Evans & George win stage 6

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Men's category

Kevin Evans and David George (360Life) showed their true form by winning stage 6 of this year's Absa Cape Epic in a time of 3:38:06, 6:44 ahead of South African-Swiss duo of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (Team 36One-Songo-Specialized).

"At least today my wife's not stressed! And she's not here even though I asked her to come," said Evans. "I'm very happy. It's really good to get a win but even better to be on the overall podium. This year was such a rollercoaster ride for us. We'll be happy with finishing in second place and will work with that. The cheering and support are amazing. Today was very tough and hard, but we're feeling positive and will definitely have enough in the tank to get to Lourensford Wine Estate. What we've been through made us very strong."

George said, "We're ecstatic with the victory. It was so emotional - winning the stage meant so much. We came out fighting for the win - it was our intention to win this stage. But there is still one stage to go and it'll be important to race, but at the same time ride within ourselves."

"We didn't set the pace today and just followed. They wanted to prove something and it's always hard to beat a team with a mindset like that," said Stander. "We just kept our own pace. We're still feeling strong and look forward to a cracker of a last day to Lourensford. We don't know if we'll win the stage, but we'll definitely try. Maybe we can help Max and Kohei. It would be great to help them win a stage."

Sauser said, "We just rode at our own pace today. We didn't need to take any chances and the most important part was to get back safely today and to finish tomorrow. I think it's only big mechanicals that can rob us of an overall victory now. We'll be focused to finish safely and will definitely try to help (their Specialized teammates) Max and Kohei to win at Lourensford Wine Estate."

Alban Lakata and Robert Mennen (Topeak Ergon Racing) finished in third place in 3:47:02, with Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (Multivan Merida Biking) in fourth place Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme (Bulls) in fifth and Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm (Bulls) in sixth).

Lakata described the Cape Epic is a rollercoaster. "Every day I feel different. One day I feel strong and the next day I'm suffering. We're very happy to be on the podium again and really look forward to a strong finish at Lourensford tomorrow."

His teammate Mennen said, "I'm feeling better than I expected and I'm also happy. Tomorrow is our last chance to try and get on the overall podium because that was our goal from the start."

The Bulls 2 team of Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme dropped off the overall podium today. Says  "Today was just not my day. I suffered the whole day," said Boehme. "When 360Life attacked, we just couldn't do anything about it."

Dietsch said, "I suffered at the start and it was only on Groenlandberg that I found my legs. It's disappointing to have lost our spot in the GC (General Classification), but it's just so tough this Cape Epic."

Stander and Sauser (Team 36One-Songo-Specialized) remain in the lead in the men's category by 25:57. Evans and George have moved back onto the podium in second place overall, with Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (Multivan Merida Biking) in third place overall.

Evans and George of 360Life retain the African leaders' jerseys for fourth consecutive day.

Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile of Exxaro Academy 9 remain in the lead for the Development jersey.

Women's category

The ladies category was again won by Sally Bigham and Esther Süss (Wheels4Life) in 4:35:45. They secured their sixth stage win in this year's Cape Epic. They were followed by the Biogen Britehouse team of Theresa Ralph and Nina Gässler in 4:43:58. Karien van Jaarsveld and Jane Nüssli of MTN Qhubeka finished in third place in a time of 4:49:50.

Bigham and Süss lead the Ralph and Gässler by 47:01. MTN Qhubeka's Karien van Jaarsveld and Jane Nüssli remain in third place overall.

The amateur team of Ralph and Gässler of Biogen Britehouse has done exceptionally well at this year's Cape Epic, competing against some of the world's most experienced professional female riders.

"I can smile again today. I enjoyed the stage with its nice trails so much. We just wanted to finish on the podium in one stage - that was our dream beforehand and we've surpassed that," said Gässler. "To be second behind Sally and Esther is like first place for us. They are my idols."

Ralph said, "We had so much fun and it was much better than yesterday. We knew parts of today's route and that made it all the more enjoyable. We enjoyed racing today - yesterday was survival and not racing. Getting safely to the finish and enjoying the feeling is the only plan for tomorrow."

