Cape Epic filled with surprises
Fumic, Avancini set blistering pace in day of intense mountain bike racing
ON PAPER, stage one’s 110km/1 900m course of the Cape Epic mountain bike race looked scripted for the marathon riders but the race was filled with surprises and that is how it panned out with Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini, of Cannondale Factory Racing, winning the day.
The racing set off at a blistering pace that was described as dangerous and intense by Karl Platt, who struggled in early parts of the stage.
Cross-country specialists Fumic and Avancini entered the first water point in the lead, followed closely by Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek.
Despite the efforts of the yellow jersey wearers, Fumic and Avancini kept the pace high and consolidated their early lead by attacking down the ‘Skid and bones’ technical terrain – a dexterous move few were able to match.
Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts followed in hot pursuit and managed to join Avancini/Fumic at the head of the race.
“Today was such a good day for us. We worked well with the guys and never went over our limit,” Avancini said.
The cross-country quartet worked together for the remainder of the race and increased their lead to nearly six minutes at one point, much to the disbelief of the chasing team of Trek Selle San Marco 2’s Fabian Rabensteiner and Michele Casagrande who would eventually secure the final step of the podium.
“Today was just beautiful. This is my first Cape Epic,” Casagrande said.
“This is the first stage and we got a podium – it is like a dream for us.”
As the final 20km loomed, the Czech Express assumed his characteristic position on the front of the pace line, followed by Fumic, Avancini and Grotts, the latter of whom appeared to be struggling in the final moments.
The stage would eventually go to Avancini/Fumic, who outfoxed Kulhavy/Grotts in a sprint finish that handed them both the overall lead and yellow zebra jersey.
“It’s always nice to win a stage,” Fumic said. “And it’s great to be in yellow after a great ride today.”
Among the day’s misfortunes were defending champions Scott-Sram, who failed to establish any sense of authority after Matthias Stirnemann took ill early in the stage.
Despite finishing, Stirnemann will play no further part in the race.
Sunday’s leaders, Daniel Geismayr and Nicol Rohrbach, also battled with the early pace but remain positive despite losing their overnight lead.
As it stands, Fumic/Acancini lead Kulhavy/Grotts on the general classification by 40.9 seconds.
Centurion Vaude are third, 5:36.3 back and less than a minute ahead of Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek in fourth.
In the African men’s special jersey category, HB Kruger and Stuart Marais bagged their first stage win of the race, beating Nico Bell and Matt Beers by half a second.
Meanwhile, multiple world champion Annika Langvad and her young American partner Kate Courtney overcame a puncture to surge to a second successive victory in the women’s category.
The duo attacked early on the 110km stage, which started and finished in Robertson.
Despite a slow leak in Courtney’s back tyre they were able to add to their lead from Sunday’s Prologue.
The pair finished the stage with a time of 4:45.22, while Langvad’s former partner, Ariane Luthi, and Githa Michiels were second for the second day in a row.
After losing another 52 seconds on Monday, the Team Spur combination is now two minutes and four seconds off the pace.
The young team of Mariske Strauss and Annie Last enjoyed a strong final 30km of the stage to claim third for the day and third overall.
The leading stage one results were: Men: 1 Cannondale Factory Racing 6-1 Manuel Fumic (Germany) 6-2 Henrique Avancini (Brazil) 4:08:22.6; 2 InvestecSongoSpecialized 2-1 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) 2-2 Howard Grotts (United States) 4:08:23.9 +1.3; 3 Trek Selle San Marco 2 15-1 Fabian Rabensteiner (Italy) 15-2 Michele Casagrande (Italy) 4:13:55.6 +5.33.0 Overall standings: 1. Cannondale Factory Racing 6-1 Manuel Fumic (Germany) 6-2 Henrique Avancini (Brazil) 4:54:03.9; 2 InvestecSongoSpecialized 2-1 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) 2-2 Howard Grotts (United States) 4:54:44.8 +40.9; 3 Centurion Vaude 3-1 Nicola Rohrbach (Switzerland) 3-2 Daniel Geismayr (Austria) 4:59:40.2 +5.36,3 Women: 1 Investec Songo Specialized 54-1 Annika Langvad (Denmark) 54-2 Kate Courtney (United States) 4:45:22.7; 2 Spur 53-1 Ariane Luthi (Switzerland) 53-2 Githa Michiels (Belgium) 4:46:15.0 +52.3; 3 Silverback KMC 51-1 Mariske Strauss (South Africa) 51-2 Annie Last (England) 4:51:06.4 +5.43.7 Overall standings: 1 Investec Songo Specialized 54-1 Annika Langvad (Denmark) 54-2 Kate Courtney (United States) 5:38:41.2; 2 Spur 53-1 Ariane Luthi (Switzerland) 53-2 Githa Michiels (Belgium) 5:40:46.1 +2.04.9; 3 Silverback - KMC 51-1 Mariske Strauss (South Africa) 51-2 Annie Last (England) 5:4640,6 +7.59.4