Colombo tightens the screws on Schurter to win stage 1 of the Cape Epic 2025 and take the lead in the race

After the prologue time trial, the Absa Cape Epic 2025 offered an intense battle on the South African trails during stage 1. The standout pair of the day was undoubtedly formed by Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo who claimed victory after a brilliant stage finish. In the women's race, Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez Villafañe set the pace from the start with a true display of performance.

Filippo Colombo and Nino Schurter show their cards and win stage 1 of the Cape Epic 2025

The first stage of 96 km with 2450 meters of positive elevation did not disappoint. Starting and finishing at Merendal Wine State, the favorites showed their cards on a day marked by dust, speed, and strategic attacks.

After the victory in the prologue stage, Wilier-Vittoria, with Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto, started as leaders and controlled a large part of the race. During the first two-thirds of the stage, the group of favorites rode together, with the presence of the main pairs vying for the overall lead: Scott-SRAM MTB Racing (Nino Schurter and Filippo Viero Colombo), Outride | Toyota | Songo (Matthew Beers and Keegan Swenson), Orbea Leatt Speed Company (Lukas Baum and Georg Egger), Klimatiza Orbea (Samuele Porro and Marc Stutzmann), and Torpado x Singer (Fabian Rabensteiner and Simon Stiebjahn), in addition to the leaders Wilier-Vittoria.

However, the real race began in the third hour of competition when Scott-SRAM launched a devastating attack on one of the key climbs of the route. Only the leaders, Braidot and Avondetto, managed to respond to the change of pace by Schurter and Colombo. From there, the stage turned into a duel between these two teams, while behind them, the groups began to break apart.

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With 30 km to go, Orbea Leatt Speed Company, which led the race for much of the route, was over 2 minutes behind, Klimatiza Orbea was losing 2 and a half minutes, and Torpado x Singer was riding almost 3 minutes behind. The battle between Wilier-Vittoria and Scott-SRAM continued until the final kilometers, where Colombo showed exceptional strength.

Just 5 kilometers from the finish, the young Swiss rider launched a decisive final attack, allowing his team to open a decisive gap over Braidot and Avondetto. Despite Wilier-Vittoria's efforts to close the gap, Scott-SRAM crossed the finish line in first position, claiming the victory and the overall lead.

Stage 1 Results Men Cape Epic 2025

1. SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing - Nino Schurter, Filippo Viero Colombo - 3:51:03 / -
2. WILIER-VITTORIA - Luca Braidot, Simone Avondetto - 3:51:34 / +31
3. ORBEA Leatt Speed Company - Lukas Baum, Georg Egger - 3:53:07 / +2:04
4. Klimatiza Orbea - Samuele Porro, Marc Stutzmann - 3:53:43 / +2:40
5. Torpado x Singer - Fabian Rabensteiner, Simon Stiebjahn - 3:53:53 / +2:50
6. Torpado Kenda FSA 2 - Jakob Dorigoni, Gioele De Cosmo - 3:56:05 / +5:02
7. Outride | Toyota | Songo - Matthew Beers, Keegan Swenson - 3:56:17 / +5:14
8. Imbuko ChemChamp A - Marco Joubert, Tristan Nortje - 3:57:02 / +5:59
9. BULLS Mavericks - Simon Schneller, Axel Roudil-Cortinat - 3:57:19 / +6:16
10. BH Coloma - David Valero Serrano, Tiago Jorge Ferreira Oliveira - 3:57:43 / +6:40

Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez Villafañe set the pace with an exhibition

In the women's race, the Toyota Specialized pair, formed by Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez Villafañe, made it clear that they are at a higher level than the rest. From the start of the stage, they took control of the race and, despite facing an early fall and a flat tire, they managed to impose their pace without anyone being able to keep up with them.

Their performance allowed them to cross the finish line with almost five minutes ahead of the Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM team, composed of Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda, who finished in second place. The podium was completed by the BUFF MEGAMO duo, with Rosa Van Doorn and Janina Wüst, who put on a solid performance in this first stage.

Stage 1 Results Women Cape Epic 2025

1. Toyota | Specialized - Annika Langvad & Sofía Gómez Villafañe - 4:43:35 / -
2. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM - Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda - 4:49:31 / +5:42
3. BUFF MEGAMO - Rosa Van Doorn & Janina Wüst - 4:52:37 / +8:02