Now in its fifth year, the Cape Epic Stage Race is considered the Tour de France of mountain biking. Starting from the South African port city of Knysna, 1200 riders raced 600 miles towards Cape Town. Along the way they will climb 60,000 feet total, or 100 feet per mile. Each team's two riders must stay together throughout the race. The finishing time in each stage is taken off the second team rider to cross the line.
Altogether 17 two-man American teams entered. Those included entries made up of Chris Eatough and Jeremiah Bishop, Sue Haywood and Jennifer Smith, Christina Begy and Rebecca Rusch, downhiller Anka Martin (an American?) and Megan Hillard, and local do-good Southridge locals Doug Andrews (Geoladders) and Rich Bartlett (Block Graphics). Our absolute favorite American team entry, however, has to be Brian Johnston and none other than Jon Wayne.
There were also 6 American half teams, where only one of the riders was a U.S. citizen. Headlining that list had to be Tom Ritchey, who teamed up with long time sponsored ex World Champ Thomas Frischknecht. Another name that popped up was Jonathan Boyer, proving once and for all that there is no country left remaining safe from his reign of terror. The RAAM Champ teamed up with adult Abraham Ruhumuriza.
CAPE EPIC STAGES
*Knysna Prologue: 10.6 miles; 988 feet
*Stage 1 Knysna to George: 76.4 miles; 10,141 feet
*Stage 2 George to Calitzdorp: 85.1 miles; 8261 feet
*Stage 3 Calitzdorp to Riversdale: 82.6 miles; 7677 feet
*Stage 4 Riversdale to Swellendam: 75.2 miles; 8596 feet
*Stage 5 Swellendam to Bredasdorp: 90.7 miles; 5968 feet
*Stage 6 Bredasdorp to Hermanus: 80.8 miles; 6873
*Stage 7 Hermanus to Elgin: 56.5 miles; 6512 feet
*Stage 8 Elgin to Lourensford: 42.3 miles; 5774 feet
After nine days of racing, it was the team of Jeremiah Bishop and Chris Eatough just missing out on the top 10. They finished 11th at 3.15.38,5, or in an overall time of 39.17.23,2. Sue Haywood and Jennifer Smith had the best American placing, finishing 2nd in thewomen's division.
FINAL TOP 10 GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1---Roel Paulissen (Bel)/Jakob Fuglsang (Den)...Cannondale Vredestein...36.01.44,7
2---Karl Platt (Ger)/Stefan Sahm (Ger)...Bulls...+9.04,0
3---Kevin Evans (RSA)/David George (RSA)...MTN Energade 1...16.48,8
4---Hannes Genze (Ger)/Jochen Kaess (Ger)...Team Alb-Gold Mountainbike...26.50,0
5---Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)/Massimo Debertolis (Ita)...Full-Dynamix RSM...51.16,7
6---Bart Brentjens (Ned)/Alban Lakata (Aut)...Dolphin...1.00.26,3
7---Brandon Stewart (RSA)/Max Knox (RSA)...USN...1.12.00,5
8---Martin Bratland (Nor)/Kristian Torgersen (Nor)...Etto Hoydahl 3...2.30.08,7
9---Rune Hoydahl (Nor)/Truls Haugseth (Nor)...Etto Hoydahl 2...2.47.52,7
10---Mannie Heymans (Nam)/Melt Swanepoel (RSA)...MTN Energade 2...3.12.16,6
WOMEN
1---Pia Sundstedt (Fin)/Alison Sydor (Can)...Rocky Mountain...43.05.51,4
2---Susan Haywood (USA)/Jennifer Smith (USA)...Trek/VW WSD...+1.35.41,3
3---Jane Seggie (RSA)/Ischen Stopforth (RSA)...Scott Contessa...4.54.11,5
4---Erica Green (RSA)/Hanlie Booyens (RSA)...ABSA Ladies...5.02.43,3
5---Petruschka Constancon (RSA)/Louise Hemmes(RSA)...Valhalla...10.45.57,3
6---Phelia Burger (RSA)/Annelle Rabie (RSA)...The MudFairies...12.28.26,1
7---Glynis Pretorius (RSA)/Shawna Thunder (RSA)...Landrover Durban-Bruce Reyneke-Giant4...13.01.26,8
8---Di Thomas (RSA)/Liesbet Kristafor (RSA)...Day Trippers...13.05.06,8
9---Helena Parsons (NZl)/Amanda Brooks (NZl)...MTBskills.com...16.07.49,0
10---Bridget de Gersigny (RSA)/Zee Snyman (RSA)...LeZeeBee...17.53.16,1