March 29, 2007 (Montagu, South Africa) – 493 Of the original 603 teams in the mens, ladies, masters and mixed classifications of the 2007 Absa Cape Epic started the fifth stage on Wednesday, kicking off at 7.00am in Barrydale with the stage finish line ‘only’ 102 kilometres away in the picturesque town of Montagu. With a total day’s climb of 1,590 metres, today’s stage saw a shake up in the Men’s classification with Bart Brentjiens (NL) and Rudi van Houts (NL) of team Dolphin Mountainbike taking their first stage win in a time of three hours and forty one minutes and team Bulls with Karl Platt (D) and Stephan Sahm (D) moving back into the overall leaders’ position.

Platt and Sahm overtook Roel Paulissen (B) and Jakob Fuglsang (DK) of team Cannondale-Vredestein 1 who had, until yesterday, maintained an overall lead since Sunday. Karl says: “I had already accepted the fact that we would finish this race in second place this year but it’s awesome to reclaim the overall lead. However, it would have been better to get the jersey one or two days later as three days of battle still lie ahead.”

Bart Brentjens and Rudi van Houts were overjoyed by their first stage win. “In 2005 we won seven out of eight stages”, he says. “Back then it became almost a given to be wearing the yellow leader jersey. This year, with a world class field at the start, it is even difficult to make it onto the podium, which makes a stage victory even more special. So we are very happy about winning today, particularly after not feeling too well this morning as I had some stomach cramps. Although you may consider today’s stage a short leg, we still had to complete 100 kilometres.”

The Attack of Kashi Leuchs and Axel Bult

Today’s stage saw a change of mindset of Cannondale-Vredestein rider, Kashi Leuchs (NZ) who felt obliged to support his fellow team mates in Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic leaving his riding partner, Axel Bult (NL), behind. “After the controversial discussions about the 3rd stage, we realised that team sport is what this race is all about. Axel and I decided that from now on we would ride our own race and not get involved in team politics which could change the nature of the event. Yesterday we had a very easy day, so last night I had the crazy idea about attacking right from the start. So that’s what we did. After five kilometres when we arrived at the first steep climb, we put the hammer down and about five teams followed us. We were in the front all day up until the last three kilometres. Then Axel was ‘parked’. You should have heard him wheeze…but this race is really hard for him, particularly being 20 kilograms heavier than everyone else. Besides, he never rode a marathon before, and now he is riding five marathons in five days.” Axel was only informed on Tuesday last week that he would be riding the Absa Cape Epic with Kashi Leuchs to replace Fredrik Kessiakoff. I usually ride CycleCross and Cross Country races. When the course is reasonably flat I can make it onto the podium. I was really intimidated to ride with this guy and hoped to be able to stick on his back wheel for the entire tour.” Instead he was taking the lead in the flat sections today and helped to secure the first podium place for team Cannondale-Vredestein 2 at the 2007 Absa Cape Epic. For Axel, this is the biggest international success to date.

The True Spirit of the Absa Cape Epic

Today, new team mates, Christoph Sauser (CH) and David George (RSA) also kept the pace of the leading group and shared the work with team Dolphin, team Bulls and team Cannondale-Vredestein 2. However, once the finish line was in sight, they backed off to give way to the top five teams in the classification. Team managers and pro riders had agreed to this protocol yesterday, in order not to confuse the public and media as Sauser and George are no longer listed in the classification.

In the Ladies catergory, Anke Erlank (RSA) and Yolandé De Villiers (RSA) of team Duravit took yet another stage win with a time of four hours and nineteen minutes extending their overall lead to almost three hours. Stage winners in the Mixed classification, Yolande Speedy (RSA) and Paul Cordes (RSA) of team IMC/Mongoose claimed their fifth victory in a time of four hours and twenty four minutes while Linus van Onselen (RSA) and Doug Brown (RSA) of team ABSA Masters arrived at the finish line first in the Masters category after four hours and fourteen minutes.

