April 9, 2005 – Stage 7, leading the Epic riders over 103.7 kilometres from Villiersdorp to Boschendal/ Franschhoek, was truly a ride up to mountain bike heaven. The view on top of the first major ascent was so breathtaking and mind blowing, that even the pros stopped for a moment to enjoy it: a sea of clouds with rugged mountain tops sticking out of the mist like little islands. With maximum temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius the total ascent of 1875 metres was even more strenuous, but as the teams are getting stronger every day and used to the pain, many considered today’s stage as their best so far.

After a ride close to heaven and across The CAPE EPIC’s highest pass, the 1048 metre high Groenland Berg, the Epic adventurers arrived in a little paradise on earth, the lush green and picturesque Boschendal wine estate near Franschhoek. “The first downhill today was fantastic”, raved Michelle Lombardi (RSA) of team Scott Ladies. “We were above the clouds and it was just like flying. We had such amazing views.” Team Scott Ladies started slow into the penultimate stage, because Hanlie Booyens (RSA) was sick and had thrown up all night. “On the first big climb we caught up with Hannele and Zoë”, she said, “we carried on with them and passed them and it was really easy.

On the long stretch to Franschhoek Pass we were on our own and I could literally feel the steam train coming from behind. At the bottom of the pass they caught us and that was the last we saw of them.” Speeding up and down Franschhoek Pass, team Fiat/ Bianchi/ adidas 2 increased the gap to the second place by nearly 15 minutes, now being over 45 minutes ahead. “We had bad luck on the first climb today”, explained Hannele Steyn-Kotze (RSA), “and then I lost my temper. I was shouting at Zoë which I know isn’t fair, because her achievements are phenomenal. She only started biking 12 months ago whereas all the other girls have been biking for years. Let me tell you, that woman is so talented! She trains in her head and learns something new every day. Zoë constantly surprises me. I don’t think any other woman has ever done after a year what she is doing now. I was definitely not riding that well after one year of mountain biking.”

Leading Masters – Clever meets Strong

Friedrich ‘Fred’ Coleské (RSA) of team Mongoose Getaway, SA veteran champion 2004 in all disciplines, is one of South Africa’s best Master riders. And he is smart. To participate in the CAPE EPIC 2005, Fred chose a partner that he himself considers to be the strongest Master rider in South Africa at the moment. “Doug is unbelievably strong. If he had started at the races that I won last year, I wouldn’t be SA veteran champion. I may not be the strongest, but I am clever. That’s why I asked him to ride with me.” Doug Brown (RSA), a geologist and dedicated fun rider, normally doesn’t compete in races and didn’t even consider participating in the Epic until Fred asked him a year ago. “What we have achieved and experienced is mindboggling”, said Doug. “To be in the lead is an unbelievable feeling, beyond words. We did so much better than we thought we would after the first two days. We are strong in the very technical ascents.” Both were hoping to be the best South African CAPE EPIC Masters team. Now, with a comfortable buffer of 18.5 minutes before the last day, they are about to win the category title. “That means so much to us”, so Fred. “The highlight is to be on the overall podium with the highest ranked UCI riders. I am amazed how much respect wearing this blue adidas jersey gives you.”

Which Masters team will be second and third overall is still open as the gap between Specsavers (RSA) and Sauna Diana (NDL) is now less than 20 seconds. Team Specsavers, however, with the technically more skilled riders Linus van Onselen and Frans van Zyl, has an advantage on the last stage which is very technical and includes the former UCI Downhill World Cup course in Stellenbosch.

Tight battle in the Mixed Category

With a lead time by more than 1 hour and 7 minutes, the Mixed leaders Anke Erlank (RSA) and Nic White (RSA) will start relaxed into the last stage of the CAPE EPIC. The two teams behind them, however, will enter their ultimate battle for the second place on the podium. Only 3 seconds separate team Manic Cycles/ Enduren with Geddan Ruddock (RSA) and Jeannie Bomford (RSA) from team Fast N Fresh with Leon Erasmus (RSA) and Liza Serfontein (RSA).

Evans/ Wieltschnig on third place overall

Another successful day for the South Africans: not only did Shan Wilson (RSA) and Brandon Stewart (RSA) catapult themselves for the second time onto the Men’s podium today; Kevin Evans (RSA) and Silvio Wieltschnig (AUT) also crossed the finish line 19 minutes ahead of Sandro Spaeth (SUI) and Thomas Zahnd (SUI), which shoved them one place up in the rankings to become third overall. Now a small advantage of 2 minutes to the fourth place raises hope that South Africa might also be represented on the world class overall Men’s podium tomorrow night.

