![\"ccs-2-0-85916300-1395593100.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-85916300-1395593100.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nRiders climb Stairway to Heaven during the Prologue of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 23 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/strong><\/p>\n Following the resounding success of the 2012 and 2013 Prologues, the eleventh edition of the race kicked off with a 23-kilometer prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in the Durbanville Wine Valley \u2013 the mountain biking Mecca on Cape Town\u2019s doorstep. The event saw 1 200 excited riders from 50 countries enjoy cool weather with the first group of riders starting their 8-day journey at 06:45. Short and filled with loads of purpose built single track, the Prologue was the first test for man and machine for the week to come.<\/p>\n Rolling off the start ramp, the route took riders through the historic Manor House after which a surprising twist awaited before riders faced the challenging single track climb up \u201cStairway to Heaven\u201d to the top of Dorstberg, a mountaintop which boasts magnificent 360 degree views of world famous landmarks such as Table Mountain, Robben Island and Cape Point.<\/p>\n Pressed for time, teams had to forgo sight-seeing as they dove straight into a rugged, Renosterveld lined trail that descended into the quarry and adjacent Hoogekraal farm, where sweeping single track forming part of the Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club trail system lay in wait. Well bermed turns made for a fun roller coaster descent as the route ultimately headed back through steep vineyards and a steady climb past dairy fields onto the picturesque Meerendal Wine Estate, finishing off with some more single track, ensuring that riders finished their first day with big smiles on their faces.<\/p>\n This time trial was a race against the clock to decide the seeding in the field and which teams will wear the coveted leader jerseys at the start of Stage 1 in Robertson.<\/p>\n Jose Hermida and Rudi van Hout of Team Multivan Merida Biking pass Tim Boehme and Simon Stiebjahn of Team Bulls 2 to ensure they win the Prologue of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 23 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/strong><\/p>\n The Men\u2019s category for the Prologue was won by Jos\u00e9 Hermida and Rudi van Houts of Multivan Merida Biking in a time of 59.08,0. They were followed by BMC Mountainbike Racing\u2019s Lukas Fluckiger and Martin Fanger in 59.20,0, with German\/Czech combo Robert Mennen and Kristian Hynek (Topeak-Ergon Racing) in third place (in 1:00.28,7). In fourth place was Markus Kauffmann and Jochen Kaess of Centurion-Vaude in 1:00.37,8 with Nino Schurter and Philip Buys (SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing) in fifth place in 1:01.02,0. Four-times Absa Cape Epic winner Karl Platt finished in sixth place with partner Urs Huber (1:01.12,3).<\/p>\n Christoph Sauser, also a four-times winner, finished in 9th<\/sup> place with new partner Franti\u0161ek Rabo\u0148 in a time of 1:02.22,7. Rabo\u0148 dropped his chain early on in the race and along with Sauser\u2019s crash, it disrupted the team\u2019s rhythm. It was a tough introduction to the Absa Cape Epic for Rabo\u0148.<\/p>\n Says Van Houts of Multivan Merida Biking: \u201cWe had a good balance today. Both of us were strong and were racing to the limit the whole time. My heart rate was 180! That’s very high.\u201d Hermida jokingly adds: \u201cIt was the hardest stage of the Cape Epic thus far this year! Last year we really wanted to win the Prologue, so I\u2019m very happy with the victory. We wanted a stage and will ride strong in our yellow jerseys.\u201d<\/p>\n Fluckiger of BMC Mountainbike Racing says: \u201cIt was like I expected. Martin started strong and I just had to hang on. In the second half I got my legs and rhythm. We have seven days to go and we\u2019ll be fighting for the jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n Mennen of Topeak-Ergon Racing says it was hard. \u201cBut all went well. It was a challenging course and we rode really well together. It was easy to go too fast and overcook it today. We now have a good foundation to work from for the rest of the Epic.\u201d<\/p>\n Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad at the finish line during the Prologue of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 23 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Warren Elsom\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/strong><\/p>\n Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad of RECM 2 won the Women\u2019s category in a time of 1:10.07, ahead of Sally Bigham and Esther S\u00fcss (Meerendal) in 1:12.16,3. Jennie Stenerhag and Theresa Ralph (Cape Brewing Company) finished third in 1:15.43,3, with Milena Landtwing and Hielke Elferink (Meerendal Wheeler) in fourth place (1:16.12,9).<\/p>\n Says Kleinhans of RECM 2: \u201cAnnika is power! She is an amazing partner and was so cool about the crash. I\u2019m very happy with the Prologue. It was a good day and my legs feel great. We had lots of fun and are looking forward to the rest of Epic.