Tomorrow’s Stage 5 is 2016’s second transition stage – taking riders to a new race village in a different town – and the Absa Cape Epic participants will be hoping it is not as tough as Wednesday’s Stage 3 from Tulbagh to Wellington.
Photo by Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
They will, however, be confronted by five big climbs dotted across the day’s riding as they ride the 93km route from Wellington to Boschendal Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. Being a transition stage there are some forest roads to negotiate, but soon after the start the route turns upwards on the Slangrivier climb. Then it’s on to Patatskloof again – but a different route to Stage 4 – and Beulah, which leads into Hawequa (with a great view of the Paarl Rock for those who have the time for such things), and then the Protea Climb. As the riders get close to the Drakenstein Prison – formerly Victor Verster, where the father of South Africa’s democracy, Nelson Mandela, took his first steps after being freed in 1990 – they will be greeted by the rugged Freedom Struggle climb and its Bone Rattler descent.
By the time they cross the finish line they will have ascended a total of 2 500m and finished a tough day. They should, however, be riding in cooler conditions with weather services suggesting the mercury will not get much above 20ºC and a bit of rain in the evening.
This will be a day for the climbers but the GC leaders will be sure to follow any challengers. With several long climbs there will, however, be many opportunities for breaks: will this be the day for a South African team to make a bolt for a stage win? Perhaps Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock (USN Purefit), both light and good climbers, will fancy their chances.
Source: Cape Epic Media