Van Jaarsveld said "We just want to get safely to the finish line tomorrow. It was a hard race."

Mixed category

Showing no strain after yesterday's tough stage in which Ariane Kleinhans developed hyperthermia, the Contego 28E team of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans won the mixed category for the sixth day in a row in 4:36:43. They were followed by Udo Boelts and Milena Landtwing (Centurion Vaude) in a time of 4:46:14, followed by Klaas Vanmoortel and Inne Gantois of BAiK-Peak Performance Brugge in 4:52:05.

The Kleinhans lead Boelts and Landtwing by 1:53:19. Vanmoortel and Gantois remain in third place overall.

"We're feeling good again but the Cape Epic only finishes at Lourensford Wine Estate tomorrow and we'll relax then," said Boelts. "Today was so much better after all the mechanicals and suffering of the previous days. I must be honest, we're very happy with our second place overall. It's Milena's first Cape Epic and it's very tough for her. She said that the TransAlp is kids' stuff compared to this event. Riding in the mixed category is totally different and harder than racing in the masters, but all in all this was a special experience for both of us."

Landtwing said, "Today was a good day. I'm not going to say that I'm enjoying the experience... maybe tomorrow, but this was so hard. I just want to get to the finish now."

Master's category

Bart Brentjens and Jan Weevers (World Bicycle Relief) secured their second stage win in 4:07:23. They were followed by the Jag Craft team of Adrian Enthoven and Delaney Impey in 4:42:31. Dennis du Toit and Noel Droomer of Samaritan's Feet 2 secured their first podium finish today in 4:45:38.

Nico Pfitzenmaier and Robert Sim (Robert Daniel Momsen) decided not to withdraw after Pfitzenmaier's bad fall and injuries yesterday, but to ride at an easy pace and try to complete this year's event.

Brentjens and Weevers now lead the masters category by 1:17:41. Enthoven and Impey of Jag Craft moved up to second place with Warren Squires and Scott Mckenzie of Complete Cyclist in third place overall.

Brentjens said it was great to win this stage. "But an easy stage it wasn't. Every day at the Cape Epic is hard and today was no different. It was a beautiful stage though. I'm glad we kept the lead and we're now looking forward to the finish."

Weevers said, "I now realise that I wasn't ready for the Cape Epic at all. It's getting better though. I found my rhythm and can enjoy it. I've done lots of races in my career, but the Cape Epic has become one of my favourites."

Stage 6 course

Stage 6 took riders from Oak Valley back to Oak Valley over a distance of 83km with 2200m of climbing. It was a hard day of climbing and Nuweberg was the first big challenge with the dangling carrot of stunning vistas at the top. On the penultimate day, nearing the climax of race week, the grand old lady Groenlandberg appeared. Deep into this highly unique and remote landscape, riders would savour the solitude of the 30-kilometre of doubletracks through the pristine Cape Nature reserve as they tackled her in two parts. The first steady rise brought them to a rutted descent. From here the path contoured along the side of this beautiful mountain, then it was the final ascent towards the saddle, followed by yet another tricky, washed-out descent. Again, riders got to enjoy the twisting single track on Paul Cluver before finishing off with fast and flat singletrack on Oak Valley.

Stage 7: Oak Valley - Elgin to Lourensford Wine Estate, 64km (1350m of climbing)

Dr. Evil has found a new way to the Champs Elysees of mountain biking, again reminding riders there 's no easy day at the Cape Epic. Lourensford Wine Estate awaits the tired athletes as they make their way from Oak Valley over Twin Peaks above the Elgin Dam and down the ever-familiar portage section of Gamtouw Pass. Once again, participants follow the footsteps of the Voortrekkers, their tyres tracing the wagon-wheel grooves down to Journeys End Winery. The last water point offers a final reward, before a last test of resolve - a few steep ascents with magnificent views of False Bay and Table Mountain. Once again, Lourensford Wine Estate will host the grand finale festivities as riders experience that bitter-sweet feeling at the end of the arduous, yet epic journey of the Cape Epic.

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