![\"ccs-62657-0-71904400-1426780531.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-71904400-1426780531.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLeading ladies Annika Langvad & Ariane Kleinhans (in orange leaders jerseys) climb singletrack near Brewelskloof during stage 4 of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic. \/\/ Photo by Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\n Second over the line, more than 20 minutes after Team RECM Specialized, was a much happier looking Team Ascendis Health, with both Jennie Stenerhag and Robyn de Groot finishing with grins instead of grimaces.<\/p>\n Third in the Sasol Women\u2019s category on Stage 4 were Esther Suss and Alice Pirard of Team Meerendal Wheeler, who just pipped the leading South African ladies, Jeannie Dreyer and Theresa Ralph of Team RBS, to the final podium place.<\/p>\n There were no tears this time from the leaders, just big smiles and high fives as the two continued their phenomenal dominance of this race. Still, it\u2019s no pleasure cruise at the Absa Cape Epic and Langvad will be nursing a few bruises after a fall near the end of the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really sandy again, and so rocky at the start,\u201d said a browner than usual Kleinhans. \u201cIt was also real Karoo riding out there today, so you had to watch for thorns and sharp stones.\u201d The pair are riding slightly heavier and thicker tyres than normal, and it\u2019s a strategy that appears to be paying off.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are only slightly heavier than our usual tyres,\u201d said Kleinhans, \u201cbut it really gives you the confidence to push on, especially when you are slightly tired towards the end of the day and you aren\u2019t able to dodge obstacles quickly. With these you can go over stones feeling confident that you won\u2019t puncture.\u201d<\/p>\n From this stage of the race riders start to tire and mistakes can derail a charge for victory and ruin months of training. \u201cThat\u2019s the nature of stage races,\u201d said Kleinhans. \u201cEveryone starts to get tired from now but you just have to push on.\u201d<\/p>\n Pushing on is exactly what Stenerhag and De Groot did on Stage 4. No smiles on Stage 3 turned to all smiles on Stage 4 as the pair regrouped well. \u201cToday is a much nicer feeling,\u201d beamed Stenerhag. \u201cWe\u2019ve been second a few times at this year\u2019s Cape Epic, but today was the best \u2018second\u2019 we\u2019ve had. It was important to bounce back after yesterday and we did that.\u201d<\/p>\n