Absa Cape Epic:Grand Finale- Stage 7 (22.03.15)

All roads led to Meerendal from Wellington for the grand finale.

Stage 7:Wellington to Meerendal

It has been a hectic Absa Cape Epic with the most climbs since its history. The riders encountered various conditions from weather to climbs such as the notorious, Groenlandberg which they experienced in stage 1.

Stage 7 saw the riders come face to face with a short of distance of 92km and a climb of 1500m in a maximum time of 7 hours 15mins with the leaders coming through way before as previously known. 

It was a smooth ride from the start up line in Wellington with fast riding along the farms and district roads en route. Most of the climbs were experienced after Water Point one for about 600m before enduring normal paths leading to the finish line; climbing the well known Paardeberg. There were also loads of unstable and rutted sections during the riding of stage 7. This was quite a tricky stage despite it being short; as the saying goes, 'short doesn't mean easy' and these sections need to led with care to avoid bodily or mechanical problems along the way which could cost the finish line especially for the riders leading on the leader board. 

Thereafter fast roads were experiencing and could sense the relief in the riders before quickly climbing the Meerendal Wine Estate's historic Manor House for 82km before we could see the leaders at the finish line. This was the most cutting edge finish line and surprising teams finished first for the podium. After a superb day at the office and final coverage of the Absa Cape Epic 2015, we managed to record 5 teams that raced to the finish line and to our surprise, the leading team Investec-Songo-Specialized was at the back, but here are the following teams as follows with their respective finish stage times:

1. Meerendal- Centurion Vaude surprised us when they finished first for the podium with a total stage time of 3:28.12,7

2. Following suit with 2nd position for the podium was Multivan Merida with a total stage time of 3:28:17,3

3. Novus OMX Pro finished 3rd for the podium with a total stage time of 3:29.23,8

Top 3 winners at the finish line

4. We saw Topeak Ergon making a comeback with a 4th position with a total stage time of 3:29.52,6

5. The star quality team Investec-Songo-Specialized finishes stage 7 with a total of 3:30.02,5

Overall top 3 teams according to all stage times

Congratulations were in order for team Investec-Songo-Specialized for winning the Absa Cape Epic 2015 who showed tenacity, star quality, enthusiasm, endurance, and overall team work. All the ingredients to work as a team and go on to win an event of such a calibre. The most congratulations and honour went to Swiss rider, Christoph Sauser who won his 5th Cape Epic, after having won 4 previously and receiving 31 stages. This was definitely a highlight of his career in riding the Absa Cape Epic as this was his last event leading to his retirement.

Investec-Songo-Specialized being honoured at the finish line

We, as the team of The L.A Dosage, we wish him all the best with the rest of his mountain-biking career and we hope to see him back at the Epic as a normal rider. It was a pleasure watching him together with his equal team rider, the 'Czech Express' Jaroslav Kulhavy.

And that's a wrap. We hope to cover the Absa Cape Epic next year and see old teams and new teams come together once again for the most exhilarating and untamed African mountain-biking event.

Till next time. . .