![\"ccs-62657-0-39421800-1553265186.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-39421800-1553265186.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Matthys Beukes of PYGA Euro Steel celebrates as he and partner Philip Buys win stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\nQuite poetically they were racing for Scott Factory Racing back then. On Friday, Buys and Beukes finished just ahead of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing, who rode their way back into the Yellow Jerseys and a 5:13 buffer on overnight GC leaders Cannondale Factory Racing.<\/p>\n
With his wife and daughter at the finish, an emotional Beukes confirmed that this victory was indeed that much sweeter than Stage 4 in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really special after quite a disappointing race so far,\u201d he said. \u201cWe came here with an overall podium as a goal, but it didn\u2019t quite work out.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Beukes they took it easy on the Time Trial and decided to target a stage in the last three days. \u201cTo do it on the Queen Stage is amazing,\u201d Beukes confirmed adding that it was by no means easy.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest I didn\u2019t feel that great today with dead legs from the start this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had to dig so deep and it was just a mental thing to keep suffering and not give up and I’m really proud that we won that battle.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, the flagship stage lived up to its moniker and provided no shortage of action and drama. In the Men\u2019s race it started right from the gun at Oak Valley Estate, when Henrique Avancini of Cannondale Factory Racing went out hard. The usual suspects went with him including KROSS-SPUR (who claimed yet another Dimension Data Hotspot).<\/p>\n By the first water point at Eikenhof Dam (24-kilometres in), KROSS-SPUR had blown and Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing and Pyga Euro Steel were out in front. They duly controlled the race from there.<\/p>\n \u201cThe plan was to make it hard from the beginning and put the pressure on Cannondale,\u201d Nino Schurter said afterward, explaining how they got away early only for Lars Forster to puncture. \u201cWe lost some time, but managed well and then we had the perfect situation in the front with Pyga.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are racing for the (Absa African) Red Jersey and we are racing for the Yellow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was nice to spend the day out with them,\u201d Phil Buys agreed. \u201cThe plan was to be in the front, but to be up there with the World Champ and the European Champ was great.\u201d<\/p>\n Downplaying the gravity of the occasion too was Trek Selle San Marcowho took third on the day, further solidifying their spot on the GC podium. \u201cWe had to stop at the tech zone and change a saddle,\u201d said Samuele Porro, explaining how they felt strong on the King\u2019s Climb and made back all their time there.<\/p>\n Overnight Yellow Jersey wearers Cannondale Factory Racing had a tough day out. Despite\u2019s Avancini\u2019s early surges the ever-popular pair took a few tumbles and resorted to a day of defence in order to limit their losses. Fumic had to dig particularly deep. They would eventually finish fourth on the Coetzenberg sports fields at Stellenbosch University.<\/p>\n Their crash was indicative of a day filled with spills as the fatigue toll started setting in across the field. Cannondale Factory Racing live to fight another day however, not so fortunate are Centurion Vaude. Jochen Kaesshad a race-ending crash which saw him unable to continue.<\/p>\n<\/a>Matthys Beukes and Phil Buys of Pyga Eurosteel chase the lead bunch during stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter of SCOTT SRAM leads the race during stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing portages down the Gantouw Pass during stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Damiano Ferraro & Samuele Porro of Trek Selle San Marco celebrate finishing in third place during stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Manuel FUMIC (DEU) and Henrique AVANCINI (BRA) of team Cannondale Factory Racing take a tumble during stage 5 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Oak Valley Estate in Elgin to the University of Stellenbosch Sports Fields in Stellenbosch, South Africa on the 22nd March 2019. Photo by Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n