Absa Cape Epic 2023 - Stage 4 - News

Stage 4 marked the second time trial of the race. It took the riders around the trails of Oak Valley Estate in a short but intense day of racing with 47km to go and 875m of climbing. The course was packed with singletrack, making it a test of skill as well as fitness. Maintaining a rhythm to climb twisting trails like Berg Adder and then descend down trails like Puff Adder, Vissie’s Magic and Sounds of Silence required absolute focus. Matthew Beers (RSA) and Christopher Blevins (USA) from team Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne rode to their fourth stage victory on today’s time trial in a blistering pace. German pair Georg Egger (GER) and Lukas Baum (GER) of team ORBEA x Leatt x Speed Company came into second with 22 seconds behind and overall leaders Nino Schurter (SUI) and Andri Frischknecht (SUI) of SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing losing important time in the General Classification with a time deficit of 2 minutes and 23 seconds. In the women’s race Team Efficient Infiniti Insure of team Kim Le Court (MRI) and Vera Looser (NAM) managed to strive to their second stage win. Overall leaders Amy Wakefield (RSA) and Candice Lill (RSA) of team e-FORT.net : SeattleCoffeeCo finished in second. They were able to extend their lead in the general classification as team NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized of Sofia Gomez Villafane (ARG) and Katerina Nash (CZE) finished behind them in third place.