2019 Cape Epic: world champions edge out to early lead
Anna van der Breggen, Annika Langvad and Nino Shurter are all sporting rainbow stripes and leaders jerseys in South Africa
With racing drawn out over eight days in the South African wilderness, the Absa Cape Epic is always … well, epic. This year, the competition is shaping up to be especially fierce, with multiple world champions lining up for the Prologue in Cape Town, S.A.
After a prologe and first stage complete, two teams have established early leads. Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad have a solid lead in the women’s race, while Nino Schurter and Lars Forster are out in front for the men.
The racing is far from over, and not controversy free. Last year, Schurter was forced from the race while in the lead after his racing partner fell ill. The same fate befell Canadian Raphaël Gagné that year, and the women’s podium was dramatically altered by the ups and downs of illness over eight days. Monday’s four and a half hour race also caused some disruption, with the first and second place teams crossing paths on course. Comments were made, and apologies followed. But the brief altercation showed that even the worlds fastest are under severe pressure from the fast pace and harsh environment in South Africa. Six days of racing remain, and early leads will surely be challenged by competitors, as well as conditions.
2019 Absa Cape Epic women’s race
Reigning road world champion Anna van der Breggen has teamed up with 2016 XCO and current XC Marathon world champion Annika Langvad to tackle the grueling South African stage race. The Dutch rider may be known for her road pedigree, but she’s already shown she’s in it to win it at the Cape Epic. Van der Breggen took top step in Thursday’s Songo.info Champions Race, the traditional preview event before the full race starts. The two tested their early season mountain bike form together at the Cyprus Sunshine Cup, where the Dane led van der Breggen in a 1-2 finish in the four day stage race. While the Dutch world champion will be new to the Epic, she will be able to rely on Langvad’s extensive experience, including four previous wins, to get to the finish line intact and, they hope, out in front.
After a prologue and one stage of racing, van der Breggen and Langvad have a five minute 42 second advantage over Maja Wloszczwowska and Ariane Lüthi of Kross-Spur Racing. The German-South African team of Adelheid Morath and Candice Lill (Summit Lill) are in third, with experienced South African racer Mariske Strauss and Jennie Stenerhag of Sweeden close behind in fourth.
Kelowna, B.C.’s Sonya Looney is sitting seventh, racing with U.K. rider Catherine Williamson, racing for FreakShow Scott.
2019 Absa Cape Epic: Men’s race
On the men’s side, Nino Schurter is looking to reclaim his Cape Epic crown, racing with fellow Swiss rider and Scott-SRAM teammate Lars Forster. The two have built up an early lead of four and a half minutes over Brazilian XC marathon world champion Henrique Avancini and German veteran World Cup racer Manuel Fumic of Cannondale Factory Racing.
Czech Olympic XCO champion Jaroslav Kulhavy is in third with his teammate Sam Gaze of New Zealand. The Investecsongo-Specialized team were slowed today, when the young Kiwi suffered a crash, but they still finished fast. It’s early days still, and Cape Epic and endurance racing stalwarts Karl Platt and Alban Lakata lurk close behind in sixth, racing for Bulls Legends
