Epic battle continues
Canyon Topeak’s Lakata and Hynek grab 122km flat stage
ABREAKAWAY at the start of stage three turned the men’s category on its head as the Cape Epic mountain bike race moved to Worcester yesterday.
Stage three’s transition from Robertson to Worcester might be the longest stage of this year’s race, but with just 1 800m of ascent spread over 122km, it is also the flattest.
This provides ideal conditions for competitors like Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec-Songo-Specialised) and the marathon maestros, Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek (Canyon Topeak), who won the stage.
Despite yesterday’s gruelling puncture-induced efforts, in which Howard Grotts took tremendous strain chasing back the leaders, it was Kulhavy who piled on the pressure.
Canyon Topeak also proved their early intentions by nabbing the Dimension Data Hotspot.
As leaders approached the base of the Pieter’s Express climb, Kulhavy attacked in what would prove to be the move of the day.
“We got the win at the Dimension Data Hotspot and after that we just kept on going,” Lakata said.
The breakaway was firmly established at the 29km marker, where Investec-Songo-Specialised gained the virtual lead with a 2:24.4 advantage over the yellow jersey group.
The strategy of forcing an early split had paid off and, with Kulhavy and Lakata among the firepower, the average speed at the head of the race reached a staggering 28km/h.
“It was rough out there. At 122km, it’s the longest stage and the guys from Investec-Songo-Specialised and Canyon Topeak made their move on the first climb and put us in the hurt box,” cross-country specialist Manuel Fumic said.
The Investec team kept their unbeaten record intact in the women’s category by claiming win number four.
Annika Langvad and Kate Courtney were able to power away from their rivals, who could do nothing to stop their seemingly unshakable surge to the 2018 title on the 122km haul from Robertson to Worcester.
Not even a crash into some other riders near the end, which brought both the leaders down, could stop their progress.
Team Spur’s Ariane Luthi and Githa Michiels and a resurgent Ascendis Health’s Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot fought a race-long battle for the runner up spot.
The positions on the bottom steps of the podium were decided on a sprint, with Luthi and Michiels claiming second, also for the fourth day in a row.