The Prologue Stage of the Cape Epic 2026 begins with victory for Beers–Nortje and dominance by Keller–Lill

The Absa Cape Epic 2026 is already underway. The event considered the "Tour de France of MTB" has kicked off with its traditional time trial prologue, an explosive day that has served to distribute the first leader jerseys and start marking the initial differences in the overall standings.

The Prologue Stage of the Cape Epic 2026 Begins with Victory for Beers–Nortje and Dominance by Keller–Lill

The start of the race with a short time trial stage is already a tradition in the Cape Epic. In this edition, the prologue has been somewhat shorter than usual, with 20 kilometers and about 650 meters of positive elevation gain, starting and finishing at Meerendal Wine Estate (Durbanville). A fast but demanding course, with several short climbs and sections of singletrack that required finding the perfect balance between explosiveness and control, as any mistake could cost valuable seconds from the very first day.

One of the major innovations in this edition is that the women's race will not follow exactly the same route as the men's in all stages, a decision made by the organization to standardize the arrival times and maintain the audience's attention on both races. However, this prologue has indeed been identical for both men and women, allowing for a direct comparison of times and sensations on this first day of competition.

Beers and Nortje Take the Prologue of the Cape Epic and Valero is Already Third

Since their participation was confirmed and the level of rivals at the starting line was known, it was clear that the pair formed by Spaniard David Valero and Swiss Marc Stutzmann would be one of the major references of this Absa Cape Epic 2026. And they did not take long to confirm it. In this prologue, they made it clear that they are ready to fight for the overall title by finishing third, just 12 seconds behind the victory.

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The best time of the day was for the Toyota Specialized Imbuko team, with South Africans Matthew Beers and Tristan Nortje, who completed the course in 44:37.4. Their victory also has a particular context, as the team had to reconfigure at the last minute after the accident suffered by Keegan Swenson, the current XCM world champion, which forced Nortje to take his place in the formation.

Just 6 seconds behind the winners were Italians Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto from Wilier-Vittoria, confirming that they arrive in great shape for this edition. Right behind them, Valero and Stutzmann completed the podium with 44:50.2, in a very solid performance that places them in privileged positions from the first day.

Also very close behind were other pairs expected to fight for the overall title, such as Mathis Azzaro and Juri Zanotti (Origine-Wilier) or the powerful duo formed by Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon).

The differences among the favorites have been minimal. The top five teams are separated by less than a minute, which confirms what had been anticipated in the weeks leading up: this could be one of the most open Cape Epics in recent years. With seven stages still ahead, any mechanical failure, fall, or physical crisis can completely change the course of the race.

Top 10 Prologue Stage Men's – Absa Cape Epic 2026

1. Matthew Beers / Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) – 44:37.4
2. Luca Braidot / Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) – +6.3
3. David Valero / Marc Stutzmann (Klimatiza Orbea) – +12.8
4. Mathis Azzaro / Juri Zanotti (Origine-Wilier) – +25.6
5. Luca Schwarzbauer / Sam Gaze (Canyon) – +58.2
6. Gioele De Cosmo / Jakob Dorigoni (Torpado Kenda FSA 2) – +1:10.7
7. Fabian Rabensteiner / Casey South (Torpado Kenda FSA) – +1:29.1
8. Samuele Porro / Luis Francisco Pérez Martínez (Klimatiza Orbea 2) – +1:32.1
9. Lachlan Morton / Andrew L’Esperance (EF Education First) – +1:36.5
10. Wessel Botha / Johan Van Zyl (Insect Science | Safari Essence) – +1:40.2

Keller and Lill Meet Expectations in the Women's Race

In the women's race, the two major favorite pairs did not fail. Swiss Alessandra Keller, the current world champion in Short Track, and her partner Candice Lill, a local idol in South Africa, set the best time of the day by completing the 20 kilometers in 51:24.6, placing them as the first leaders of the overall standings with the Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi team.

Behind them, less than a minute later, finished the pair from the She Sends Foundation formed by Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald, who stopped the clock at 52:21.4. American Courtney, XCM world champion, and Italian from Decathlon Ford arrive at the race after teaming up at the last minute, following the accident suffered by Courtney's original partner in the days leading up to the event.

The prologue podium was completed by the solid pair from Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti, with Rosa Van Doorn and Vera Looser, who finished just over two minutes behind the winners.

Top 5 Prologue Stage Women's – Absa Cape Epic 2026

1. Candice Lill / Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi) – 51:24.6
2. Kate Courtney / Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) – +56.8
3. Rosa Van Doorn / Vera Looser (Buff-BH | Efficient Infiniti) – +2:09.3
4. Margot Moschetti / Claudia Peretti (Symbtech.net) – +2:47.2
5. Hayley Preen / Haley Smith (ChemChamp Honeycomb) – +3:06.0

Although the first differences are already appearing, they are still very small in the context of an eight-day race, where any mechanical failure, fall, or physical crisis can completely change the overall classification.

What Awaits Them Tomorrow: A Much More Serious Stage

After this explosive start, the race will face its first stage in line tomorrow, a much longer and more demanding route with 90 kilometers and about 2,150 meters of positive elevation gain, starting and finishing in Montagu.

The profile anticipates a tough day from the first half, with several long and technical climbs in the central area of the course, as well as numerous trail sections that will require the pairs to work in a coordinated manner. This will be the first day in which the Cape Epic truly begins to select the overall classification and where the favorites will need to demonstrate their consistency beyond an explosive time trial effort.