AMERICAN CHRISTOPHER BLEVINS TAKES ON NINO SCHURTER IN SPRINT FINISH AT ABSA CAPE EPIC ON TUESDAY
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot takes on America's Haley Batten and Sofia Gomez Villafane
Stage 2 of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic marked the longest stage of this year’s race. The route took the teams from Lourensford Wine Estate into the heart of the hinterland in Greyton. It was a challenging day with a lot of wind and sun for the riders.
In the women’s race, Robyn de Groot (RSA) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) of BMC MTB Racing took the stage win. They showed incredible riding over 6 hours and 20 minutes after their struggles yesterday.
The men’s race was decided in a nail-biting sprint finish. Nino Schurter (SUI) and Lars Forster (SUI) of SCOTT-SRAM were heading towards the finish line in the lead, but Christopher Blevins (USA) overtook them. His partner Matt Beers (RSA) could not go with him, so SCOTT-SRAM took the stage win.
Buff Megamo’s Hans Becking and José Dias finished in third place, close behind.
Overall leaders Canyon Northwave MTB’s Andreas Seewald (GER) and Martin Stosek (CZE) finished 10 seconds behind the leaders in the fourth position. They were able to defend their yellow leader jersey ahead of tomorrow’s Stage 3.
| Stage 2 – MEN | Stage 2 – WOMEN |
| 1. SCOTT-SRAM #2-1 Nino SCHURTER (SUI) & #2- 2 Lars FORSTER (SUI) 05:17:04.8 | 1. BMC MTB Racing #51-1 Pauline FERRAND PRÉVOT (FRA) &
#51-2 Robyn DE GROOT (RSA) 06:20:52.2 |
| 2. Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized #1-1 Matthew BEERS (RSA) & #1-2 Christopher BLEVINS (USA) +00:00:00.5 | 2. NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized #54-1 Haley BATTEN (USA) &
#54-2 Sofia GOMEZ VILLAFANE (ARG) +00:02:47.7 |
| 3. BUFF-MEGAMO #5-1 Hans BECKING (NED) & #5-2 José DIAS (POR) +00:00:01.9 | 3. Symbtech ZA #50-1 Ariane LÜTHI (SUI) &
#50-2 Amy WAKEFIELD (RSA) +00:07:50. |
