![\"ACE21_S3__MG_2231_Photo](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1361007242_ACE21_S3__MG_2231_PhotoSamClark.7fdc897c4edb863aba931ff5d8e6baa1.jpeg\")
Laura Stigger and Sina Frei during stage 3 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic Mountain. Photo by Sam Clark<\/em><\/p>\n\tThey won everything Stage 3 could throw at them – the Dimension Data Hotspot Sprint on Tulbagh\u2019s 300-year-old Church Street, the race to the top of the climbs, and the race to the bottom of the descents. They finished the stage nearly four minutes ahead of their nearest rivals, Robyn de Groot and Ariane L\u00fcthi (Salusmed), giving themselves a mammoth 11-minute lead in the women\u2019s race general classification.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\t \n\t\u201cIt was a super hard stage because it was really hot,\u201d said Frei. \u201cWe managed to get a gap on the steep, long Fanties Pass climb. Then on the technical downhill we could extend it, and in the end, we just went all out to the finish.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tStigger was thankful that her partner was on song throughout the day. \u201cI couldn\u2019t have done that stage without Sina,\u201d she said. \u201cI really struggled. Sina was really patient and waited for me, I have to thank her for being my teammate. She was so good today – on the climbs, on the trails, on the flats, everywhere.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\t \n\tThe women\u2019s race only kicked into gear around the 20km mark, where the teams raced full-throttle through the Tulbagh-based Hotspot. From there, NinetyOne-songo-Specialized, Salusmed, Fairtree (Amy McDougall and Jennie Stenerhag), Faces CST (Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss), and Land Rover Ladies (Mari Rabie and Hayley Preen) all kept together.\n<\/p>\n \n\tA break formed, with Land Rover Ladies leading the way. South African National road race Champion Preen looked up for the fight today, but a crash that resulted in a suspected wrist fracture ended her race participation. The scene played out with Rabie sitting on the floor, comforting her injured partner.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tMariske Strauss was the next rider to crash, her fourth in four days of racing. It meant Faces CST dropped off the front and had to race hard to close the three-minute gap.\n<\/p>\n \n\t \n\tAs Fanties Pass approached, L\u00fcthi said she felt good and managed to pull away, but partner Robyn De Groot was taking strain. \u201cOn that climb, I was not feeling well,\u201d said De Groot. \u201cI had a bad patch, a really bad patch. I just tried to keep moving forward, trying not to look too far ahead. I was struggling, taking it metre by metre.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tFrei and Stigger sensed their opportunity and made their move, turning the race screws in the process. \u201cWe were hoping for a bigger gap,\u201d said Frei. \u201cBut we are happy with what we got because by the end we were suffering.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\t \n\tStage 3 Results:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n\tGeneral classification after Stage 3:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_S3_7476_Kelvin](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1304407831_ACE21_S3_7476_KelvinTrautman-2.ee33377c53b5bc51fe1be2ea8369332b.jpeg\")
\n\tTeam Salusmed’s Robyn De Groot. Photo credit: Kelvin Trautman.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_S3__MG_2087_Photo](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/2003186632_ACE21_S3__MG_2087_PhotoSamClark.e161aae285cc4ba0863da3e5d118c0cd.jpeg\")
\n\tUCI Women group during stage 3 of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Photo credit: Sam Clark.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_S3_7501_Kelvin](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1615530167_ACE21_S3_7501_KelvinTrautman-2.fa2dd728f819e820836fc469737b4bb5.jpeg\")
\n\tTeam Faces CST, Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss. Photo credit: Kelvin Trautman.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n![\"ACE21_S3_6898_Kelvin](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1469735555_ACE21_S3_6898_KelvinTrautman-2.08540cc845510386bb6aae12eda737dd.jpeg\")
\n\tSina Frei and Laura Stigger. Photo credit: Kelvin Trautman.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n\n
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