A time penalty saw Absa Cape Epic race leaders and provisional stage two winners Ariane Kleihans and Annika Langvad lose the overall lead in a dramatic conclusion to the 92km ride at Oak Valley Wine Estate today.
After completing stage two in 4:37.31.1, the RECM Specialized duo had to wait until the end of the day to learn their fate after taking an unintentional detour close to the finish and cutting almost 5km off the course.
Overnight leaders Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad congratulate each other at the end of stage two of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic at Oak Valley. Photo: Full Stop Communications
The commissaire was left with a difficult decision after listening to explanations from Team RECM
Specialized.
The teams turned left when they should have gone straight, eventually joining the course again, unaware that they had lopped off around 5km.
After reviewing the situation, including analysing “on-board” GoPro footage, the commissaire decided 13 minutes and 39 seconds would be added to their stage time.
In addition, an extra hour was added for not following the route markings. The time penalties saw them dropping to 11th on the stage and fourth in the general classification.
Team Ascendis Health’s Jennie Stenerhag and Robyn de Groot moved into the overall lead.
Results:
Stage 2
1. Jennie Stenerhag (Sweden), Robyn Lee de Groot (SA) 5:02.48,1
2. Sally Bigham (England), Christina Kollmann (Austria) 5:03.45
3. Milena Landtwing (Switzerland), Hielke Elferink (Netherlands) 5:06.03,3
Overall
1. Jennie Stenerhag (Sweden), Robyn Lee de Groot (SA) 11:49.42,5
2. Esther Suss (Switzerland), Alice Pirard (Belgium) 12:01.27,1
3. Sally Bigham (England), Christina Kollmann (Austria) 12:09.25,1
4. Ariane Kleinhans (Switzerland), Annika Langvad (Denmark) 12:16.49,3
5. Milena Landtwing (Switzerland), Hielke Elferink (Netherlands) 12:17.34,0
6. Yolande de Villiers (South Africa), Janka Keseg Stevkova (Slovakia) 12:23.23,1
7. Theresa Ralph (SA), Jeannie Bomford (SA) 12:29.52,9
8. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja (Norway), Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland) 12:35.36,5
9. Mariske Strauss (SA), Cherie Vale (SA) 13:00.18,1
10. Leana de Jager (SA), Yolandi du Toit (SA) 13:13.09,7
Go to Cape Epic for more news, info, results and photos.
