Lars Forster of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing celebartes as he and partner Nino Schurter win stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Lars Forster and Nino Schurter of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing sprint for the line during stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Overall Race Leaders Henrique Avancini & Manuel Fumic of Cannondale Factory Racing during stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Anna van der Breggen at Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
masters leaders Jose Hermida and Joaquim Rodrigues during stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Overall Race Leaders Henrique Avancini & Manuel Fumic of Cannondale Factory Racing during stage 4 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad at Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Cape Epic stage 4
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad at Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad at Cape Epic
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Yellow Jersy holders Manuel Fumic & Henrique Avancini of Cannondale Factory Racing
(Image credit: Absa Cape Epic)
Swiss duo Nino Schurter and Lars Forster secured their fourth win during the stage 4 time trial at the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race, with overall leaders Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini crossing the finish line second. The Brazilian-German team keeps the yellow jerseys for another day, while the gap to Schurter and Forster has decreased to just one minute and 13 seconds. Colombian Louis Meija & Italian Johnny Cattaneo complete the men’s podium.
In the women’s race, the outstanding Danish-Dutch duo Annika Langvad and Anna van den Breggen took their fifth consecutive victory, while Candice Hill and Adelheid Morath came in second. Swiss rider Ariane Lüthi and Maja Wloszczowska of Poland placed third.
After three marathon stages, the 2019 Absa Cape Epic route provided some relief in terms of distance, but the singletrack-filled stage 4 time trial did not ease up on the difficulty.
The route packed all the best Oak Valley and Paul Cluver trails into one short, sharp stage. The climbing began out of the gate as the route provided opportunities for the strongest riders to put time into their rivals. Climbs like Tierkop, Ma se Gat, Berg Adder, Puff Adder and a horrendous 350 meter long beast all added up to provide a total of 1,000 meters of elevation gain.
