March 24, 2007 – Top riders in the men’s classification of the 2007 Absa Cape Epic completed the first stage today, with the stage winners, Stefan Sahm (Germany) and Karl Platt (Germany) of the Bulls team winning the tight sprint finish at 11.00am against Roel Paulissen and Jakob Fuglsang of team Cannondale-Vredestein 1, after four hours, one minute and sixteen seconds of race time.

Starting today’s route at 7AM in Knysna, the riders covered 101km of terrain through lush indigenous forest, majestic mountain climbs and the heat of the Klein Karoo, with a total climb of 2660 metres. Stefan Sahm said this after stage 1: “This was my inaugural ride at the Absa Cape Epic and it was mind-blowing. The scenery we rode through today was absolutely stunning and I actually cannot believe that we won this stage because we did not expect to at all in this high-class field. We have actually accomplished our mission – to win a stage, particularly knowing who we were up against.”

Tomorrow, the 1206 riders will again be challenged to another gruelling 132km compounded by two 245metres of total climbing as the race moves from Uniondale to Oudtshoorn in the second stage of this year’s Absa Cape Epic.

Stage 1

Men’s Classification Stage Winners

1. Stefan Sahm and Karl Platt of the Bulls Team with the time of 4:01.16,1
2 Roel Paulissen and Jakob Fuglsang of the Cannondale-Vredestein 1 Team
with a time of 4:01.16,6
3. Ralph Naef and Jose Hermida of the Multivan Merida Biking Team 1 with a
time of 4:03.52,3
4. Silvio Bundi and Gion Manetsch of the Giant/Athleticum Team with the time
of 4:05.26,4
5. Bart Brentjiens and Rudi van Houts of the Dolphin Mountainbike Team with
a time of 4:07.21,1.

Men (yellow jersey)
Team Bulls – Stefan Sahm (D)/ Karl Platt (D) – 4:01.16,1 (1st overall)

Ladies (colours dark red jersey)
Duravit – Anke Erlank (RSA)/ Yolande de Villiers (RSA) – 4:45.9,7 (33rd overall)

Masters (blue jersey)
Cycle Lab – Andrew McLean (RSA)/ Damian Booth – 4:41.02,2 (18th overall)

Mixed (green jersey)
IMC/ Mongoose – Yolande Speedy (RSA)/ Paul Cordes (RSA) – 4:46.35,3 (22nd overall)

Best SA Team (bright red jersey)
Team Raleigh MTN Energade 1 – Kevin Evans (RSA)/ Brandon Stewart (RSA) – 4:15.33,5 (10th overall)