![\"ccs-62657-0-26637700-1426432602.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-26637700-1426432602.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nMen’s Stage podium (L to R) Karl Platt & Urs Huber of Bulls, Martin Gujan & Fabian Giger of Novus OMX Pro (1st) , Jaroslav Kulhavy & Christoph Sauser of Investec-Songo-Specialized after the Prologue. \/\/ Photo by Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS.<\/span><\/p>\n Giger and Gujan were delighted with their performance: \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it at all but I\u2019m very happy to get the win,\u201d said Giger. \u201cWe left quite early (before the favourites for the stage) and had a good time out there.\u201d They finished in 46 minutes and 18 seconds, an exceptionally quick time for the 20km Table Mountain course.<\/p>\n Many of the top riders described the course as being tough and without any opportunities to rest. The course was generally quite dusty after a long and dry Western Cape summer. Riders who went out late in the day, such as the professionals, had the worst of the conditions after earlier riders had dragged their brakes through sections of the course.<\/p>\n Karl Platt and Urs Huber of Team Bulls during the Prologue. \/\/ Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n Team Bulls\u2019s Platt (German) and Urs Huber (Swiss) were second, 18 seconds behind the Swiss pair. \u201cWe didn\u2019t start full gas,\u201d said Platt. \u201cWe kept it steady and think it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n He said there had been one scary moment when he rode into a dust cloud as he entered a steeply descending singletrack: \u201cI went \u2018whoa! where\u2019s the track?\u2019, but then it was fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiss Sauser and Czech Jaroslav Kulhavy (Investec Songo Specialized) finished third, five seconds behind Platt and Huber. \u201cIt was hard for me,\u201d said Sauser. \u201cI struggled with the climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n