconds behind the leaders.

With an overall time of 14 hours, 40 minutes and 29,3 seconds, the 36ONE Songo Specialized team will wear the yellow leader jersey for Stage 4 on Thursday.

In third place, with their first podium finish this year, were Bart Brentjens and Jeroen Boelen of Milka-Trek in 5:06.49,1 (overall 15:11.25,9) with the Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in fourth (5:07.44,4; overall 14:42.46,0).

Nicolas Vermeulen and Kevin van Hoovels (team Versluys-Evenza) again finished in fifth place in 5:10.10,2 (overall 15:00.03,4)

Käss said it was a great day for them: “About 20km from the finish, we broke away from the Bulls team and carried on riding with Sauser and Stander. We’re extremely happy with our stage win. I trained differently to previous winters and it obviously worked. We’re in good shape. This stage win is excellent motivation for us to perhaps finish on the podium on Sunday (final stage) and perhaps we can even finish in second place overall.”

Stander said: “We’re happy with our overall result and weren’t fighting for stage win. We’re ahead of the Bulls overall. We stayed with the Multivan Merida Biking team and they broke away in the last 2 km. We let them know if you want to win a stage, you have to earn it. This stage was very hard – I’ve never experienced something so tough. It was 5 hours of pain and at one point I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. There were rocks everywhere and the first 50km felt like we’ll be riding all day. Eventually we hit the tar. I take my hat off to anyone who finishes this stage!”

Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser after another tough stage

Mannie Heymans and Adrien Niyonshuti (team Garmin adidas MTN) are the leaders in the African Jersey with an overall time of 15:34.00,8, followed by Paul Cordes and Charles Keey (MTN/Qhubeka) in 16:12.51,6.

In third place are Brandon Stewart and Shan Wilson (Toyota DCM) in 16:15.09,6.

In the Ladies Category yesterday’s leading team Eva Lechner and Nathalie Schneitter (team Colnago Arreghini Südtirol) received a time penalty of one hour. They were penalised for breaking rule 23.1 and 23.4 of the Absa Cape Epic. Riders are not allowed any outside assistance with regards to spares, equipment and nutrition.

Sally Bigham and Karien Van Jaarsveld (team USN) were in the Leader jersey out of Tulbagh this morning and proved their competence by also winning stage 3 in a time of 6:43.35,9 (overall 19:25.14,6). They were followed by Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of Absa aBreast in 6:48.40,6 (overall 19:47.21,1) with their first podium finish, ahead of Naomi Hansen and Jodie Willett of adidas who finished third in 6:55.45,3 (overall 20:22.00,7). Lechner and Schneitter lead by 22 minutes and 6 seconds.

In the Master’s Category The Juwi team (Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts) won the stage for the fourth consecutive day in 5:35.20,0 (overall 16:05.34,2). They were again followed by Robert Sim and Doug Brown of the Robert Daniel team in 5:50.14,0 (overall 16:47.22,8) with the Nandos team of Adrian Enthoven and Gerrie Beukes again in third place in 5:55.00,2 (overall 17:12.19,3). The Juwi team lead by 41 minutes and 49 seconds.

In the Mixed category, the Wheeler – BIXS team, Bärti Bucher and Esther S?ss, again won the Mixed category in 6:13.10,8 (overall 17:29.20,4), again followed by Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi (of Contego Giant Sludge) in 6:17.48,2 (overall 18:07.35,2). The Swiss/German team of Klaus Steinkeller and Kerstin Brachtendorf (FIAT Rotwild) achieved their first podium finish in 6:36.29,0 (overall 19:01.32,7).

The Wheeler – Bixs team lead by 38 minutes and 15 seconds.