Absa Cape Epic
Merida Take the Stage
Press Release / 30.03.2011
With the fast roads out of town, riders covered 13km before the first climb. It was steep at times and very loose, requiring hard bursts of effort to gain momentum over the rockiest parts. If there was ever a theme for race week, it’s “from effort comes rewardâ€?. After the 4km climb, riders arrived at a plateau with a beautiful valley nestled between spectacular mountains that resembled the pictures found on the covers of fantasy novels. There were little time to look around during the race though – the deeply rutted descent tested the rider and equipment alike. After smooth farm roads and more rocky tracks, the tyres were put to the test, with devil thorns lying in wait. A long drag upwards on a rough path led to a remote hut at the foot of the cliff face of the bare rock of the mountainside – a geologist’s paradise. After the final waterpoint, Absa Cape Epic veterans had some déjà vu, with a similar run into the race village through some winding singletrack.
<b>Stage win for Multivan Merida Biking</b>
The German team of Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss (Multivan Merida Biking) beat the South African/Swiss team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (36ONE Songo Specialized) in a sprint finish by 2,8 seconds, securing their first stage win in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Stander and Sauser still lead overall by 6 minutes and 15 seconds, with three times winners Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm (Bulls team) in fourth place overall and 8 minutes and 32 seconds behind the leaders.
Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking were the first to sprint across the finish line, securing their first stage win in this year’s event in 5:06.33,0 (overall 14:40.29,3). They were closely followed by Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander of team 36ONE Songo Specialized in 5:06.35,8 (overall 14:34.13,8). In third place, with their first podium finish this year, were Bart Brentjens and Jeroen Boelen of Milka-Trek in 5:06.49,1 (overall 15:11.25,9) with the Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in fourth (5:07.44,4; overall 14:42.46,0). Nicolas Vermeulen and Kevin van Hoovels (team Versluys-Evenza) again finished in fifth place in 5:10.10,2 (overall 15:00.03,4).
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