Team RECM’s Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad are still dominating the women’s race of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic and have racked up their fifth stage win in Wellington today.
Kleinhans and Langvad are now one hour and ten minutes ahead of Team Ascendis Health’s Jennie Stenerhag and Robyn de Groot in the general classifications.
Ariane Kleinhans (front) and Annika Langvad (rear) during stage six of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic. Photo: Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
“We considered pushing it, but we don’t need to take risks,” admitted Langvad.
“Right now it’s all about getting to the finish, so we don’t actually need to dig too deep.”
Both Langvad and Kleinhans said they are starting to feel the effects of their assault on the 2015 race course.
“I’m very relieved it’s almost over,” said Langvad.
Kleinhans added that her hands and arms had taken a beating over the last two days.
“Today was a lot more fun, though. The rain kept the dust away and the singletrack was great,” said Kleinhans.
Team Ascendis Health rolled over the line in 17 minutes after RECM Specialized in today’s sixth stage.
Mariske Strauss and Cherie Vale, riding in the colours of Novus OMX Pro, are at home on singletrack and used their excellent technical abilities to great effect to claim third.
Strauss won South African cross-country National Championship Elite women’s title in 2014 and her talent showed on what was a great day for this new Epic partnership.
“We’re cross country riders,” said Strauss. “So we started this race with the ambition of finishing, that’s it.”
Vale, staring around the finish area in a state of disbelief, was shaking and overcome with emotion after walking off the podium.
“My body was not agreeing with me this morning,” she said.
“We started fast and I wasn’t feeling great, but the singletrack revived me and I said a few prayers which were definitely answered. Mariske is a champion, an absolute champion.”
In the men’s race, Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy outsprinted Topeak Ergon’s Kristian Hynek and Alban Lakata to claim their fifth stage win.
South African riders Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes (Scott Factory Racing) rounded off the podium in third, securing the African jersey from RED-E Blend’s Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock.
The final stage will feature a 87km route with a 1500m ascent from CPUT’s Wellington Campus to Meerendal Wine Estate.
