Darren Lill, one of the top South African contenders in the Absa Cape Epic, has changed partners just days before the event.
Charles Keey and Darren Lill of Team Cannondale Blend. Photo: Greg Beadle / Cape Epic / SPORTZPICS
He had been scheduled to ride with Capetonian Charles Keey, but will instead team up with Waylon Woolcock on Team Cannondale Blend.
“Unfortunately Charles hasn’t been going as well as he would like the last few weeks,” explained Lill.
“He suggested that it makes more sense for him to ride with Andrew Hill on the RED-E Blend team and for Waylon to partner with me.”
Keey and Lill finished ninth overall last year, but were set back when the latter picked up a stomach bug midway through the race. They had been performing strongly in the opening stages and had a comfortable lead in the race for the Absa African Jersey, awarded to the first all-African team to finish.
This is the second South African team to make a switch in the week leading up to the Epic, which starts with a prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate, Durbanville, on Sunday.
Earlier Kevin Evans, who has finished second and third in previous Epics, announced that he would be riding with Max Knox (FedGroup-Itec). He had been scheduled to partner Neil MacDonald, who will instead ride with Johann Rabie.
To view more information on the Absa Cape Epic event, click here.
