Hermida and Van Houts wins stage 1

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Stage 1, which started and finished in Citrusdal, took racers over 96km with 2350m of climbing. The stage started with climbing from the word go, up Piekenierskloof on relatively smooth and sandy roads, before descending nearly 600 meters in seven rocky kilometers of a wet Olifants River crossing. A steady eight-kilometer climb led to a four-kilometer section of rugged dual track and a short singletrack descent. The gradual descent to water point two was on uneven farm roads through citrus orchards. Riders needed to fill up here as the most challenging section of the day awaited them - seven kilometers of climbing, a brief rutted descent and then a portage that tested bodies and humour. The long descent to water point three was followed by approximately 20 kilometers through the farmlands in the Olifants River Valley. With no significant climbs, though by no means flat, riders enjoyed a slight reprieve before reaching the final obstacle of the day: a tough, sandy slog up the mountain side and the just reward of a fast, fun descent into the race village in Citrusdal.

Men

The Multivan Merida team of José Hermida and Rudi van Houts won stage 1 in a time of 4:30:57. They were closely followed by Karl Platt and Urs Huber of Team Bulls in 4:32:18. Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme of Team Bulls 2 crossed the finish line one second after team Bulls, to claim the third place for stage 1 in a time of 4:32:19.

"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."

Hermida said, "I have no energy left, not even to talk. Today I again realised what the Cape Epic means - I gave my all to get the yellow zebra leader's jersey. Rudi was unbelievable over the last 20km. There was a tough sandy section and he brought me home. He established the pace, and I was hanging in his pocket. I'm really happy though - finally after four Epics I have the leader's jersey and will do my best to keep it for as long as possible. We're all riding for Burry."

The winners of yesterday's prologue and first race leaders Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy of team Burry Stander - Songo followed in fourth place in 4:33:46, placing them in second place overall with a time of 5:28.56. Multivan Merida leads the race with an overall time of 5:27:14.

"On the first downhill, I hit a big rock and broke my rim. We had to wait for another wheel," said Sauser. "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."

The overall advantage for Hermida and Van Houts is 1:42. After Sauser and Kulhavy, Platt and Huber are in third overall. Dietsch and Boehme sit in fourth overall.

Platt said, "We expected it to be very hard, but it was a bit harder than THAT. This is the real Cape Epic and we shouldn't complain. The Epic must be hard - it's the hardest race in the world, but after stage 8, we will forget everything again. There was so much running in deep sand in between. You just need to switch off your brain and do it. Think of the prize money!"

Dietsch added, "It went really well until I started having cramps and suffered in the last part of the race. I was riding in the wind of the three Bulls. It's really nice to be on the podium; it's a nice start to the Epic!" His teammate Boehme said, "Today was tough. It was a difficult stage to ride and you needed a lot of power. We're very happy about our podium finish, but also worried about the next stage. I think it's going to be tough."

A small antelope brought Robert Mennen's Cape Epic quest to a premature end when he collided with the animal early in the first stage. He crashed snapping his handlebars and broke his left clavicle (shoulder). The disappointment was huge for Mennen, who along with Alban Lakata, was in fourth place overall and certain podium contenders.

African Jersey

The African leader's jersey was won by Darren Lill and Charles Keey of team Cannondale Blend (overall 5:39:46).

Ladies

Esther Süss and Jane Nuessli of BMC Wheeler won the ladies' category in a time of 5:29:01 (overall 6:37:22), ahead of African/British duo Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson (Energas) in a time of 5:58:13 (overall 7:10:09).

South Africans Hanlie Booyens and Ischen Stopforth of Pragma Volcan ladies were third in 6:03:45 (overall 7:19:08). Süss and Nuessli lead Speedy and Williamson by 32 minutes and 47 seconds.

"It was quite a hard day and we had to walk lots of times," said Nuessli. "There was a lot of sand, which made it really tough. The beginning of this stage was demanding and we're very happy with the victory."

Süss said, "I'm very happy with our performance. It proves that my training worked this winter. There was a lot of sand today and we lost a lot of time there."

