![\"ccs-62657-0-69624600-1521469138.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-69624600-1521469138.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Annika Langvad & Kate Courtney during stage 1 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wine Estate in Robertson, South Africa on the 19th March 2018. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\nThe Investec Songo Specialized duo attacked early on the 110km stage which started and finished in Robertson. Despite a slow leak in Courtney\u2019s back tyre, which at one point looked to have put their second victory in a row in danger, they were able to add to their lead from Sunday\u2019s Prologue.<\/p>\n
The pair finished the stage with a time of 4:45.22, while Langvad\u2019s former partner, Ariane L\u00fcthi, and Githa Michiels were second for the second day in a row. After losing another 52 seconds on Monday, the Team Spur combination is now two minutes and four seconds off the pace.<\/p>\n
The young Silverback-KMC team of Mariske Strauss and Annie Last enjoyed a strong final 30 kilometres of the stage to claim third for the day and third overall. The team Ascendis Health\/WIAWIS Bikes duo of Robyn de Groot and Sabine Spitz, who is suffering with a stomach bug, have slipped back to fourth.<\/p>\n
Langvad explained the mini drama which nearly derailed their stage:<\/p>\n \u201cKate could feel that her rear wheel was leaking. We kept on riding for a bit but then she said: \u2018No, we need to plug it.\u2019 When we plugged it the second team caught us and they got a gap. We chased and got back to them and then on a climb we attacked and were able to keep it to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Courtney was full of praise for the calm demeanour of her experienced partner when they had to stop and fix the leak.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say anything can happen in this race and we definitely had that experience today,\u201d said the American after crossing the line. \u201cLuckily we were able to fix the puncture quickly, but I learned a lot from the master (indicating Annika) about staying calm and just working together as a team and maximising our strengths.<\/p>\n \u201cAnnika obviously has a lot of experience, but this is my first Absa Cape Epic and one of the first times I have been out there so long and responsible for my own equipment. She is teaching me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Langvad, a four-time World Marathon Champion as well as a former Cross-Country World Champion, said the first long stage of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic was \u201chard\u201d and \u201clong\u201d and that sentiment was shared by L\u00fcthi.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was certainly a tough day out there today, but really beautiful riding,\u201d said the rider who partnered Langvad to three wins in 2014, 2015 and 2016. \u201cIn the beginning, Annika attacked really early up the first climb and Githa and I managed to stay with them quite well.<\/p>\n \u201cThen Githa had a stick or something in her spokes and dropped a bit back, so I also had to let go and see if Githa was okay. She sorted it out and chased back really hard and caught me.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom there we could always see Annika and Kate ahead of us but we never quite managed to close the gap until they had their puncture. We then thought maybe we can take the stage if they take long enough to fix it, but they rode really, really strong and got back quickly \u2013 and still had enough to take the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite finishing runners-up for two days in a row, L\u00fcthi is still confident they can challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just always have to be there and do our job. It is a long, long race and anything can happen. We must keep the pressure on them and just stay in the hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n Strauss and Last are now eight minutes behind the leaders, but have a healthy five-minute cushion over De Groot and Spitz, the same team they edged into third position in 2017.<\/p>\n \u201cYah, it was a tough day,\u201d said Strauss. \u201cWe felt it a bit toward the end but Annie was super strong and we worked well together. It was a little cat-and-mouse game we were having out there with Robyn (de Groot) and Sabine (Spitz).<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the second year Annie and I are racing together and we just look at each other now and we know what the game plan is.<\/p>\n \u201cWe figured if we could get a gap on (Robyn and Sabine) on the last big descent at about 72 kays then we might be able to pull a gap on them to the finish and that worked really well. We are just happy to be on the podium.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Ariane L\u00fcthi and Githa Michiels during stage 1 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wine Estate in Robertson, South Africa on the 19th March 2018. Photo by Sam Clark\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Annika Langvad & Kate Courtney during stage 1 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wine Estate in Robertson, South Africa on the 19th March 2018. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Annie Last & Mariske Strauss during stage 1 of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wine Estate in Robertson, South Africa on the 19th March 2018. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n