Climbing to Victory: Lill and Keller’s Unstoppable Performance at the ABSA Cape Epic Queen Stage
Stage 5: The Queen Stays Queen
Every Cape Epic has a “Queen Stage”—the day that defines the race, usually featuring the most vertical gain and the most technical terrain. In 2026, Stage 5 was a brutal odyssey that promised to either cement the lead or invite a late-race coup.
Instead of playing it safe and “defending” their orange jerseys, Lill and Keller chose violence.
From the first major ascent, it was clear that Candice Lill was operating on a different level. While the rest of the field looked at the jagged horizon with trepidation, Lill looked like she was out for a morning training ride in her backyard. She didn’t just lead; she dictated the tempo with a surgical precision that left the chasers gasping for air in the thick dust.
The “emphatic win” on Stage 5 wasn’t just about the time gap—though a double-digit minute lead at the finish line is certainly a statement. It was about the manner of the victory. While their rivals were forced to dismount on the punchy, loose climbs that define the region, Lill and Keller remained glued to their saddles, finding traction where there shouldn’t have been any.
When they crossed the line, there were no collapsed bodies or frantic gasping. There was a fist bump, a calm swap of hydration packs, and the look of two athletes who knew exactly what they were doing. It was a demoralizing display for the rest of the pack.
The Candice Lill Factor: Calm in the Chaos
The standout story of 2026, however, is the evolution of Candice Lill. In previous years, we saw a rider who was incredibly strong but perhaps susceptible to the immense pressure that comes with being the home favorite.
This year, we are seeing Candice 2.0.
Her approach to the 2026 race has been defined by an almost Zen-like professionalism. Even when faced with the inevitable “Epic moments”—a dropped chain here, a blurry descent there—she has remained unflappable. It’s a calmness born from experience. Having stood on the second step of the podium multiple times, she knows that the race isn’t won in a single sprint, but in the thousands of tiny decisions made between the start and finish chutes.
Lill has taken on the role of the “Field General.” You can see her constantly checking in on Keller, managing their mechanical health, and reading the wind like a seasoned sailor. Her strength hasn’t just been in her legs; it’s been in her head. She is currently the strongest elite woman in the world on this specific terrain, and she’s riding with the confidence of someone who finally knows it.
The Swiss Precision of Alessandra Keller
It would be a mistake to credit this dominance solely to local knowledge. Alessandra Keller has brought a level of intensity that has forced the pace higher than we’ve seen in years. Her ability to stay on Lill’s wheel through technical sections that usually favor the locals has been a revelation. Keller hasn’t just survived the South African summer; she has thrived in it. The Swiss star has adapted her high-cadence World Cup style to the “grind” of the Epic, proving that she is far more
