SCOTT-SRAM’s Nino Schurter and Lars Forster dominated proceedings on the 111km first stage of the Cape Epic which ended at Hermanus High School today.
Multiple cross-country world champion Schurter said their climbing strengths had played a decisive role in their victory.
The Swiss pair broke clear of a four-team leading bunch approximately halfway into the race.
Nino Schurter (left) and Lars Forster dominated proceedings on the 111km first stage of the Cape Epic today. Photo: Live Stream
With them in the bunch were Cannondale Factory Racing’s Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini, Investec-songo-Specialized’s Sam Gaze and Jaroslav Kulhavy and Canyon’s Kristian Hynek and Petter Fagerhaug.
Gaze and Kulhavy’s chances suffered a double blow when first Gaze crashed, flipping over his handlebars, then Kulhavy suffered a mechanical with his cleats.
The pair, however, managed to regroup and rejoin the chasing groups.
Meanwhile Schurter and Forster continued to extend their lead, eventually running out winners by over three minutes from Fumic and Avancini.
“It was great. I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Forster, who is making his debut at the Epic this year.
“I don’t have much experience with mountain-biking, but today I felt good. Now we’ll take it day by day.”
Schurter said the race got off to a fast start and at times became somewhat manic.
“It was quite hectic at the beginning and it was a bit difficult to get into position. Heading into the middle of the race it got a bit harder and we got a gap twice on the climbs.
“We were probably the strongest teams on the climbs. We got away with Cannondale and then we were able to drop them, so that was pretty cool.”
After what was clearly a hotly-contested contest out on the trails, Avancini had some harsh words for Schurter.
“Nino is probably the best ever but it would be nice to have some microphones on the bikes,” he said.
“And then people can see who the real Nino is. But anyway, I will show him little by little. It’s a long week. Nobody scares me in this race.”
When Avancini was asked what he was referring to regarding his comments, he added: “He gives a lot of [flak] to every rider in the peloton. Nobody knows that side of him.
“And I really hate that. I’m a guy who’s worked really hard to become professional and he’s always giving [flak]. He likes to be the big boss and he is a great rider, but he’s not the captain of this race.”
