ABSA CAPE EPIC STAGE SIX: DAY SEVEN

TRUE GRIT 

Andrew McFadden/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts of Investec Songo Specialized dominated yet another day when they conquered the True Grit stage six in Wellington.

The trails in and around Wellington offered a mix of great singletrack that featured a vertical ascent of 2000m over 76km in distance. Although it was a shorter distance, it wasn't going to come easy especially with Cannondale Factory Racing who set the pace which made them reclaim their second place on the overall general classification over Canyon Topeak.

 Attacks would come early and at regular intervals. Cannondale Factory Racing’s Henrique Avancini made his early ambitions known when he and Manuel Fumic sent the leading group into a frenzy of watts and panic. Canyon Topeak and Centurion Vaude had no choice but to follow in a fast-paced first hour of racing that would see Nicola Rohrbach hit the deck in a crash – something he, and teammate Daniel Geismayr, would never fully recover from.  

 

                                                                          Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTPICS

“Today we rode for the GC,” said Avancini. “We had two goals: get clear of Centurion Vaude and get back our second place from Canyon Topeak. That’s why we put the pressure on early and kept the pace high.”

 

After riding at the measured pace for most of the morning Investec Songo Specialized would finally make their move on the Green Mamba – a long and steep brute of a climb. Cannondale Factory Racing were unable go with the attack and were forced to adopt a damage control approach for the reminder of the stage. For the Czech Express and his partner, Howie Grotts, it was full speed ahead, the two riding a faultless final 35km in which they stamped their dominance and consolidated their lead.

 

“It was a pretty good day for us. We knew the profile would suit us so we put pressure on from the start, said Fumic. We lead for most of the stage and tried to press on all the time and put the other guys in the hurt box. Investec Songo Specialized attacked us on Mamba climb but we had nothing left. We saw Canyon Topeak were taking strain so we kept the pace on to get the gap and extend it.”

 

Their tactic worked and after initially marking Cannondale’s continued attacks, Canyon Topeak’s Alban Lakata was unable to match the intensity and fell off the pace. They’d eventually finish Stage 6 in fifth position and surrender their four second lead and second place position on the general classification to Cannondale Factory Racing.

                                                                Mark Sampson/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

 

“Today Investec Songo Specialized showed that they are unreachable,” said a dejected Lakata. “They are both in impressive shape. We lost second but tomorrow we will try again. It was a proper fight with Cannondale so let’s hope the legs are there tomorrow to close that gap.”

Kulhavy sang his partner Grotts' (Howard) praises on the way he performed during stage 6 which has given them an eight minute lead but pressed on the fact that the race is not yet over until they cross the finish line at the Grand Finale and cannot afford any mishaps on them; or else all the hardwork they put in is forfeited. 

 

                                                                 Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

“Howie (Grotts) has been getting stronger every day,” said Kulhavy. “We have to be careful tomorrow. We have a pretty good gap so there can’t be any crashes or mechanicals.”

 

“Today was perfect – after we got a gap, we just kept a consistent pace,” said Grotts. It’s been an incredible experience thus far and everything has just clicked together for us.”

 

Trek Selle San Marco 2’s Fabian Rabensteiner and Michele Casagrande continued their exceptional consistent run of results by finishing second, leapfrogging Simon Stiebjahn and Tim Bohme (BULLS 2) to sixth overall in the general classification – a position that is worth defending come Grand Finale. 

 

“It is really nice to be with the front guys racing,” said Rabensteiner. “We are having a good time at the moment. Today’s stage was a really great one – not just our finishing on the podium but the routes, too.”

Tomorrow (March 25) is dubbed 'The Last Stand' of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic which takes us from Wellington to the finish line at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. The race will feature an ascent of 2000m and 70km in distance, a bit less than stage 6. All the pro UCI men and women riders will give all their effort to get to the finish line and claim a worthwhile overall general classification. 

Who will come out victorius at the end of stage 7? We will have to wait and see.

Stay tuned. . .