Mixed

The RE:CM team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the Mixed category (5:17:44; overall 6:24:08), followed by Peta Mullens and Jarrod Moroni of Target Trek-Moronis Bikes in 5:38:24 (overall 6:49:46). In third place were Johan Labuschagne and Yolandi de Villiers in 5:42:18 (overall 6:54:56).

Australian Moroni said, "The second place feels very good, but it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I thought I was on Bondi Beach, there was so much sand. It really is the most difficult thing I've ever done - it's good fun, but hell at the same time. This is my first Cape Epic and I think we rode really well. We didn't know what to expect, but would like to finish on the podium and things are looking good at the moment."

Mullens added that it was a mentally challenging race. "We're newbies and haven't done many stage races. Hopefully it gets easier after tomorrow."

Masters

Carsten Bresser and Udo Boelts (Juwi) won the masters' category in a time of 4:59:16 (overall 6:01:15). They were followed by Bart Brentjens and Robert Sim of Superior-Brentjens 2 in 5:08:44 (overall 6:09:58). In third place were Neil Bradford and Tim Osrin of HCL/Harvest Foundation 1 in 5:11:32 (6:18:50). Bresser and Boelts lead this category by eight minutes and 43.1 seconds and are placed 15th overall.

Bresser said, "It was a tough day as the first stage in the Cape Epic always is. We suffered a lot and we’re very happy with our stage win. I think we’re under the first 15 overall, which is very good for us. Now I'll get a good massage and relax, stay out of the sun and eat well, so that we're ready for tomorrow."

Brentjens, who finished in second place, liked the first stage. "It was pretty tough with a lot of loose sand and walking. That's part of the Cape Epic. You mustn't think about whether it's long or not - just walk if you have to walk."

Grand masters

Bärti Bucher and Heinz Zoerweg of Songo.info again finished in first place in the grand masters in a time of 5:31:55 (overall 6:38:07.). They were followed by Linus van Onselen and Doug Brown (Balamory) in 5:45.33 (overall 6:55:00) with Paul Furbank and Chris Brand of Genesis Capital in third place in 5:52.38 (overall 7:01:32).

Bucher said, "They put the hardest stage first. Tomorrow is another long one, but hopefully with not as much sand." His partner Heinz Zoerweg agreed that it was a very difficult stage."

Brown said, "Today will go down in history as the sandiest stage. It even beats the one from 2008, which was also very sandy. I've never pushed my bike so much but it was the same for everybody. Tomorrow will suit us better. It's a longer stage and there's more opportunity for my partner to slipstream me."

Exarro Jersey

Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile of team Exxaro RMB Academy-songo managed to secure the Exxaro jersey for the second day in a row with their impressive performance during stage 1. Their overall time is 5:53:53 and they are placed 59th overall.

Simayile said, "It was a very hard stage and I'm not good in sand. We're happy that we’re still in the lead, but my partner pushed me quite hard today."

Madolo said, "Today was a big day for us. Yesterday we were leading by two minutes, but we lost some time today. I like competition and know it's going to be tough. We'll push as hard as we can tomorrow - we're still feeling strong."

Stage 2: Citrusdal to Tulbagh (146km with 2350m of climbing)

Riders will head into the Koue-Bokkeveld, known for its spectacular sandstone formations and summer temperatures regularly in the upper-30 degrees Celsius. Riders will put mileage into their piggy banks early on when scaling Middelberg Pass, 900 meters of altitude gain over the first 18 kilometers, on tar and smooth gravel. The descent onto the plateau is fast with a few sharp bends.

Riders can make up some time until just before the halfway mark, where a four-kilometer climb takes them to the highest point of the entire race (1150 meters above sea level). Then they will be rewarded with a five-kilometer singletrack section that winds through red sandstone formations. This stage will feel fast and relatively flat, until the rugged and challenging wagon trail takes the field into the Witzenberg Valley. Cleared for the race by local mountain bike-enthusiast farmers, this part of the race offers some of the finest terrain the Western Cape has to offer. The best is saved for last: a technical five-kilometer singletrack, an old wagon trail opened up for the 2010 Cape Epic, plummeting into the Tulbagh Valley. It's a challenging transition onto a new playground, from the rugged and remote Cederberg to the fertile Tulbagh Valley with its quaint village and wine farms.

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