Victory for Imbuko, revenge of the Wilier Vittoria and difficulties for SCOTT SRAM in the penultimate stage of the Cape Epic 2025

The penultimate stage of the Absa Cape Epic 2025 brought an unexpected twist in the race development. After several days of extreme heat, rain once again took center stage on a tough day of 87 km and 2550 meters of elevation gain. The weather conditions played a key role in a day that ended up shaking up the women's stage and the overall men's classification.

Wilier Vittoria attacks, Imbuko wins, and SCOTT SRAM loses a large part of their lead in the General

The stage began with a significant withdrawal: the BUFF MEGAMO team of Wout Alleman and Martin Stošek, one of the most consistent teams of this edition and fifth overall, abandoned the race. Their withdrawal automatically opened up the possibility of climbing in the general classification for other pairs.

In the early stages, a large compact group stretched out to form an elite peloton with the usual protagonists of this edition: Imbuko ChemChamp (Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje), SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing (Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo), and Wilier-Vittoria (Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto). Alongside them, also riding in front positions were Outride Toyota Songo (Matthew Beers and Keegan Swenson), MitoQ NZ Cycling Project (Craig and Ben Oliver), and BH Coloma (David Valero and Tiago Ferreira).

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It is worth noting that Schurter and Colombo arrived with a lead of almost two minutes over Wilier-Vittoria in the general classification, a lead they were obliged to manage intelligently.

The Outride Toyota Songo team, one of the top favorites at the start of this edition, led the stage until kilometer 60. But once again, the performance of Keegan Swenson was not enough, and he had to give way, leaving his partner Beers with no chance to fight for the stage victory.

With 20 kilometers to go, the strongest trio of the race—SCOTT-SRAM, Wilier-Vittoria, and Imbuko ChemChamp—were left alone at the front. The Klimatiza Orbea team of Porro and Stutzmann was chasing just 36 seconds behind, but without the ability to make contact.

With the rain becoming more prominent, the Wilier-Vittoria team launched a powerful attack that broke the rhythm of the group. To the surprise of many, SCOTT-SRAM began to lose ground, even on the downhill sections, where they had previously demonstrated overwhelming superiority.

Wilier and Imbuko took full advantage of the situation and accelerated in the final kilometers. A minor setback—a chain drop—slowed down the Italian team for a few seconds, allowing Imbuko ChemChamp to cross the finish line first.

Although Wilier-Vittoria finished second in the stage, their strategy was a complete success. SCOTT-SRAM crossed the finish line 1:34 minutes later, a difference that reduces their lead in the general classification to just 32 seconds with one stage remaining.

With this result, the Cape Epic 2025 is heading towards an exciting finale, with two teams—SCOTT-SRAM and Wilier-Vittoria—separated by less than half a minute and everything still to be decided.

Stage 6 Classification - Absa Cape Epic 2025 Elite Men

1. Imbuko ChemChamp A - Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje - 3:49:37
2. Wilier-Vittoria - Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto - 3:49:51 (+14s)
3. SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing - Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo - 3:51:11 (+1:34)
4. Klimatiza Orbea - Samuele Porro and Marc Stutzmann - 3:53:12 (+3:35)
5. Outride | Toyota | Songo - Matthew Beers and Keegan Swenson - 3:54:32 (+4:55)
6. MitoQ NZ Cycling Project - Craig Oliver and Ben Oliver - 3:54:44 (+5:07)
7. Toyota Specialized - Johan Van Zyl and Travis Stedman - 3:55:52 (+6:15)
8. BULLS Mavericks - Simon Schneller and Axel Roudil-Cortinat - 3:57:04 (+7:27)
9. Cannondale ISB Sport Men - Peeter Pruus and Riccardo Chiarini - 3:57:21 (+7:44)
10. Torpado Kenda FSA 2 - Jakob Dorigoni and Gioele De Cosmo - 3:57:44 (+8:07)

General Classification Men - After Stage 6

1. SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing - Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo - 21:38:38
2. Wilier-Vittoria - Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto - 21:39:10 (+32s)
3. Imbuko ChemChamp A - Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje - 21:49:59 (+11:21)
4. Klimatiza Orbea - Samuele Porro and Marc Stutzmann - 22:00:48 (+22:10)
5. Torpado Kenda FSA 2 - Jakob Dorigoni and Gioele De Cosmo - 22:15:11 (+36:33)
6. ORBEA Leatt Speed Company - Lukas Baum and Georg Egger - 22:21:12 (+42:34)
7. Honeycomb 226ers - Marc Pritzen & Wessel Botha - 22:29:20 (+50:42)
8. Klimatiza Orbea 2 - Miguel Muñoz Moreno and Luis Francisco Pérez Martínez - 22:29:51 (+51:13)
9. Toyota Specialized - Johan Van Zyl and Travis Stedman - 22:32:11 (+53:33)
10. MitoQ NZ Cycling Project - Craig Oliver and Ben Oliver - 22:32:32 (+53:54)

The Cannondale ISB Sport of Monica Calderón and Tessa Kortekaas asserts itself with a brilliant victory

In the women's race, the unquestionable dominance of Toyota-Specialized by Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez showed some weaknesses during the final climb of the previous stage. Despite this, the duo responded firmly once again. But in stage 6, the script repeated itself, with them riding in second position, behind the Cannondale ISB Sport of Monica Calderón and Tessa Kortekaas, who took the lead from the early kilometers.

Langvad, who returned to competition for this Cape Epic after her retirement in 2021 and just seven months after becoming a mother, sensed today's performance drop and had anticipated in previous days that she might face difficult moments during the race. However, her performance has been exemplary so far, comfortably leading the general classification alongside Gómez with over 22 minutes of advantage.

As the kilometers passed, Calderón and Kortekaas solidified their position at the front, while Langvad and Gómez focused on controlling their main pursuers in the general classification, Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM by Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda, who were third in the stage.

The gap between Cannondale ISB Sport and the rest only widened, and Langvad-Gómez opted for a conservative strategy, securing their position without taking risks. After an impeccable performance, Cannondale ISB Sport crossed the finish line first, cutting a significant amount of time in the general classification and coming close to the final podium.

Langvad and Gómez finished second, about six minutes behind, while Looser and Skarda completed the podium for the day. Everything is set for an exciting final stage where the women's podium of this Cape Epic 2025 will be defined.

Stage 6 Classification - Absa Cape Epic 2025 (Women's)

1. Cannondale ISB Sport - Monica Calderón and Tessa Kortekaas - 4:47:57
2. Toyota | Specialized - Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez Villafañe - 4:54:37 (+6:40)
3. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM - Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda - 4:55:33 (+7:36)
4. TitanRacing SE Honeycomb - Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen - 4:59:23 (+11:26)

General Classification Women - After Stage 6

1. Toyota | Specialized - Annika Langvad and Sofía Gómez Villafañe - 27:03:15
2. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM - Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda - 27:26:41 (+23:26)
3. TitanRacing SE Honeycomb - Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen - 27:43:11 (+39:56)
4. Cannondale ISB Sport - Monica Calderón and Tessa Kortekaas - 27:48:38 (+45:23)

The Grand Final will be decided in another long stage with almost 70 km and 3000 meters that awaits one of the most important climbs of the day less than 7 km from the finish. Considering that the differences in the General are minimal, tomorrow's stage could be an epic one that decides many positions in this edition.