![\"ccs-62657-0-05337300-1458485573.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-05337300-1458485573.jpg\")
<\/a>Team Spur Specialized’s Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad on their way to overall victory in the ladies category during the final stage (stage 7) of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Boschendal in Stellenbosch to Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, South Africa on the 20th March 2016. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\nAs was the case throughout the \u201ceight days of courage\u201d, Swiss Kleinhans and Dane Langvad didn\u2019t have it their own way during Sunday\u2019s Grand Finale, the 86km from Stellenbosch to Meerendal Wine Estate. The Spur-Specialized pair led going into the final two kilometres before the Sport for Good pairing of German Sabine Spitz and Ukranian Yana Belomoina overtook them and ecstatically crossed the finish line first in 3:53.31,4 \u2013 their third straight stage victory.<\/p>\n
Langvad acknowledged that this has been a tough week for the pairing, after initially facing a strong challenge from Ascendis Health\u2019s Robyn de Groot of South Africa and Swede Jennie Stenehag. Then Spitz and Belomoina found their legs in the closing stages but Spur-Specialized\u2019s overall winning margin of 14.56 highlighted their superiority over the eight days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a difficult stage after a tough week of racing, but we are happy with our overall win and super happy with our third Epic title,\u201d said the Dane. \u201cWinning the Epic is a big goal. To celebrate I\u2019m going to drink some of the great South African wine that I didn\u2019t get to drink this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kleinhans, who came into the Absa Cape Epic unsure about her form once again had to dig deep to keep pace with her partner. As a result, she is looking forward to home comforts after celebrating her fifth Absa Cape Epic title in a row across the Mixed and Women\u2019s categories.<\/p>\n \u201cThis stage was a bit messy \u2013 we had a lot of men overtaking us today, but in general the route over the Epic was really good for the women, because we didn\u2019t get bunched with the men. To celebrate I\u2019m going to sleep, eat and recover. It\u2019s been super tough.\u201d<\/p>\n Grand Finale winners Spitz and Belomoina, who have got stronger and stronger through the eight days, cranked up the pace to make the decisive move on Meerendal\u2019s famous Stairway to Heaven.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the final climb Yana was riding like crazy,\u201d said a delighted Spitz. \u201cShe overtook a men\u2019s team and I was sitting behind them thinking \u2018oh my gosh\u2019, then I saw her overtake the girls and I realised I had to use my last grain of power to get to her. To win three stages in a race is amazing. I\u2019m really pleased I took the decision to come ride the Cape Epic.\u201d<\/p>\n Belomoina, who at 23 is Spitz\u2019s junior by 21 years, was happy that her cross-country skills could be the decisive factor on the day.<\/p>\n \u201cThe finish was very good, it was like a lap of cross-country so I had to go fast. I saw a small chance so I went for it and luckily Sabine could catch up. I\u2019m very happy to win three stages in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n Topeak Ergon rounded off the Sasol Women\u2019s category podium \u2013 with another third place finish at Meerendal.<\/p>\n Two-time winner Sally Bigham of England lamented the fact that her upset stomach affected their challenge once the racing hotted up on Sunday, leaving her teammate, Adel Morath, to sum up their day.<\/p>\n<\/a>Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans of Spur-Specialized win Overall Womens Jersey of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic during the final stage (stage 7) of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Boschendal in Stellenbosch to Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, South Africa on the 20th March 2016. Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Team Sport for Good’s Sabine Spitz and Yana Belomoina on their way to stage victory during the final stage (stage 7) of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Boschendal in Stellenbosch to Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, South Africa on the 20th March 2016. Photo by Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n