2018 Absa Cape Epic: Prologue, Day One

Another day, another Absa Cape Epic Prologue has come and gone

 Andrew McFadden/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Conditions couldn’t have been any better as the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Prologue kicked off on Table Mountain National Park for the first time in two years. With a somewhat technical course featuring washed-out corners and steep, tricky climbs the 20km route has been touted to favour the cross-country specialists, or at least that’s what everybody thought

The prologue doesn't give you a set winner but it's the perfect way to showcase how one is likely to perform as the race progresses.

The prologue belonged to the marathon riders who made had previously made it clear that they are challenging cross-country riders in this year's Cape Epic. Daniel Geismayr and Nicola Rohrbach of Centurion Vaude who championed their way through ahead of Cannondale Factory Racing combination, Manuel Fumic and Henrique who were later on followed by BUFF SCOTT MTB's Francesc Guerra Carratero and Luis Leao Pinto who finished third for the podium.

Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

“It’s a great feeling to win the Prologue and I could feel leading up to the race that we had good legs – but to win is incredible and to wear the yellow jersey tomorrow is important to us,” Geismayr said

Partner Nicola Rohrbach was equally ecstatic about their win to kickstart the stages of the Cape Epic.

"It’s unbelievable that we won today. We are feeling super strong and are looking forward to the next four days and the longer stages.”

Defending champions Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann were the last teams to leave the ramp and despite coming into the race as defending champions, the paring looked relaxed ahead of the start.

“We are looking forward to this ultimate adventure. We showed last year what we can do, and we will try to win the race and have a fun week.

"We don’t have any pressure this year because we showed last year that we can win it,'' Schurter add.

“We started well. Maybe over paced it a bit in the beginning so we struggled in the end,”

 “But the gap is not that massive and we’re not unhappy with the result," he concluded.

The Cannondale Factory Racing pairing of Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini finished strong – to the delight of cheering fans – reminding everyone why they were the favourites last year.

They've previously mentioned that they mean business this year although they always try to bring a fun element to their race.

“We’re very happy with the start, we would have liked to be in yellow but we don’t mind chasing!”

The shocker of the day came from the usual Cape Epic favourites, Team BULLS who struggled to find consistency 20km into the Prologue, and it became incredibly difficult for them to pick up the pace.

Their former support team, BULLS 2 of Simon Stiebjhan and Tim Boehme overtook them in the process and the day just seemed impossible for them - although they managed to finish the race.

“I just did not have enough power today,” said Platt. I was the one holding Urs (Huber) back and I struggled to get into any kind of rhythm.”

The UCI women did exceptionally well at the start of the Cape Epic and the usual favourites from the last years made the podium - proving why they are the teams difficult to beat year after year.

Danish power woman, Annika Langvad of Investec Songo Specialized and her new partner, Kate Courtney who's doing her first Cape Epic finished superbly well to claim the first position, in a time of 0:53.15,5. Team Spur's Ariane Luthi and Githa Michiels came in a close second in a time of 0:54.31,1 and the Epic favourites, Team Ascendis Health duo Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot powered to the third position for the podium.

Stage one will be in Robertson where the riders will ride a 110km race with 1900m of climbing. It is set to be another tough day on the course which will require immense effort and endurance.

Till next time. . .