Beers-Blevins finish the comeback to win the Absa Cape Epic 2023

Beers-Blevins win the Absa Cape Epic 2023. The pair was 8 minutes behind the overall in the first stage. Today they were able to make up the 90 seconds that separated them and take the yellow jersey at the last moment. Egger-Baum tried after yesterday's dramatic day, but had to settle for the stage victory.

Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne wins the Absa Cape Epic 2023 in a fast and error-free final stage

After a chaotic stage that exploded in both the men's and women's categories, the teams prepared to fight the last battle. The climax to put an end to the Cape Epic 2023. Eight days of intense duels in which there have been moments for everything.

The equality dragged the riders to fight for the victory in the last stage. The 580 km covered and the 13,375 meters climbed so far were left behind. Everything was open for the front trio to fight for the overall on a 78-kilometer route with 2,400 meters of elevation gain.

The first offensive came when Egger-Baum launched an attack in the early stages, which Beers replied with confidence.

The initiative then shifted to Schurter-Frischknecht. The Swiss Scott-SRAM riders made a move and Beers-Blevins stuck to their wheel while Egger-Baum dropped a few seconds.

The two pairs rode at the front until the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne riders changed the pace again and released the yellow jerseys. A moment of weakness for the leaders that Egger-Baum took advantage of to hunt them down and leave them behind.

Beers-Blevins reached km 18 with a 20-second lead. The chasing group was formed by Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company, Singer Racing and one of the members of the Specialized NinetyOne 2.

The chasers eventually caught the breakaway pair to create a group of seven riders at the front of the stage. Meanwhile, Scott-SRAM suffered and rode a few seconds behind.

The pace of the leading seven paid off and left Schurter-Frischknecht 90 seconds behind.

The kilometers passed and the organization unofficially indicated that the distance with Scott-SRAM could already be two minutes, which made the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne the virtual winners.

But there was still a long way to go and Scott-SRAM was still on a mission to chase down the front group. While they were working on it, Schurter couldn't avoid tripping over an animal that got in his way and he went to the ground, although he was able to get up without further consequences.

The next key moment came with 20 kilometers to go. It was then that Egger-Baum raised the pace and forced Beers-Blevins to do the same in order not to be left behind.

The Germans had a very high pace, but it was not enough to overtake the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, which remained in their wake.

The gap to Scott-SRAM continued to grow and was 4 minutes with just a few kilometers to go.

Thus the first seven riders reached the last part of the stage. Frey suffered a nasty crash that prevented him from riding the last part of the stage with the group.

Egger-Baum crossed the finish line in first position to claim the day's victory. After losing the lead due to mechanical problems, the Germans tried to make up the time they lost yesterday, but were unable to do so against rivals who responded confidently to the dizzying pace they imposed.

The Beers-Blevins pair emerged as the new winners of the Absa Cape Epic 2023. The Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne duo were able to cut the 1 minute and 32 seconds to take the yellow jersey after winning it just a week ago in the prologue. A well-deserved victory for both riders, who had to come from 8 minutes behind in the overall after the first stage.

Schurter-Frischknecht were left with the bitter taste of those who defend the lead and are unable to withstand the pace with which their main rivals dispute the stage. They reached the finish almost six minutes behind and occupy the third step of the podium in the general classification.

 

Cape Epic 2023 Men's Category Results - Stage 7

1. Egger/Baum (Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company) 3:07'26"
2. Beers/Blevins (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) +10"
3. Stiebjahn/Frey (Singer Racing) +56"
4. Seewald/Stosek (Canyon Northwave MTB) +5'15"
5. Schurter/Frischknecht (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) +5'54"
6. Rabensteiner/Alleman (Wilier Pirelli Factory) +8'57"
7. Lakata/Roudil-Cortinat (Bulls Mavericks) +10'27"
8. Vakoc/Stutzmann (Canyon Northwave) +10'32"
9. Bou/Muñoz (Cannondale VAS Arabay) +10'57"
10. Beeli/Barandun (Bernina Sport / Scott) +12'51"

Overall classification Men's category Cape Epic 2023 - Stage 7

1. Beers/Blevins (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) 26:17'04"
2. Egger/Baum (Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company) +3'49"
3. Schurter/Frischknecht (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) +4'11"
4. Rabensteiner/Alleman (Wilier Pirelli Factory) +35'12"
5. Seewald/Stosek (Canyon Nothwave MTB) +49'42"
6. Bou/Martínez (Cannondale VAS Arabay) +59'16"
7. Vakoc/Stutzmann (Canyon Northwave) +1:05'43"
8. Buys/Miller (PYGA Euro Steel) +1:17'
9. Becking/Dias (BUFF Megamo) +1:33'56"
10. Lakata/Roudil-Cortinat (Bulls Mavericks) +1:33'56"

Wakefield-Lill fail to make a miracle and Looser-Le Court win the Cape Epic

The race started with Looser-Le Court in the orange jersey. After Wakefield-Lill's unlucky day yesterday, the distance separating them was 25 minutes. A difference that seemed too big and perhaps only possible to bridge if something out of the ordinary happened.

The first kilometers were marked by equality and both pairs completed the first part of the course together.

Looser-Le Court dispelled any doubts and took the lead. Later it was Steinburg-Calderon who caught up.

The stage victory went to Steingurg-Calderón after a great performance. And Looser-Le Court took the overall victory which, although it is true that they were up against it after stage 6, today showed that they had the pace and won with solvency to e-FORT.net.

Wakefield-Lill were the protagonists of the race for many days, but in the end they had to settle for second place overall.

Cape Epic 2023 Women's Category Results - Stage 7

1. Steinburg/Calderón (Cannondale Vas Arabay) 4:02'50"
2. Le Court/Looser (Efficient Inifity Insure) +18"
3. Wakefield/Lill (e-FORT.net) +7'30"
4. Gómez/Nash (NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized) +16'16"
5. Keseg Stevkova/Krahulcova (8capital) +26'06"
6. Keep/Preen (Valley Electrical) +27'29"
7. Wohlters/De Villiers (Bester Performance) +32'55"

Overall classification Women's category Cape Epic 2023 - Stage 7

1. Le Court/Looser (Efficient Inifity Insure) 33:11'37"
2. Wakefield/Lill (e-FORT.net) +32'24"
3. Gómez/Nash (NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized) +43'17"
4. Steinburg/Calderón (Cannondale Vas Arabay) +1:55'13"
5. Keseg Stevkova/Krahulcova (8capital) +3:07'42"
6. Keep/Preen (Valley Electrical) +3:32'17"
7. Wohlters/De Villiers (Bester Performance) +4:41'19"