ABSA Cape Epic 2017– Stage 1 – Untamed Action

Cross-country specialists Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini continued their blazing assault on the 2017 Absa Cape Epic with another stage win. The pair has now scored a hattrick of stage wins if you include their victory in the final stage of the 2016 Cape Epic. On the 101km route that started and finished at Hermanus High School, Fumic and Avancini raced home in a time of 4:25.35, which means they retain the overall lead and the yellow jersey. They admitted, though, that an unfortunate tumble by Jaroslav Kulhavy around 5km to go allowed them to cross the line first. Second over the line was Christoph Sauser and an incredibly dusty Kulhavy, while third on the day went to Jochen Kaess and Markus Kauffmann. Defending champions Karl Platt and Urs Huber were seventh on the day, five-and-half minutes off the stage pace and almost 10 minutes off first place on the overall standings. After regaining his composure and cooling down, Platt offered - still with his trademark grin and a one word assessment of the day’s riding: “tough”.