Cape Epic - Prologue

Team photo
Exxaro team with Pieter Hough and Hein Boegman from PWC

Team journal
Prologue results
For the second time in the Absa Cape Epic’s history, riders participated in a prologue. A common feature in grand road cycling tours, the prologue in the Tokai Forest, part of Table Mountain National Park, allowed spectators to see teams race against the clock. The event saw the excited mountain bikers from 54 countries enjoy comfortable sunny weather with the first team starting their 8 day journey at 07h00. Regarded as the Eden of mountain biking in Cape Town, this revered network of trails in Tokai Forest represents all of what makes this sport so great, with tough climbs, fast descents and flowing single-track forming the 27km route. This showcase event was a race against the clock to decide the seeding in the field and which teams will wear the coveted zebra-striped leaders’ jerseys at the start of Stage 1 in Saronsberg, Tulbagh.

The Men’s Category for the prologue was won by the South African/Swiss team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (team 36ONE Songo Specialized) in a time of 1:02.40,7. They were followed by Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of the Multivan Merida Biking team (1:04.22,9) with the Bulls team and 3-times winners of the Absa Cape Epic, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm in third place (1:04.35,6). In fourth place was the South African 360LIFE team Kevin Evans and David George (1:04.50,5) with José Hermida and Ralph Näf in fifth place (1:04.53,0).

Exxaro teams off to a good start
You don’t win the Absa Cape Epic on the first day, but you can certainly loose the race on the first day!
That’s why the teams took it easy, getting into the stride and cycled very carefully – making sure they don’t get injured and that they will be able to get back into the saddle for Stage 1. All three teams finished well within the cut-off time, with more than an hour to spare. Their finishing times were also only four minutes apart.
Although this route was a relatively short distance (27km), the prologue certainly gave them a feel for what tough times lay ahead for the rest of the week! But the cyclists are in high spirits and are looking forward to the rest of the challenge.