![\"ccs-62657-0-96035200-1552832967.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-96035200-1552832967.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Lars Forster and Nino Schurter of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing during the Prologue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa on the 17th March 2019. Photo by Dwayne Senior\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\nConditions on the day were cloudy and cool with some rain early on, making for fast racing (the winning time was two minutes faster than in 2018) but also producing a few bumps, bruises and upsets. \u201cThe course suited us quite well,\u201d commented 32-year-old Schurter, who won the 2017 Absa Cape Epic with Matthias Stirnemann.<\/p>\n
The multiple World and World Cup champion is racing with Swiss compatriot and Absa Cape Epic debutant, Lars Forster, this year. \u201cWe are cross country racers and this is our strength, so we are very happy with the win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Before quickly adding, \u201cwe want to win the whole race, so hopefully, everything goes according to plan for the next seven days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Forster, who was announced only last week as Schurter\u2019s partner after Andri Frischknecht took ill with a stomach bug, was equally pleased with the result.<\/p>\n
According to Forster the climb up to Dead Man\u2019s Tree proved tough and pushed him into the red. \u201cI was a good 20 Watts over,\u201d he joked afterward. \u201cLuckily Nino\u2019s horsepower on the flats was super hard, so I could sit in and rest there.\u201d<\/p>\n Forster then lead Schurter down the Land Rover Technical Terrain section on the infamous Plum Pudding. At this point the pair had a lead of around 12 seconds, a gap they had already built up at the second time check on the 20-kilometre route, which featured some 600 metres of climbing.<\/p>\n For most of the five-time checks, they were followed closely by the South African SpecializedFoundationNAD pairing of Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly, before disaster struck less than two kilometres from the finish, in the form of a puncture. The setback saw them eventually finish fifth overall, behind Cannondale Factory, KROSS-SPUR and 7C CBZ WILIER.<\/p>\n \u201cBit of a lapse of concentration there,\u201d said Matt Beers afterward. \u201cWe were going super hard and I hit a rock. It was close to home so we decided to just nurse it home for the final two kays,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cJust bad luck at the end,\u201d said teammate Alan Hatherly. \u201cWith us being the last 10 teams to go the course changed a lot from when we pre-rode it, and there were far more exposed rocks. One of which claimed Matt\u2019s rear tyre.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe stayed calm and limited our losses and are happy to wear the Absa African Red Jersey, all things considered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The popular Cannondale Factory pairing of Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini had a great day out, much to the delight of the local fans who lined the route, despite the unseasonably cold and wet weather. \u201cWe showed today that our form is in a good place and I am really happy how we went,\u201d commented Henrique Avancini, who arrived in the country only this week, after some extensive travel delays. \u201cWe are in a good place for the rest of the week, let\u2019s see how it all goes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter and Lars Forster of Scott Sram during the Prologue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa on the 17th March 2019. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly of team SpecializedFoundationNAD during the Prologue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa on the 17th March 2019. Photo by Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini of Cannondale Factory Racing during the Prologue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa on the 17th March 2019. Photo by Dwayne Senior\/Cape Epic<\/span><\/p>\n