Overall winners Jaroslav Kulhavy and Christoph Sauser of Burry Stander-Songo celebrate their victory in the 2013 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race at Lourensford in Somerset West, South Africa, on Sunday. Photo: Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/Sportzpics
Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy sealed the overall win of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic after a short final stage from Stellenbosch to Lourensford in Somerset West on Sunday.
It is Sauser’s fourth title after also winning in 2006, 2011 and 2012. It was Kulhavy’s first attempt at the event.
With a six-minute, 21-second lead at the start of the final day, the Burry Stander-Songo duo could afford to take it easier and came home in fourth.
Sauser and Kulhavy finished the eight-day race over 706km and 15 950m of climbing in an overall time of 29:40.44.
Second in 29:47.55 were the German-Swiss duo of Karl Platt and Urs Huber of the Bulls.
Third went to the Bulls 2 team of Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme in 30:07.35 with Multivan Merida’s José Hermida and Rudi van Houts fourth in 30:19.55.
Cannondale’s Marco Fontana and Manuel Fumic placed fifth overall in 30:47.09.
Hermida and Van Houts won the final stage in 2:22.20 in a sprint againt South Africans Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes of Scott.
Nino Schurter and Florian Vogel of Scott-Swisspower placed third place in 2:26.03,6 with Sauser and Kulhavy home in 2:27.18.
“I had a crash in the last 5km,” said Kulhavy. “I’m very happy with our victory.
“It’s perfect for us and Burry’s family. I learnt a lot from Christoph – he is very experienced and this is his second home.”
“It was an amazing week for me,” said Sauser. “This year the competition was the toughest.
The Absa African Leader jersey was won by Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes of Scott in 30:47.43,2.
“It was very hard today and I rode beyond what I thought I was capable of,” said Beukes.
“We’re delighted with our podium finish and very grateful. We did much better than we expected to do.”
“My legs were surprisingly good today,” said Buys. “I struggled at the start but soon got used to the pain.”
Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson (Energas) won the women’s section in 38:58.51,9.
Second were the Pragma Volcan Ladies Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth, who finished in 40:32.56, with C-Bear’s Sara Mertens and Laura Turpijn in third in 41:11.13,5.
C-bear won the final stage in 3:18.57.
“It was better than I thought and we played it safe knowing we had the lead,” said Speedy. “We kept it steady on the climbs and I was very careful on the downhills.
“We’re very happy that we made it and we had amazing support. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.
“It’s amazing to take away this win. It’s such a prestigious event.”
The RE:CM team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the mixed section in 34:59.54.
Second were Australians Peta Mullens and Jarrod Moroni of Target TREK-Moronis Bikes in 37:18.49 with Exxaro Cycle Lab 1′s Johan Labuschagne and Yolandé de Villiers third in 37:27.29.
The Kleinhans pair won the final stage in 2:54.44.
“It was a fantastic experience and our biggest goal of the year,” said Erik. “We’re very glad to be here without any issues.
“We tried to keep it consistent and we had a safe race. We know how to win these races and were very prepared for this.”
