Sauser & Stander wrap up with final stage and overall win

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Men's category,

The 36One-Songo-Specialized team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser walked away with top honours as overall winners of this year's Absa Cape Epic, following up on their victory of last year. With a 25-minute and 57-second lead time at the start of the final stage this morning, Stander and Sauser finished the eight day, 781km race with an overall winning time of 31:46:51. The South African duo of Kevin Evans and David George (360Life) were in second place overall followed by the German-Swiss team of Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (Multivan Merida) in third.

Stander and Sauser won six of the eight stages throughout the week, including the final stage. They again proved they are kings of the mountains in Sunday's stage 7 with a fastest time of 2:35:12. Lakata and Mennen finished in second place in 2:36:09 for stage 7, with the second team of Songo-Specialized Max Knox and Yamamoto Kohei in third place (2:36:15). Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme (Bulls) finished in fourth place with the Evans and George in fifth place.

"We worked hard for this stage and the overall," said Stander. "We will never say no to the opportunity of winning a stage. Twenty-seven minutes is big, but not only thanks to us. Our whole whole team and our equipment played a role. We learnt our lessons in previous years. The Cape Epic is a story. Everyday is a chapter and that makes it so amazing. Now we know the yellow jersey is ours. Until now it felt like we were borrowing it. Nothing compares to it. I have enough time to recover before the big events of the season start."

Sauser said, "Every year, the Cape Epic gets harder, the intensity is much higher. Our equipment made such a big difference. It helped us mentally to know that even though the stage is hard, our equipment will hold. Crossing the finish line here at Lourensford Wine Estate is the best feeling of the whole week. It's so big for us and good for the confidence and looking forward to the rest of the season our form is great. This is my third victory overall in this race (2011 and 2006), and it's a great feeling."

Dietsch and Boehme (Bulls 2) finished fourth overall with Alban Lakata and Robert Mennen (Topeak Ergon Racing) in fifth. The Bulls team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, who won the Cape Epic in 2007, 2009 and 2010, finished in sixth place overall.

It was the second podium finish for Evans and George in the history of the race as well as the highest ranking for an all South African team. "It's been a fantastic finish and so special to top off the rollercoaster ride in this way," said George. "We were prepared and ready with great support and structure, so it was fantastic. Our second spot is testament to the great support and our guts. This year was very tough because of all the mechanical troubles, but we're very happy."

Evans said, "We didn't win the Cape Epic, but with this Cape Epic we won the hearts and support of South Africa. The support and applause today was very special. It's thanks to them that we get up every morning and keep on fighting."

Evans and George (360Life) also won the African leader jersey.

Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile (Exxaro Academy 9) won the Development jersey.

The third placed overall team also shared their thoughts. Genze, who finished second last year, said, "We feel lucky and happy. Andreas was so strong and he helped me so much after my crash today. I thought it was over, but he motivated me to just keep going and not think too much about it. It was a huge effort to finish on the podium. We had to fight for it every day."

Kugler said, "I'm just so relieved and happy to be on the podium and don't want to think of next year right now. I'm tired and just want to enjoy the feeling."

Women's category

Sally Bigham and Esther Süss (Wheels4Life) won the women's overall in a time of 38:34:12, after securing their seventh stage win in this year's race. They were followed by the Biogen Britehouse team of Theresa Ralph and Nina Gässler in 39:23:39 with Karien van Jaarsveld and Jane Nüssli (MTN Qhubeka) in third place overall in 40:09:16.

Both Bigham and Süss won the Cape Epic last year, but in the ladies and mixed categories respectively. "It was great and I had a good time," said Bigham. "Riding with Esther was a wonderful experience and we're a good team. On stage 5, I was worried, so it wasn't easy all the way."

Süss said, "I'm so happy that this is the finish because it was a hard week. I had a flat with only 1km to go, so I'm just happy to be here safely. It was a wonderful experience with Sally. We had a good week and we're a strong combination."

Ralph said, "It was an amazing experience. We knew right from the start that overall victory was out of reach, but we didn't even think about finishing second either. It was tough, but riding with Nina was great!"

Gässler said, "This was an unbelievable experience. I still can't believe we finished second overall! I'm going to become a regular at the Cape Epic. I had so much fun. The Cape Epic was a dream come true."

Third place overall finisher Nüssli said, "I'm relieved to be safely at the finish. I enjoyed it a lot. I'm so proud - we worked hard and achieved our goal."

Mixed category

The Contego 28E team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the mixed category in an overall time of 37:33:24. They were followed by Udo Boelts and Milena Landtwing (Centurion Vaude) in an overall time of 39:41:02. Klaas Vanmoortel and Inne Gantois (BAiK-Peak Performance Brugge) finished in third place overall in 40:36:41.

"It's really an amazing feeling. Seeing the 1km mark was almost too much... I'm so happy," said Ariane Kleinhans. "To be over the finish line is a huge relief. We wanted the overall win so badly!"

Her riding partner and husband, Erik, said, "We put a lot of pressure on ourselves because this was the biggest goal of the year. There's a lot of relief in the Kleinhans household. You experience all the emotions during the week, but the 1km to go sign was absolutely great!"

Boelts said, "It was very hard to finish the Cape Epic this year, but riding with Milena was special. In the end I enjoyed the experience and am very happy with second place overall."

Landtwing said, "Now that the Cape Epic is over, I can smile and enjoy the feeling. Every day was just so hard and right now I'm just happy to finish. Ask me next week about coming back because it was just so hard."

Gantois noted that her experience was so much more than what they expected. "I enjoyed it immensely and will surely be back for more next year! I'm happy it's over now, but tomorrow I'll be sad, I think."

Her partner Vanmoortel said, "The Cape Epic exceeded all our expectations, because we wanted a podium finish in one of the stages and we managed a third overall."

Master's category

Bart Brentjens and Jan Weevers (World Bicycle Relief) won the master's category in an overall time of 35:35:59. They were followed by the Jag Craft team of Adrian Enthoven and Delaney Impey in 37:14:51, with the Complete Cyclist team of Warren Squires and Scott Mckenzie in third place overall (39:28:27).

"It feels good to be strong at the finish after all the struggling. I'm so happy with the overall victory and liked racing with Bart," said Weevers. "The weather conditions were the hardest to overcome for me. I know how he is and expected some really hard racing, so I enjoyed it."

Brentjens said, "This Cape Epic rates as one of the best. I felt strong right to the end and that doesn't always happen. I really enjoyed winning the masters category. It feels great!"

Enthoven called it "a grueling Cape Epic, but we were consistent, managed a good finish and are happy." His partner Impey said, "It was tough but we achieved our goal. The weather was the worst part this year."

Stage 7 course

The seventh and final stage took riders from Oak Valley/Elgin to Lourensford Wine Estate over a distance of 64km with 1350m of climbing. Dr. Evil found a new way to the Champs Elysees of mountain biking, again reminding riders that there is no easy day at the Cape Epic. Lourensford Wine Estate awaited the tired athletes as they made their way from Oak Valley over Twin Peaks above the Elgin Dam and down the ever-familiar portage section of Gamtouw Pass. Once again, participants followed the footsteps of the Voortrekkers, their tyres tracing the wagon-wheel grooves down to Journeys End Winery. The last water point offered a final reward, before a last test of resolve - a few steep ascents with magnificent views of False Bay and Table Mountain. Once again, Lourensford Wine Estate hosted the Grand Finale festivities as riders experienced that bittersweet feeling at the end of the arduous, yet epic journey of the Cape Epic.

Race note

1208 participants stared this year's race last Sunday. 1070 riders were in the start chute on the final morning.

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