![\"ccs-62657-0-12461000-1552917006.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-12461000-1552917006.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Nino SCHURTER (SUI) and Lars FORSTER (SUI) of team Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m very happy with the win,\u201d Schurter commented shortly after the finish on another cloudy and cool day which made for fast racing. \u201cIt was a good day out. I hurt a bit toward the end, but now we have time to recover for tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jaroslav Kulhavy and Sam Gaze of Investec-songo-Specialized crossed the line at Hermanus High School in the chasing bunch not too far behind, to limit their losses and climb up to third place on the GC.<\/p>\n
However, if the big story is that three all cross-country teams are firmly placed on the top of a gruelling stage race GC, then there were many subplots at play on a day not without its dramas.<\/p>\n
The first \u2013 and perhaps most interesting \u2013 is the fierce battle which developed throughout the stage between the front two teams: A group of around 20 riders, featuring all the top contenders stayed together until the Dimension Data Hot Spot at 37km in. From there, the bunch began to split apart after Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing (who took the hot spot) pushed the pace.<\/p>\n Cannondale Factory Racing were able to stay in the mix as were Investec-songo-Specialized, one of the Trek Selle San Marco outfits, Canyon and the two senior BULLS teams. It stayed like this until Henrique Avancini went up the road to drop his much-storied hydration vest at water point three. This acted as something of a catalyst and the real fireworks started.<\/p>\n At around 74kms Sam Gaze washed out his wheel in a sandy section and went down hard. He was able to recover the rejoin the chase, but by then though Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing and Cannondale Factory Racing had already opened a gap on the chasing teams.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long after this that Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing went out alone. \u201cThe guys didn\u2019t really want to work so we attacked them,\u201d Schurter explained. \u201cThat\u2019s how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone in the bunch was a bit nervous and it was hectic in the beginning, but then the racing really started after that water point,\u201d Fumic added afterward.<\/p>\n \u201cScott was playing a few games and we didn\u2019t really want to get involved in that,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we just kept riding consistent and it\u2019s all good. It\u2019s a long week and you need to be strong at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Avancini was slightly more vocal: \u201cThey (Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing) were very strong today,\u201d he commented. \u201cLars (Forster) is a world class rider \u2013 as I said yesterday \u2013 and Nino (Schurter) is perhaps the best ever.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s a long week and I trust my legs, my body, my partner and my team to go the distance.\u201d<\/p>\n Aside from Gaze\u2019s crash and how much the chase work Investec-songo-Specialized had to do might cost them later in week, the other big talking point of the day was the renaissance ride of Team BULLS Legends Karl Platt and Alban Lakata, who finished third on the day.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last two years went really badly and that was difficult for motivation\u201d and overjoyed Platt mused after the finish. \u201cTo finish on the podium is just such a joy and big relief for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt went really well,\u201d agreed Lakata. \u201cWe didn\u2019t expect it to go like that and if it can go like this all week then it will be really good. But we also have to take care of ourselves,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s a long week and today took quite a lot out of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The SpecializedFoundationNAD outfit of Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly had mechanical issues early on and spent the day battling back, but did manage to retain the Absa African Jersey.<\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter of SCOTT SRAM and Henrique Avancini of Cannondale Factory Racing have words during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter and Lars Forster of SCOTT SRAM break away during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Manuel Fumic of Cannondale Factory Racing during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Jaroslav Kulhavy adjusts his cleats during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Karl Platt and Alban Lakata of BULLS Legends sprint for 3rd place during stage 1 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Hermanus High School in Hermanus, South Africa on the 18th March 2019. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n