SCOTT-SRAM’s Nino Schurter and Lars Forster managed to snatch victory in the 20km prologue of the Cape Epic at the University of Cape Town today.
During parts of the prologue it looked as though South African pair, Specialized Foundation NAD’s Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly, could clock the fastest time.
SCOTT-SRAM’s Nino Schurter (left) shaking Lars Forster’s hand after their prologue of the Cape Epic today. Photo: Live stream
Beers and Hatherly were blistering from the ramp and had the fastest time at the first checkpoint, before a mechanical put paid to their chances.
Kross-Spur’s Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez and Ondrej Zink, who were only the 14th-last team to set off, sat in the hot seat for some time, before Schurter and Forster bumped them out.
Cannondale Factory Racing’s Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini, who were the third-last team to go, ended up finishing second, as the Swiss pair kept their lead to win at the end.
“I thought it was a good effort. We paced quite well, went hard and we were able to keep that pace until the finish,” Schurter said afterwards.
“It was nice to do it with Lars; he was a power machine,” the multiple cross-country world champion added.
Forster was taking strain at times to stay on Schurter’s wheel, but he was delighted to have still maximised his efforts.
“We were 20 to 30 watts over the agreed pacing, but luckily I was feeling good,” Forster said.
“Nino’s horsepower on the flats was super hard, so I could sit in and rest there, so it was perfect.”
“Winning the prologue suits us very well. We have cross-country riders, but we know our strengths and we want to win the whole race as well,” Schurter added, reflecting ahead to the rest of the race.
