Absa Cape Epic 2023 - Stage 5 - News

Stage 5 of the ABSA Cape Epic marked another transition stage. Today was also this year’s Queen Stage with 102km and 2450m of climbing. The route featured the long and rough Tierkop Climb and a Cape Epic favorite, Groenlandberg with its sandy and rutted trails. Riders also had to contend with the Gantouw Pass portage. Defending champions, Lukas Baum (GER) & Georg Egger (GER) of team Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company won the Queen Stage with 04hours 13minutes 6seconds. It is their first stage win in this year’s race and they are the new race leaders with two more days to go. German country fellows Simon Stiebjahn (GER) and Martin Frey (GER) of Team Singer Racing finished 2min 32seconds behind in second. A great achievement for the German duo and their first podium finish this year. Team SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing’s Nino Schurter (SUI) and Andri Frischknecht (SUI) crossed the finish line in third. However it is a bitter sweet success as they lose their yellow leaders ahead of Stage 6. In the women’s category it is Kim le Court (MRI) and Vera Looser (NAM) of Efficient Infiniti Insure with a back-to-back stage victory. Overall leaders Amy Wakefield (RSA) and Candice Lill (RSA) of e-FORT.net : SeattleCoffeeCo managed to cross the finish line in second, 2minutes 36seconds behind the winners. Cannondale Vas Arabay’s Greete Steinburg (EST) and Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez (COL) completed the podium with their first ever podium finish.