Jose Hermida and Rudi van Houts of Multivan Merida celebrate after winning the first stage of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race from Citrusdal, South Africa, on March 18. Photo: Shaun Roy/Cape Epic/Sportzpics
The Multivan Merida team of José Hermida and Rudi van Houts won the first stage of the 2013 Absa Cape Epic on Monday in a time of 4:30.56,7 to take the overall lead in 5:27.13,8.
After 96km and 2 350m of climbing, they were closely followed by former champion Karl Platt and Urs Huber of team Bulls in 4:32.17,6.
Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme of team Bulls 2 crossed the line 1,3 seconds later to claim third in 4:32.18,9.
Prologue winners Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy of team Burry Stander-Songo came home in fourth in 4:33.46,0, leaving them second overall in 5:28.56,1.
Platt and Huber moves into third overall in 5:29.36,3 with Dietsch and Boehme fourth in 5:30.10,8.
“I think we’re now in the lead, which is great,” said Van Houts. “It’s always hard to get a stage win in the Cape Epic.
“I’m really happy. Now we just need to focus on the overall and try and stay in front every day.
“Today’s stage was very sandy with loose rocks and we did a lot of running. Luckily we’re both light riders and could stay in the saddle in some sections.
“It was quite a technical ride,” said Hermida. “I have no energy left, not even to talk.”
“On the first downhill I hit a big rock and broke my rim,” said Sauser. “We had to wait for another wheel. After that we did a lot of chasing.
“Tomorrow’s going to be hard and hopefully a bit faster. The sand slowed us down today.”
Esther Süss and Jane Nuessli of BMC Wheeler won the women’s category in 5:29.00,5 for a combined time of 6:37.22,1.
They are ahead of the African/British duo of Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson (Energas) who placed second in 5:58.12,7 for an overall time of 7:10.09,1.
Third were South Africans Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth (Pragma Volcan). They clocked 6:03.44,7 for an overall time of 7:19.07,6).
The RE:CM team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the mixed category in 5:17.44,3 for an overall time of 6:24.08,2).
They were followed by Peta Mullens and Jarrod Moroni (Target TREK-Moronis Bikes) in 5:38.24,0 (overall 6:49.46,1).
Third went to Johan Labuschagne and Yolandi de Villiers in 5:42.18,4 (overall 6:54.56,0).
Darren Lill and Charles Keey (Cannondale Blend) lead the race for the Absa African jersey.
