![\"ccs-58780-0-68747200-1490106659.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-68747200-1490106659.jpg\")
<\/a>Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes. During Stage 2 of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Hermanus High School in Hermanus to Elandskloof in Greyton, South Africa. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\nBuys and Beukes crossed the ad hoc finish line at the Caledon Botanical Gardens with a stage time of 2:37.02, 10 minutes in front of their nearest Absa African special jersey challengers, BCX (Waylon Woolcock and Hendrik Kruger).<\/p>\n
Beukes was happy to finish with a strong lead over BCX and said, \u201cI think it was a good decision to shorten the race. This of course made the racing pretty intense from the start, which we liked. The stage was exciting and the route was quite spectacular.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lessons are learned fast on the Absa Cape Epic, and a slight tweak to their strategy meant they were able to pull out a lead and put some pressure on the front runners early on in the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday I struggled at the back of the pack and that hurt me quite a bit, so this morning we stayed out in the front to set the pace. This is great because it means we can ride in the top five,\u201d said Beukes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree quarters of the way through the stage we backed off a little bit \u2013 there are still five days left so there\u2019s no point in ripping off the legs now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buys was happy to use the shortened course to PYGA Euro Steel\u2019s advantage, and adapted accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely tried to use it to our benefit. The stage was shorter and faster which suited us a little better than some of the other African teams, and that\u2019s where we capitalised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe communicated and gauged ourselves. We discussed if we wanted to go for the stage win but we didn\u2019t chase it in the end. We hung around in front for some time and decided not to push for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buys does not think it was an opportunity lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think our lead was unnecessary because I think we got quite a lead for the Absa African special jersey, and it would also be great to go for a stage win somewhere. There is fuel in the tank, and this is where we get going now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woolcock and Kruger had a tougher day than they hoped for, with each rider having issues that forced them to concede time
.
\u201cIn the first 10 kilometres I had some technical problems, so I was forced to stop and found it was a jammed chain and jockey wheel. That cost us time and a lot of riders passed us, so when we got going again we had to find our way through some bad traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think another long day would have been a little tough on many of the riders. It would have been tough for us as Waylon was battling some issues of his own, so in hindsight I think we are lucky the day was shortened.<\/p>\n
Woolcock didn\u2019t face mechanical issues, but rather health problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday and last night I started to have some stomach issues. I\u2019m glad that it\u2019s an early finish today \u2013 it just gives me a chance to recover. It was also fortunate that we didn\u2019t lose too much time, thanks to the shorter distance,\u201d said Woolcock.<\/p>\n
In the race for the Exarro special jersey, Diepsloot MTB Academy (William Mokgopo and Phillimon Sebona) remained dominant in Stage 2, extending their overall gap to 28 minutes and 20 seconds.<\/p>\n