{"id":75432,"date":"2026-03-17T19:31:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=75432"},"modified":"2026-03-19T19:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T17:10:20","slug":"xc-specialists-gaze-and-schwarzbauer-win-stage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/xc-specialists-gaze-and-schwarzbauer-win-stage-2\/","title":{"rendered":"XC Specialists Gaze and Schwarzbauer win Stage 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former World XC champion Sam Gaze of New Zealand and short course specialist Luca Schwarzbauer of Germany put their racing skills on full display as they sprinted to a famous victory on Stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic. On a front-loaded course that favoured the fast men over the final 20km, the two finished ahead of the Wilier-Vittoria combination of Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto with overall leaders Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje finishing third. In the women\u2019s race Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller made it three stages in a row as they extended their lead in the overall classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sam Gaze and Luca Swarzbauer take the win during stage 2 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On a course where most of the climbing happened in the first half of the 102km stage, former World XC champion Sam Gaze and short course specialist Luca Schwarzbauer showed off their XC class in the final 20km to win Stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic in Montagu on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaze, from New Zealand, and German Schwarzbauer won the dusty rocky stage in 3 hours 54 minutes 55 seconds ahead of Italian Wilier-Vittoria outfit Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. Overall leaders Matth Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) finished third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tristain Nortje during stage 2 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic stage race. Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Canyon team\u2019s win moved them up to sixth on the General Classification while Beers and Nortje’s overall lead was reduced to just two seconds ahead of the Italian team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the women\u2019s race – over 80km with 1750m of climbing – South African champion Candice Lill and her Dutch partner Alessandra Keller (Th\u00f6mus Maxon Sabi Sabi) extended their lead over Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation) after winning the stage in 3 hours 30 minutes. But Courtney and Seiwald firmed up their second place overall, finishing just 37 seconds behind on the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men\u2019s Race<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a stage packed with climbs in the first half, it was always going to be a fast finish for all those who had survived the earlier ascents. By the time the race had made it over the Ouberg Pass, eight teams were still in the lead group, as Beers and Nortje sat on the front, tapping out a steady pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But, with 25km to go, the XC specialists began to make their presence felt. First, it was the tall figure of powerful former Olympic XC bronze medalist David Serrano who pushed the pace up front before Schwarzbauer and Gaze began their surges. The early attacks split the front group before a final selection of seven teams made their way into the last 10km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaze and Schwarzbauer animated all the action, and it was clear that their powerful accelerations would be difficult to control as they neared the finish. Predictably, the two rounded the final bend together with only Wilier-Vittoria and Toyota Specialized Imbuko in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fun level was high but the suffer level was even higher,\u201d a delighted Schwarzbauer said. \u201cWhen you go on an all-out attack and it doesn’t work it is the most terrible thing. We attacked like that two times, and luckily the second one worked. The finish today was like a short track race because it was all about positioning and we could use our abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Stage 1, the two Canyon riders suffered chain and tyre issues and lost time on the overall classification but still feel they are in with a shout for the overall title as they lie in sixth 4:58 behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are still five days left and this is the Cape Epic,\u201d said Gaze. \u201cWe had some bad luck yesterday but maybe we will benefit somewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After winning the opening prologue and finishing third twice, the Toyota Specialized Imbuko team did most of the early pace setting before the late attacks split up the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday was a weird day. It was quite boring but still rough and rocky,\u201d said Nortje. \u201cMatt and I just rode at the front just to keep safe because there were rocks flying all around. But the XCO guys did some big kicks in the final 5km, so I was quite surprised that we still managed to follow them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s Race<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it did on Stage 1, Stage 2 of the women\u2019s elite race began with a short, sharp climb out of the gates and then on to the long Ouberg Pass. By the time they had breached the second climb second-placed overall Courtney and Seiwald had split the group with only Lill and Keller, who were able to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind them there was drama for the third-place team Rosa Van Doorn and Vera Looser (Buff-Bh Efficient Infiniti) when Van Doorn punctured just after the first climb and was unable to fix the puncture. The Dutch woman was forced to ride on the soft tyre insert until the next tech zone but, to add their misery, their men\u2019s team had taken Van Doorn\u2019s spare wheel. The team eventually managed to scramble to a ninth-place finish but lost 23 minutes to the overall leaders and now lie fifth on the GC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, up front Seiwald and Courtney were still putting pressure on the orange jersey