Defending champions Henrique Avancini and Manuel Fumic claimed victory on stage three at the Tankwa Trek in Kaleo, Western Cape, today.
Cannondale Factory Racing’s Henrique Avancini (pictured) and Manuel Fumic won the third stage of the Tankwa Trek today. Photo: Shaun Roy/Cape Epic
The Cannondale Factory team completed the 89.5km #MerinoMonster stage in 3:42:28, beating Urs Huber and Simon Stiebjahn (Team Bulls Heroes) by more than three minutes. The CST Sandd Bafang MTB team of Sebastian Fini and David Nordemann completed the podium.
South Africa’s Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys (Pyga EuroSteel) finished fourth.
Robyn de Groot and Adelheid Morath of team Dormakaba Blue put an end to their second place streak and came in first today in a time of 4:23:58. Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss (Faces CST) came in second with Isla Short and Annie Last (GB Cycling) completing the podium.
“We went over the Queen of the Mountain point in the lead and then took it relatively easy on the descent,” De Groot explained.
“You can make up lots of time, but it’s early in the season and you can also have a race ending mechanical or a really bad crash. From the foot of the descent we time-trialled to the finish.
“The fact that the run-in to the finish is nearly all single track really helped. It keeps it interesting and helps you push.”
In the general classification Urs Huber and Simon Stiebjahn maintain their first place position ahead of Sebastian Fini and David Nordemann. Alexander Miler and Tristan de Lange of team Danste Racing/Megatech are currently third.
“Simon and Martin were fantastic today,” said Huber.
“It was a big help having them with us for the climbs and then on the descent having Simon just behind us gave us security, knowing assistance was so close.
“We know from the past that the descent from the Merino Monster is very technical and you can puncture very easily. So, we rode it safely.”
Nadine Rieder and Jennie Stenerhag (Team Fairtree) are in the lead for the women in the general classification, followed by Robyn de Groot and Adelheid Morath. Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss are third.
View results below.
Stage three results
Elite men’s teams
| 1 | Henrique Avancini and Manuel Fumic | Cannondale Factory | 3:42:28 |
| 2 | Urs Huber and Simon Stiebjahn | Team Bulls Heroes | 3:45:56 |
| 3 | Sebastian Fini and David Nordemann | CST Sandd Bafang MTB | 3:47:57 |
| 4 | Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys | Pyga EuroSteel | 3:48:44 |
| 5 | Martin Frey and Simon Schneller | Team Bulls Youngsters | 3:49:01 |
Elite women’s teams
| 1 | Robyn de Groot and Adelheid Morath | Dormakaba Blue | 4:23:58 |
| 2 | Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss | Faces CST | 4:24:28 |
| 3 | Isla Short and Annie Last | GB Cycling | 4:25:48 |
| 4 | Nadine Rieder and Jennie Stenerhag | Team Fairtree | 4:26:35 |
| 5 | Ariane Luthi and Lia Schieverts | Devonbosch Vertice GTR | 4:35:46 |
General classification
Elite men’s teams
| 1 | Urs Huber and Simon Stiebjahn | Team Bulls Heroes | 8:00:34 |
| 2 | Sebastian Fini and David Nordemann | CST Sandd Bafang MTB | 8:02:36 |
| 3 | Alexander Miler and Tristan de Lange | Danste Racing/Megatech | 8:04:32 |
| 4 | Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys | Pyga EuroSteel | 8:08:09 |
| 5 | Martin Frey and Simon Schneller | Team Bulls Youngsters | 8:11:34 |
Elite women’s teams
| 1 | Nadine Rieder and Jennie Stenerhag | Team Fairtree | 9:21:35 |
| 2 | Robyn de Groot and Adelheid Morath | Dormakaba Blue | 9:22:08 |
| 3 | Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss | Faces CST | 9:22:12 |
| 4 | Isla Short and Annie Last | GB Cycling | 9:31:43 |
| 5 | Ariane Luthi and Lia Schieverts | Devonbosch Vertice GTR | 9:43:23 |
