Cape Epic 2024: Seewald and Stutzmann from Canyon SIDI win stage 3, Buff-Megamo maintains the lead

In a stage with long stretches of asphalt, former XCM World Champion Andreas Seewald has taken the victory alongside his teammate Marc Stutzmann from Canyon SIDI. The overall standings still favor BUFF-Megamo with Hans Becking and Wout Alleman, but relegates World Bicycle Relief of Schurter and Fini to third place after losing more than 4 minutes and Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne moves up one position.

Canyon SIDI of Andreas Seewald and Marc Stutzmann wins stage 3 of the Cape Epic 2024

The long stretches of asphalt in stage 3 already hinted that it could be the perfect day for the most skilled cyclists, but in the Cape Epic none of the favorites will give up a stage no matter how much it doesn't suit their conditions. And so it was.

In the first kilometers, Matthew Beers and Howard Grotts from Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne took the lead of the peloton during the first climb of the day in the Waterval Nature Reserve. But the first attack came a little later and was led by the overall leaders.

The BUFF - MEGAMO pair formed by Hans Becking and Wout Alleman made the first break in the group and took with them World Bicycle Relief of Schurter and Fini while it seemed that ORBEA LEATT Speed Company of Georg Egger and Lukas Baum was not having their best day today, something the Germans would turn around.

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At kilometer 45, the race head grew again with up to five teams riding together, including the legendary Jaroslav Kulhavy with his teammate Filip Adel from the Superior Lions team. The other four were BUFF - MEGAMO, Speed Company, Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, and Pyga Euro Steel.

In the next descent, Baum and Egger from Speed Company tried to attack downhill, but the quality of their rivals and a somewhat technical descent on a wide trail prevented them from opening a gap.

The climb to Kloof de Bain by road and its subsequent descent along 20 km of trails to the finish line decided the stage.

At the front of the race, only the pairs of Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, Speed Company, BUFF - MEGAMO, and Canyon SIDI formed by Andreas Seewald & Marc Stutzmann remained, while in a chasing group were World Bicycle Relief of Schurter and Fini, who had to stop a couple of times due to chain problems of the Danish rider, and Wilier Vittoria Factory of Fabian Rabensteiner and Samuele Porro.

The final attack came at kilometer 75 with 23 km to go, and it was led by Canyon SIDI of Seewald-Stutzmann. ORBEA Leatt Speed Company tried to join them but it soon became clear that they could only try to chase them while differences began to open up.

Andreas Seewald and Marc Stutzmann (Canyon SIDI) did not stop accelerating until the finish line while the rest began to minimize damage.

Without further changes, the first stage victory of Canyon SIDI in this edition arrived. In second place, 49 seconds behind, were Matt Beers and Howard Grotts from Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, and the podium was completed by Georg Egger and Lukas Baum from Speed Company, 50 seconds behind.

The biggest loss of the day could be said to be for World Bicycle Relief of Schurter and Fini, who arrived at the finish line with more than 4 minutes behind the winners. A loss that has made them give up the second place in the overall standings and will undoubtedly condition them for the rest of the stages.

Men's Stage 3 Results Cape Epic 2024

1. Canyon SIDI. Andreas SEEWALD - Marc STUTZMANN 3:40:24
2. Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne. Matthew BEERS -Howard GROTTS +49"
3. ORBEA Leatt Speed Company. Georg EGGER - Lukas BAUM +50"
4. Buff Megamo. Hans BECKING 7-2 Wout ALLEMAN +54"
5. Wilier Vittoria Factory. Fabian RABENSTEINER - Samuele PORRO +4:08´
6. World Bicycle Relief. Nino SCHURTER- Sebastian FINI +4:09´
7. Imbuko.  Marco JOUBERT - Wessel BOTHA +4:10´
8. Buff Megamo. José DIAS - Enrique MORCILLO VERGARA +4:12´
9. Superior Lions. Jaroslav KULHAVY - Filip ADEL +6:36´
10. PYGA Euro Steel. Philip BUYS - Pieter DU TOIT +6:36´