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Competitions

Absa Cape Epic 2026 (RSA) - Stage 1 || Alleman/Stosek win

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ABSA Cape Epic

The Absa Cape Epic kicks off the 22nd edition of the untamed African mountain bike race.

The eight-day race is often referred to as the "Tour de France of mountain biking" and it‘s the most prestigious mountain bike stage race on the planet. This year it attracted 725 teams of two from 58 nations including World, European, and National Champions next to aspiring amateurs testing themselves against the best.

Stage 1 marks the first long marathon stage and leads over the mountain peaks of the Western Cape. The riders went out on a 90km loop with 2.150 meters of climbing around the beautiful landscapes of Montagu. It has been nearly two decades since the Absa Cape Epic last ventured into the dry lands of Montagu. Stage 1 was a roller coaster through the Klein Karoo that trends upward just as much as it does down.

In the men’s race, prologue winners and current overall leaders Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje from South Africa had to deal with a wheel picture early in the race. After substituting it, they surged back to the chasing group and not long after caught up with the leader’s group as well, finishing on 3 rd place in the end and keeping the yellow leader’s jersey. After 90 kilometres across the dry lands of Montagu, it was time for sprint finish: Belgian Wout Alleman and his teampartner Martin Stosek crossed the line ahead of the Italian duo Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. In the women’s race, stage 1 looked rather similar to the prologue: Swiss Alessandra Keller and Candice Hill (RSA) continued to dominate on a shorter race course of 70km finishing 01:35min ahead of Dutch Rosa Van Doorn and Namibian Vera Looser.

 

Stage 1 – Men // 90km – 2.150m of climbing

  1. BUFF-BH – 3-1 Wout Alleman (BEL) & 3-2 Martin Stosek (CZE) 3:38:43.9
  2. Wilier-Vittoria - 2-1 Luca Braidot (ITA) & 2-2 Simone Avondetto (ITA) 3:38:44.3 // +0.4s
  3. Toyota Specialized Imbuko - 1-1 Matthew Beers (RSA) & Tristan Nortje (RSA) 3:38:46.2 // +2.3s

 

Stage 1 – W omen // 70km – 1.800m of climbing

  1. TH?MUS MAXON SABI SABI - 53-1 Candice Lill (RSA) & 53-2 Alessandra Keller (SUI) 3:01:52.2
  2. Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti – 52-1 Rosa Van Doorn (NED) & 52-2 Vera Looser (NAM) 3:03:28.1 // +1:35min
  3. She Sends Foundation Team - 51-1 Kate Courtney (USA) & 51-2 Greta Seiwald (ITA) 3:03:48.7 // +1:56min