From Strength To Strength

54 Year old, Linus van Onselen, who suffered from a bladder infection on day 1 and was taking anti-biotics until yesterday, finally recovered to normal strength levels. “On the last 25 kilometres, we were riding with the leading Masters team, but of course we had to do all the work while they simply watched us from behind. However, they did give way when we reached the finish line so that we could attain the stage win. Compared to us, I think that Andrew Mclean and Damien Booth make up a stronger pair. But Doug Brown is the strongest team mate I’ve ever ridden with. He is such an all-rounder, great in the uphills, very strong in technical downhills and pushes hard in the flat sections. I can only assist with being a good climber.” For the past years, Doug and Linus have been competitors in the Veterans category. For this year’s Absa Cape Epic, both were looking for the strongest partner and both ended up contacting each other. Linus, who works as a director of Property Management for a private hospital group, started track and road cycling at the age of sixteen. He only converted to mountain biking in 1995. This sport has changed his lifestyle. “Today, I only ride road to get mileage. To me, mountain biking is a much more user friendly sport. Instead of getting up in the dark and riding on the road at 6am, you take your family and go into the mountains at any given time of the day. If it wasn’t for mountain biking, I wouldn’t have cycled up to the age of 54 and since I’m such a competitive person, and still partake in lots of competitions, this sport keeps me going.” Linus has also infected his family with the mountain biking virus. Together with his wife and his 27 year old son, he has won the family category in the The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour, seven years in a row.

Saving The Day

So far, the Absa Cape Epic riders from 43 different countries, have cycled a total of 584 kilometres and climbed a total of 9 805 metres. After enduring hardships like falls, fatigue, dehydration, tendinitis, gastro, muscle aches and saddle sores, it is no surprise that many teams have dropped out or didn’t make the daily cut-off time of
5:00pm. Today’s fifth stage saw 1077 of the original 1206 riders at the start line, out of which, 53 were individual finishers (riders who’s team mate pulled out of the race and who are now completing the Absa Cape Epic with a new partner) and 38 blue number board riders (participants who have been swept in one stage and therefore no longer qualify to be an Absa Cape Epic finisher.).

In the first four days of the race, 554 people consulted Medi-Clinic’s four race doctors and six nurses. However, this number includes any consultation purpose from getting minor scratches and bruises to cases of serious dehydration or biking injuries. The Absa Cape Epic’s medical team was also called out for three consecutive nights, to assist road accidents, non-related to the race. Basil Bonner, head of the Medi-Clinic’s team, says, the team is prepared for anything and carries all equipment, such as the Jaws of Life, necessary to assist in such emergencies. Riders are constantly monitored along the route by 25 ECP (Emergency Care Practitioner) marshals and eight paramedics on quad bikes. The medical team’s support of the riders’ goal in finishing the race, is evident throughout. Yesterday, Lindsay Baker, from New Zealand, who suffered from a mild concussion after a fall, was pleading to continue the stage in order to be a finisher. The medical team deemed her physically able to do so but nevertheless, escorted her right to the end to ensure her safety.

Tomorrow, riders will again be challenged to another gruelling 111 kilometres as the race moves from Montagu to Villiersdorp in the sixth stage of this year’s Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, with a total climb of 1 565 metres. After a blistering 5km road start through Cogmanskloof, the race heads into the farmlands of the lush Robertson valley. Exiting the farmland, the riders have a scenic 25 kilometres, on tar, before heading up the day’s big challenge, a six kilometre hike-a-bike section, followed by open roads and fast descents all the way to the foot of Rooihoogte. The route takes on a tortuous climb to the radio mast above the town, before descending to the finish line in Villiersdorp.

Results

Stage 5

Men

1. Dolphin Mountainbike Team, Brentjens Bart (NL)-Rudi van Houts (NL) 3:41.32
2. Team Bulls, Karl Platt (Ger)-Stefan Sahm (Ger) 3:41.46
3. Cannondale-Vredestein 1, Kashi Leuchs (NZL)-Axel Bult (NL) 3:42.11
4. Team Texner-Stoeckli 3:46.07 10-1 Zahnd Thomas Switzerland 10-2 Spaeth Sandro Switzerland
5. Cannondale-Vredestein 1 Men 3:46.31 Paulissen Roel Belgium 6-2 Fuglsang Jakob Denmark