\u201d Langvad adds: \u201cIt was very tough. I didn\u2019t expect to fall at the start. I was very nervous but luckily nothing happened. I think it was the adrenaline kick I needed. I just have to laugh about it. We\u2019re both in good shape and I think we\u2019ll keep the lead if everything keeps going well.\u201d<\/p>\n Bigham of team Meerendal comments: \u201cWe made a good start and it was an enjoyable stage with some nice trails. I did suffer though! It makes me feel more respected as an athlete to race in a more competitive category with so much prize money. We deserve the same attention and respect. Women can now have a career in mountain biking with this kind of money.\u201d S\u00fcss feels there is so much more on the table this year. \u201cThere is more focus on us from the media\u2019s side and the competition is fierce. We like it and are happy to race for this kind of prize money. We had a good start today and feel strong for the rest of the Epic.\u201d<\/p>\n Ralph comments that they were debating what their goal is. \u201cEspecially seeing that I was injured for the most of last year. Initially I wasn\u2019t planning on even racing. Now I\u2019m on the podium! We\u2019re both very competitive and love it out there. We\u2019ll go hard everyday.\u201d Stenerhag continues: \u201cThis was a fun stage. I love the single track. I also love fighting for position and we\u2019re both like that, so we\u2019re very much looking forward to the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n The Masters category was won by former Olympic Gold medallist Bart Brentjens and Abraao Azevedo of BETCH.nl Superior Meerendal. Their winning time was 1:08.52,1. They were followed by Shan Wilson and Adrian Enthoven of Definitive Bikes in 1:10.44,1. Pascal de Kort and Bart van de Water of Technofit finished third (1:13.27,0).<\/p>\n The ETIS team of Peter Vesel and Anni Hellstern won the Mixed category (1:15.44,7), followed by Karl Zoetemelk and Sarah Koba of ASSOS Werksmannschaft in 1:16.31,7. The South African team of Theo Blignaut and Cherise Stander (RECM Mixed) finished in third place (1:17.55,3).<\/p>\n Says Vesel of ETIS: \u201cWe came to finish in the top three but now we might go for the victory! It was a really hard stage but all went well and now we\u2019re looking forward to rest.\u201d His riding partner Hellstern adds: \u201cWe\u2019ll have to see what happens now. We worked so well together and my partner was so strong. I really enjoyed it out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Stander of RECM Mixed says she is not thinking about overall. \u201cEvery podium is a bonus. Just to finish the Epic is a victory. It’s an emotional time and I’m not always sure what to expect from my body or mind. We\u2019ll take each day as it comes.\u201d Blignaut adds: \u201cI enjoyed riding with Cherise. She is strong and technically really good. I\u2019m very impressed. There\u2019s still so much to ride for and enough time left so we\u2019re not worried at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew Mclean and Heinz Zoerweg of Cycle Lab Toyota finished in first place in the Grand Masters in a time of 1:09:06,2. They were followed by B\u00e4rti Bucher and Doug Brown of Meerendal Songo Specialized 4 in 1:09.38,1 with Eben Espach and Corrie Muller of team Absa Grand Masters in third place (1:14.19,1).<\/p>\n Says Brown: \u201cThis was a big wake up call and shock to the system. Luckily for me B\u00e4rti was super strong, so it all worked out. We don’t even have to talk. We just look at each other and know. We ride together very well.\u201d <\/p>\n Kevin Evans and Max Knox at the start during the Prologue of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 23 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Warren Elsom\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/strong><\/p>\n A hotly contested \u2018race within a race\u2019 is the one for the red Absa African special jersey, awarded to the highest placed team, with both members holding African passports. Team FedGroup Itec\u2019s Kevin Evans and Max Knox finished first in 1:01.47,7 with Johann Rabie and Neil MacDonald (FedGroup Itec 2) in second (1:02.40,0). They were followed by Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell of RECM in 1:02.48,7.<\/p>\n Says Evans of FedGroup Itec: “After missing out on the action the past few years, I will gladly take the Absa African special jersey! I\u2019m happy to be back and ready to take on Stage 1.”<\/p>\n Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile of team Meerendal Songo Specialized 16 managed to secure the Exxaro jersey with their impressive performance during the Prologue. Their time was 1:09.17,3 and they are placed 31st overall (GC).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nMen\u2019s Category<\/h2>\n
Women\u2019s Category<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nMaster\u2019s Category<\/h2>\n
Mixed Category<\/h2>\n
Grand Masters Category<\/h2>\n
Absa African Jersey<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nExxaro Jersey<\/h2>\n