The 2015 Absa Cape Epic has seen fierce racing for the coveted red Absa African special jersey and the Dimension Data Masters category jersey, with the honours changing hands with each stage.
Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy leaving Worcester on their way to victory during stage five of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic. Photo: Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
On Friday Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock (RED-E Blend) took the red from Scott Factory Racing’s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes, who won Thursday’s Stage four overall, when they finished third overall.
South Africans Gawie Combrinck and Johann Rabie (EAI South Africa) also raced strongly to finish fourth overall yesterday and move into third in the contest for the jersey.
Youngsters Rourke Croeser and Travis Walker (USN) wore the red jersey for the first two stages but dropped to fourth among the all-African teams.
In the Dimension Data Masters category BETCH.nl Superior’s Dutch/Brazilian combination of Bart Brentjens and Abraao Azevedo have been going with South Africans Nico Pfitzenmaier and Robert Sim (Dorma/Robert Daniel).
On Friday Brentjens and Azevedo claimed victory, with Pfitzenmaier and Sim wing the previous two stages.
Meerendal BIXS KTM’s Barti Bucher (Switzerland) and Heinz Zoerweg (Austria) extended their lead to 53 minutes overall in the Grand Masters category on Friday.
They finished a little more than four minutes ahead of second-placed Greg Anderson and Andrew Mclean (Ascendis Health).
The Mixed category was dominated ETIS’s Peter Vesel of Slovenia and Ivonne Kraft of Germany, who have a 31-minute overall cushion over South African Nizaam Essa and Briton Catherine Williamson (Asrin Cycling).
Former Springbok Rugby World Cup winner Joel Stransky and partner Anriette Schoeman (Liqui Fruit) finished fifth in the category on Friday and are now sixth overall.
Phillimon Sebona and Jan Motshioa (Exxaro PWC) extended their lead in the Exxaro special jersey race to one hour and 45 minutes.
Rilamulele Gadabeni and Tovhawani Mavundavhi (Exxaro/EOH) will probably have to settle for second when they ride into Meerendal Wine Estate and the finish on Sunday.