Mannie Heymans welcomes his colleagues in Boschendal

Last year’s winner Mannie Heymans (NAM) visited his MTB colleagues in Boschendal today after taking a break in Cape Town. Mannie had to quit the race when his team partner, SA champion Jacques Rossouw (RSA), pulled out after two days. Jacques didn’t recover completely from flu he had two weeks prior to the CAPE EPIC.

Hans NoWay Rey and Greg Minnaar visit CAPE EPIC

Yesterday two mountain bike superstars joined the CAPE EPIC for the last two days: living legend Hans NoWay Rey and Downhill World Champion Greg Minnaar. Both will ride the Vigne à Vigne tomorrow, a one day race accompanying the last leg of the CAPE EPIC. When Hans entered the Riders Dining Marquee as a surprise guest last night the crowd went mad. This morning the multiple Trial Worlds Champion and mountain bike adventurer taught children who participated in the bike workshop of the Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) how to balance on a bicycle.

Riding for Charity

Apart from the CAPE EPIC Race Organisation who has created a special Corporate Entry Programme to fund bicycles for previously disadvantaged people in the communities through which the race passes, more and more CAPE EPIC competitors use their participation in the race to support a charity. Bradley George (RSA) and Michael Creedon (IRL) of team Assos Starfish, for example, will have raised a remarkable R100 000 for the Starfish Foundation when they cross the finish line at the Spier tomorrow. “If we finish in the top 100, we will raise an extra R10 000”, Bradley George said in Boschendal. “That made us go even harder today, because we are close to reaching that goal. When it started to hurt I was thinking about the HIV orphans we are doing this for. They deserve that we give our best to raise as much money as possible.” The German team Ride4Charity with Jörg Sendele (GER) and Arno Bublitz (GER) use their adventurous mountain bike trip to raise money for an AIDS project in Khayelitsha Township near Cape Town. “We wanted to link our hobby – mountain biking – to a good cause”, so Arno. “We are very privileged to be able to ride the CAPE EPIC and want to give something back to the South African society. And since AIDS is one of the biggest problems down here, we support an AIDS project.”

Results (all results are online under www.cape-epic.com)

Men
1. Giant – Roel Paulissen (BEL), Bart Brentjes (NDL) – 4:10:52.96
2. Siemens Cannondale – Christoph Sauser (SUI), Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) – 4:10:54.85
3. Red Mr. Price – Shan Wilson (RSA), Brandon Stewart (RSA) – 4:17:00.92

Women
1. Fiat/ Bianchi/ adidas 2 – Hannele Steyn-Kotze (RSA), Zoe Frost (RSA) – 5:19:11:52
2. Scott Ladies – Hanlie Booyens (RSA), Michelle Lombardi (RSA) – 5:43:03.12
3. Hai-Bike/ Scrane.de РKirsten R̦sel (GER), Petronella Hattingh (RSA) Р5:54:47.28

Masters
1. Mongoose/ Getaway РFriedrich Colesk̩ (RSA), Doug Brown Р4:41:42.49
2. Sauna Diana – Jan Siemons (NDL), Jos V. Aert (NDL) – 4:41:56:11
3. Specsavers – Linus Van Onselen (RSA), Frans van Zyl (RSA) – 4:47:46:29

Mixed
1. Manic Cycles/ Enduren – Geddan Ruddock (RSA), Jeannie Bomford (RSA) – 5:02:03.16
2. Fast n Fresh – Leon Erasmus (RSA), Liza Serfontain (RSA) – 5:07:51:13
3. Team Microsoft – Nic White (RSA), Anke Erlank (RSA) – 5:08:15.80

Overall Leaders:

Men
Giant – Roel Paulissen (BEL), Bart Brentjes (NDL) – 29:28:54:40

Women
Fiat/Bianchi/adidas 2 – Hannele Steyn-Kotze (RSA), Zoe Frost (RSA) – 38:22:48:70

Masters
Mongoose/ Getaway – Friedrich Coleske (RSA), Doug Brown (RSA) – 34:26:18:82

Mixed
Team Microsoft – Nic White (RSA), Anke Erlank (RSA) – 36:37:46.37