The Champions Race, which traditionally serves as a spectator-friendly appetiser for of the Cape Epic, took place in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, yesterday evening.
The event saw a field stacked with world-class mountain-bikers and had a different spin to it. The course included streets, fields and a BMX track and riders raced for duration rather than time. The men raced for 35 minutes, plus a lap, while the women raced for 20 minutes, plus a lap.
View a selection of photos from the event below. Photos courtesy of Michal Cerveny.
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- Olympic Road Champion Anna van der Breggen stormed to her first mountain bike race win of the season at the Champions Race on Wednesday in Kayamandi. Photo: Michal Červený
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- Sam Gaze performing a wheelie at the Champions Race in Kayamandi yesterday. Photo: Michal Červený
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- Simon Andreassen (right) joined Nino Schurter (left) and Sam Gaze (centre) on the elite men’s podium after a fiercely contested Champions Race. Photo: Michal Červený
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- Women’s podium (from left) Christoph Sauser, Nadine Rieder, Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad. Photo: Michal Červený
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- Annika Langvad finished third in the elite women’s race aboard the same bike she will use at the Cape Epic. Photo: Michal Červený
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- Sam Gaze distanced World Champion Nino Schurter in the final lap to claim a hard fought victory. Photo: Michal Červený