holders as they set the pace for most of the stage. But they paid the price when Lill and Keller accelerated up a small climb with 9km to go and were unable to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we had established a gap, we pushed pretty hard to the finish,\u2019 Keller said. \u201cWe wanted to put in as much time as we could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti (Symbtech.Net) moved on to the final step of the podium after finishing seventh on the stage. They now trail the overall leaders by 25 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, riders take on the longest stage of the 2026 event over 140km with 1750m of climbing. The women\u2019s elite race will be over 108km with 1450m of climbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elite Men Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. CANYON: Luca SCHWARZBAUER & Sam GAZE (3:54.55)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (3:54.56 | +2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (3:54.59 | +4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. TORPADO KENDA FSA Fabian RABENSTEINER & Casey SOUTH (3:55.06 | +11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis AZZARO & Juri ZANOTTI (3:55.07 | +12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elite Men GC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (8:18.22)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (8:18.24 | +2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David VALERO SERRANO & Marc STUTZMANN (8:18.51 | +29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis AZZARO & Juri ZANOTTI (8:18.56 | +34)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. TORPADO KENDA FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (8:20.07 | +1:45)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elite Women Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TH\u00d6MUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (3:30.00)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate COURTNEY & Greta SEIWALD (3:03.48 | +1:57)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. TORPADO FSA KENDA Katazina SOSNA-PINELE & Giorgia MARCHET (3:40.43 | +10:43)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB Hayley PREEN & Hayley SMITH (3:40.44 | +10:43)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. SANI2C EFFICIENT INFINITI Samantha SANDERS & Bianca HAW (3:42.49 | +12.49)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Michael Chiaretta\/Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elite Women GC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TH\u00d6MUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (7:23.17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate COURTNEY & Greta SEIWALD (7:26.48 | +3:31)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.  SYMBTECH.NET<\/a>: Margot MOSCHETTI & Claudia PERETTI (7:48.21 | +25:04)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley PREEN & Haley SMITH (7:49.18 | +26:00)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI Rosa VAN DOORN & Vera LOOSER (7:50.11 | +26:54)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPECIAL JERSEYS GC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toyota Mixed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TEAM 69: Jenny RISSVEDS & Simon ANDREASSEN (9:42.33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absa African Men<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (8:18.22)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absa African Women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. SANI2C EFFICIENT INFINITI: Samantha SANDERS & Bianca HAW (7:56.19)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. JOY RIDE: Jennifer BURTNER & Callah ROBINSON (13:54.08)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. COLIBRI CYCLING: Eimantas GUDISKIS & Vladas JURKEVICIUS (9:22.20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great Grand Masters Men<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. OTB: Pieter MULLER & Corrie MULLER (12:08.18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GIC Grand Masters Women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. UAG EPIC: Martha KOEKEMOER & Jenny R\u00d6NNGREN (12:58.18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GIC Grand Masters Men<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. ORBEA FOX FACTORY: Ibon ZUGASTI & Ernesto MENDOZA (9:46.02)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NTT Data Masters Women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. USWE SA: Mari DU TOIT & Janine MULLER (12:25.38)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NTT Data Masters Men<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. CZECHROCKET&SWISSDIESEL: Pavel gonda Tobias LUTHI (9:12.46)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exxaro Women\u2019s Jersey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. EXXARO MANGANESE LADIES 1: Tsholofelo NKOSI & Bontle PHEPISO (15:35.34)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exxaro Men\u2019s Jersey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. FAIRTREE DP WORLD CANNONDALE 2: Ethan MICHAELS & Damon TERBLANCHE (10:13.23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To follow the Absa Cape Epic action live, mountain biking fans are encouraged to tune into the Absa Cape Epic\u2019s live broadcast on the Epic Series<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

YouTube Channel here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former World XC champion Sam Gaze of New Zealand and short course specialist Luca Schwarzbauer of Germany put their racing skills on full display as they sprinted to a famous victory on Stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic. On a front-loaded course that favoured the fast men over the final 20km, the two finished […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":75436,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[24],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-75432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-cape-epic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75442,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75432\/revisions\/75442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75432"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=75432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}