Ladies

1. DURAVIT, Anke Erlank (South Africa)-Yolandè De Villiers (South Africa) 4:19.49
2. Texner BMC Thoemus, Myriam Saugy (Switzerland)-Fabienne Heinzmann (Switzerland) 4:50.33
3. ADIDAS FIAT Rotwild, Kerstin Brachtendorf (Germany)-Troesch Daniele (France) 5:03.10
4. CUBE WLS, Kristine Noergaard (Denmark)-Anna-Sofie Noergaard (Denmark) 5:05.38
5. K-Way, Liesbet Kristafor (South Africa)-Leanne Brown-Waterson (South Africa) 5:41.22

Mixed

1. IMC/Mongoose, Yolande Speedy (South Africa)-Paul Cordes (South Africa) 4:24.25
2. Maloja-BTS Time for Travel, Ivonne Kraft (Germany)-Nico Pfitzenmaier (Germany) 4:27.38
3. ABSA PRO, Geddan Ruddock (South Africa)-Jean Ann McKirdy (Canada) 4:32.57
4. Pezula, Fienie Barnard (South Africa)-Jurie Barnard (South Africa) 4:37.16
5. adidas, Fourie Kotze (South Africa)-Jeannie Bomford (South Africa) 4:39.44

Masters

1. ABSA Masters, Linus van Onselen (South Africa)-Doug Brown (South Africa) 4:14.44
2. Cycle Lab, Andrew Mclean (South Africa)-Damian Booth (South Africa) 4:14.44
3. Marsilio Projects, Tony Conlon (South Africa)-Lieb Loots (South Africa) 4:20.59
4. SAND, Corrie Muller (South Africa)-Ergee Du Toit (South Africa) 4:20.59
5. Team Checkers Masters, Andre Viljoen (South Africa)-Guy Pike (South Africa) 4:21.01

51. Crazy Canucks, Andrew Hunt (Canada)-John Thompson (Canada) 5:42.09

Overall after Stage 5

Men

1. Team Bulls, Karl Platt (Ger)-Stefan Sahm (Ger) 21:52.34
2. Cannondale-Vredestein, Kashi Leuchs (NZL)-Axel Bult (NL) 22:31.24
3. Dolphin Mountainbike Team, Brentjens Bart (NL)-Rudi van Houts (NL) 22:31.24
4. Multivan Merida Biking, Ralph Naef (Switzerland)-Jose Hermida (Spain) 22:40.27
5. Trek Volkswagen Racing, Alban Lakata (Austria)-Roman Peter (Switzerland) 22:42.42

Ladies

1. DURAVIT, Anke Erlank (South Africa)-Yolandè De Villiers (South Africa) 26:31.51
2. Texner BMC Thoemus, Myriam Saugy (Switzerland)-Fabienne Heinzmann (Switzerland) 29:25.14
3. ADIDAS FIAT Rotwild, Kerstin Brachtendorf (Germany)-Troesch Daniele (France) 29:34.50
4. CUBE WLS, Kristine Noergaard (Denmark)-Anna-Sofie Noergaard (Denmark) 30:10.53
5. K-Way, Liesbet Kristafor (South Africa)-Leanne Brown-Waterson (South Africa) 32:19.09

Mixed

1. IMC/Mongoose, Yolande Speedy (South Africa)-Paul Cordes (South Africa) 25:40.07
2. Maloja-BTS Time for Travel, Ivonne Kraft (Germany)-Nico Pfitzenmaier (Germany) 26:11.16
3. ABSA PRO, Geddan Ruddock (South Africa)-Jean Ann McKirdy (Canada) 26:35.26
4. Pezula, Fienie Barnard (South Africa)-Jurie Barnard (South Africa) 27:26.45
5. adidas, Fourie Kotze (South Africa)-Jeannie Bomford (South Africa) 28:40.41

Masters

1. Cycle Lab, Andrew Mclean (South Africa)-Damian Booth (South Africa) 25:00.46
2. ABSA Masters, Linus van Onselen (South Africa)-Doug Brown (South Africa) 25:21.29
3. Red Mongoose, M.C. Franken (South Africa)-Fred Coleske (South Africa) 25:48.31
4. SAND, Corrie Muller (South Africa)-Ergee Du Toit (South Africa) 26:00.01
5. MILES FOR MARROW, Jacques Malan (South Africa)-Bobby Schuiling (South Africa)26:21.15

37. Crazy Canucks, Andrew Hunt (Canada)-John Thompson (Canada) 32:09.59