Beers, Grotts firm their grip on Cape Epic
Matt Beers and Howard Grotts powered into a near unassailable position in the general classification of the Cape Epic in Stellenbosch yesterday.
The South African/American pair zoomed around the hills and vineyards of this historic town in 3 hours 46 minutes 48 seconds on Stage 6 to firm their grip on the race.
Their cause was much aided as Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini who were second overnight found the going tough.
With only one stage to go, Beers and Grotts (Toyota Specialized Nine-One) are 9min 11sec ahead of Schurter and Fini, who in turn hold a 1min 11sec advantage over Hans Becking and Wout Alleman.
After suffocating heat necessitated the shortening of Thursday’s stage, the riders were yesterday greeted by a gentle drizzle at the start. It was as if the surrounding cloudshrouded mountains mourned the death of erstwhile local hotshot Markus Jooste, but though fake in its own way, down in the valley it was the cowbells at the finish that thankfully set the vibe.
The bells rang as Grotts and Beers, thanks in part to his locally acquired knowledge of the terrain, powered home.
At the Full Metal Jacket split, the stage was still in the balance but the race leaders put the hammer down on the final climb. “It was quite an easy day for most part because everyone has gone tired,” said the strapping Beers matter-of-factly.
“The pace was on-off a little bit but I knew we could do something in the end. I just had to climb with Howard and suffer as much as I can,” said Beers, who is now considered one of the best endurance gravel riders around, humbly.
With the pace short of the red zone, the race leaders did not have to take undue risk. “That worked out perfectly. We played it safe and rode steadily. It is not over, there is still one day to focus.”
The women’s race also has a hint of fait accompli about it. Going into the stage, Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) had won all the previous stages and held a 2min 51sec lead over Mona Mitterwallner and Candice Lill.
Terpstra (Netherlands) and Koller (Switzerland) kept their unblemished record intact, crossing the finish line with barely a speck of mud. They’ve been easy riders on their first Epic.
“It is just so crazy. We can decide to make a move tactically, or make a move technically, or physically. Everything worked this week,” said Koller.
The pair extended their lead by a minute on Stage 6 and now hold a 3min 51sec advantage over Mitterwallner and Lill, and are hoping to emulate Sina Frei and Laura Stigger who made a clean sweep across eight days in 2021. “We don’t know. We will see how we feel tomorrow,” said Terpstra about the prospect of a clean sweep.
Terpstra added: “We know the trails in Jonker (Jonkershoek), we train there, we love them. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”