![\"ACE21_S7_SamClark_4189.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ACE21_S7_SamClark_4189.733f9e48fb5d25f94d3575a1281aab45.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n\tJordan Sarrou and Matthew Beers. Photo credit: Sam Clark.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThis is just an incredible feeling,\u201d said Beers. \u201cBurry set the bar very high; he was such a great mountain biker. I honestly didn\u2019t think I could ever achieve this. I have to say thank you to Jordan. He\u2019s been such a great partner all week, a real superhero. I never thought this was possible. When we started and won the Prologue I thought that was amazing, but to have held it all the way through, I just can\u2019t thank the team enough, we had an amazing team.\u201d\u00a0
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\n\tSarrou was at a loss for words after his eight days of mountain biking. \u201cThis is just incredible,\u201d he said. \u201cI have no words. It\u2019s been such an amazing week riding with Matt. We had the yellow jersey right from the start and we never let it go. It feels amazing to win the Absa Cape Epic. Thank you to the entire team – the staff, the mechanics, everyone involved has made this possible.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\t \tGoing into the 68km Grand Finale, The Trail to Val de Vie, NinetyOne-songo-Specialized had a solid six-minute lead in the overall standings over second-placed BULLS 2 (Martin Frey and Simon Stiebjahn).\u202f\u00a0 \n\t \tThe real racing on the day came in the competition for third overall. Trek-Pirelli\u2019s Samuele Porro and Fabian Rabensteiner started the final stage with a slender lead over Buff Scott MTB\u2019s Hans Becking and Jose Dias.\u00a0 \n\t \n\t \tStage 7 Results:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n\tGeneral classification after Stage 7:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n\tFull results here<\/a>.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_5735.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_5735.20a970391fc9004bd666f88b746b263b.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n\tPhillip Buys during stage 7 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Photo credit: Nick Muzik.<\/em><\/p>\n
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\n\tBULLS 2 overtaking the overall leaders was still theoretically possible at the start, but it would have required a ride of superhuman effort combined with disastrous luck for Beers and Sarrou. That scenario never came close to playing out, though, as BULLS 2 dropped off the leaders on the first climb of the day. From around 20km into the final stage, then, all Beers and Sarrou had to do was ensure they made it over the finish line in one piece.\u202f\u00a0\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_6082.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_6082.3f135b804287fa0fe9847c77a2c551b4.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n\tJose Dias and Hans Becking of Scott Buff win stage 7 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Photo credit: Nick Muzik.<\/em><\/p>\n
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\n\tThat overall lead didn\u2019t last long into the stage, though, as Becking went flat out on the first climb of the day. His ascending prowess has been a feature of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic, and the last day was no different. BULLS 2 popped off the back, Trek-Pirelli couldn\u2019t match the pace either, leaving only Beers and Sarrou to go with Buff Scott\u00a0
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\n\tLone rider Tristan Nortjie of {type}DEV Nanotime, whose partner Wessel Botha abandoned the stage early on, managed to stay with Buff Scott and NinetyOne-songo-Specialized too.\u202f\u00a0
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\n\tBecking and Dias took turns leading the stage, with Beers and Sarrou always right there – Nortje, not allowed to interfere in the racing as a lone rider, remained just behind the front four throughout. A small dog soon joined the leaders, chasing the riders through the vineyards, and later a peacock blocked Dias on a district road. These were the only dramas for the front riders.\u202f\u00a0\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_5691.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_5691.9c4d5c10e325c409672cca932b489283.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n\tThe lead riders during stage 7 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Photo credit: Nick Muzik.<\/em>
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\n\tAs the Grand Finale finish, at Val de Vie, approached, Becking was briefly in conversation with Sarrou, the four leaders all handing out celebratory fist pumps too. After finishing the stage, Becking said they were simply discussing the post-race tactics. \u201cI was asking Jordan, \u2018who is paying for the first round tonight\u2019 then I said \u2018okay, you guys won, so I will buy the first drinks\u2019.\u201d In the finish chute, Beers and Sarrou dropped back, leaving Becking and Dias to claim the stage while they savoured the moment of their overall victory.\u00a0
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\n\tFor Dias and Becking, claiming third overall was a major goal achieved. \u201cWe went flat out today to overtake Trek-Pirelli. We gave it our all to get that third place. I went into that first climb and gave everything I had.\u201d\u00a0
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\n\tDias simply added, \u201cAmazing. Just amazing. I loved it.\u201d\u00a0
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\n\tSecond overall at the 2021 Absa Cape Epic went to the BULLS 2 team of Martin Frey and Simon Stiebjahn. \u201cWe were hoping for a podium overall, but second overall and a stage win was more than we expected,\u201d said Stiebjahn. \u201cI\u2019m actually a little lost for words right now. It\u2019s just been a great week.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_6720.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ACE21_stage7_NickMuzik_6720.724bdd9a335b8102a6efd4f13cd3df34.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n\tMatt Beers and Jordan Sarrou celebrate the overall Yellow leaders Jersey win. Photo credit: Nick Muzik.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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