Absa Cape Epic 2023 - Stage 3

Banner day for South African mountain biking on the 100km Hermanus to Oak Valley Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic It was a banner day for South African mountain biking on the 100km Hermanus to Oak Valley Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic, with local riders claiming stage victories in the men’s and women’s categories on Wednesday, 22 March.

Amy Wakefield and Candice Lill (e-FORT.net | SeattleCoffeeCo) won the transition stage in the CM.com Women’s category, while Matt Beers won the men’s Stage 3 race alongside American partner Christopher Blevins (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne).

Lill and Beers are the reigning SA Marathon Champions, while Wakefield was the 2022 South African Marathon Champion.

The consecutive stage successes for Wakefield and Lill further cemented their overall lead in the CM.com Women’s category. Sofia Gomez Villafane and Katerina Nash (NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized) now sit eight minutes back in second place overall.

Another tactical ride and explosive finish gave Beers and Blevins their third stage win in four days. They also moved up one place from fifth to fourth in the men’s general classification.

Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne now sit seven minutes and 40 seconds behind GC leaders Nino Schurter and Andri Frischknecht (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) with Georg Egger and Lukas Baum (ORBEA x Leatt x Speed Company) in second overall and Fabian Rabensteiner and Wout Alleman (Wilier Pirelli Factory) in third.