![\"ccs-62657-0-93904100-1521909412.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-93904100-1521909412.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Stage winners Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts of Investec Songo Specialized during stage 6 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Huguenot High in Wellington, South Africa on the 24th March 2018. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\nThe trails in and around Wellington on Stage 6 would offer a superb mix of singletrack but with 2000m of vertical ascent spread over 76km the racing was anything but easy, especially with a resurgent Cannondale Factory Racing outfit looking to reclaim their second place on the general classification over Canyon Topeak.<\/p>\n
Attacks would come early and at regular intervals. Cannondale Factory Racing\u2019s Henrique Avancini made his early ambitions known when he and Mani Fumic sent the leading group into a frenzy of watts and panic. Canyon Topeak and Centurion Vaude had no choice but to follow in a fast-paced first hour of racing that would see Nicola Rohrbach hit the deck in a crash \u2013 something he, and teammate Daniel Geismayr, would never fully recover from.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we rode for the GC,\u201d said Avancini. \u201cWe had two goals: get clear of Centurion Vaude and get back our second place from Canyon Topeak. That\u2019s why we put the pressure on early and kept the pace high.\u201d<\/p>\n After riding at the measured pace for most of the morning Investec Songo Specialized would finally make their move on the Green Mamba \u2013 a long and steep brute of a climb. Cannondale Factory Racing were unable go with the attack and were forced to adopt a damage control approach for the reminder of the stage. For the Czech Express and his partner, Howie Grotts, it was full speed ahead, the two riding a faultless final 35km in which they stamped their dominance and consolidated their lead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a pretty good day for us. We knew the profile would suit us so we put pressure on from the start, said Fumic. We lead for most of the stage and tried to press on all the time and put the other guys in the hurt box. Investec Songo Specialized attacked us on Mamba climb but we had nothing left. We saw Canyon Topeak were taking strain so we kept the pace on to get the gap and extend it.\u201d<\/p>\n Their tactic worked and after initially marking Cannondale\u2019s continued attacks, Canyon Topeak\u2019s Alban Lakata was unable to match the intensity and fell off the pace. They\u2019d eventually finish Stage 6 in fifth position and surrender their four second lead and second place position on the general classification to Cannondale Factory Racing.<\/p>\n \u201cToday Investec Songo Specialized showed that they are unreachable,\u201d said a dejected Lakata. \u201cThey are both in impressive shape. We lost second but tomorrow we will try again. It was a proper fight with Cannondale so let\u2019s hope the legs are there tomorrow to close that gap.\u201d<\/p>\n Jaroslav Kulhavy was pleased with the way he and partner Grotts performed on Stage 6 but mentioned the race is not over until they cross the finish line at Val de Vie on Sunday\u2019s Grand Finale. Still, their lead has grown to well over eight minutes and barring any misfortune the race is theirs for the taking.<\/p>\n \u201cHowie (Grotts) has been getting stronger every day,\u201d said Kulhavy. \u201cWe have to be careful tomorrow. We have a pretty good gap so there can\u2019t be any crashes or mechanicals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToday was perfect \u2013 after we got a gap, we just kept a consistent pace,\u201d said Grotts. It\u2019s been an incredible experience thus far and everything has just clicked together for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini of team Cannondale Factory Racing during stage 6 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Huguenot High in Wellington, South Africa on the 24th March 2018. Photo by Andrew McFadden\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Kristian Hynek of team Canyon Topeak during stage 6 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Huguenot High in Wellington, South Africa on the 24th March 2018. Photo by Mark Sampson\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n