Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell (RECM) were by far the most influential South African riders in Wednesday’s stage three of the Absa Cape Epic – they worked tirelessly to help Christoph Sauser and Frantisek Rabon (Meerendal Songo Specialized) win the stage – but the Absa African jersey stayed in the hands of Max Knox and Kevin Evans (FedGroup Itec). – By Chris Whitfield
Knox and Evans are 8th overall in 15:45.11,5, five minutes ahead of Scott Factory Racing’s Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns.
Kleinhans and Bell faded a bit towards the end of Wednesday, finishing eighth, but have recovered from their troubled opening stages to move up to 11th overall, third among the all-South African teams.
Quickest South African on the day was Philip Buys, riding with cross country world champion Nino Schurter, who finished fourth yesterday after the Scott-Odlo combination had been leading for a while.
The leading South African women’s team remains Yolande de Villiers and Ischen Stopforth (SasolRacing), who are lying sixth overall but nearly two hours behind the leading women. Cape Brewing Company’s local rider Theresa Ralph and Swede Jennie Stenerhag remain in third place overall after their fourth place Wednesday.
South Africans Shan Wilson and Adrian Enthoven (Definitive Bikes) are still on top in the Masters category, but for the second day in a row were beaten by Dutchman Baart Brentjens and Brazilian Abraao Azevedo (BETCH.nl Superior Meerendal) and now have only a four-minute cushion.
Andrew McLean and Austrian partner Heinz Zoerweg have a firm grip on the Grand Masters and are more than 50 minutes ahead.
Local mixed pairing Cherise Stander and Theo Blignaut (RECM Mixed) won their category for the first time but are still 19 minutes behind Mauritians Yannick Lincoln and Aurelie Halbwachs.
Source: Purple Pine PR
