Stenerhag-Suss extend Epic lead

JENNIE STENERHAG and Esther Suss (Meerendal CBC) extended their lead in the Hansgrohe Women’s category on Stage 4 of the Cape Epic yesterday, while Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) took a decent bite out of Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini’s (Cannondale Factory Racing XC) lead in the men’s race.

Debutants Andri Frischknecht and Michiel Van der Heijden (SCOTT-SRAM Young Guns) ruled the day on Stage 4, crossing the line first in a time of 4:10.00,3 with Schurter and Stirnemann popping wheelies (almost into the fencing) right behind them.

Finishing second on the day was enough to move Schurter and Stirnemann into second overall, with Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialized) slipping to third. They finished fourth on the day, thanks to a puncture late in the stage.

Overall leaders Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing XC) finished third on the stage, two-and-a-half minutes off the pace. Their time was enough to retain the yellow zebra jersey, though.

Stage winner Andri Frischknecht was thrilled. “Our main aim was just to survive. But this stage win is amazing; super cool. Riding with Nino and Matthias was great motivation, and when we managed the last sandy climb quite well, we started to think that we could take the stage. It was horrible (up the climb) but we made it!”

The women’s category swung a little more toward a victory for Suss and Stenerhag with the duo adding another three minutes 40 to their lead on the 112km stage from Greyton to Elgin.