Cape Epic Stage 2 Race Report and Results
Cape Epic Stage 2 Race Report and Results
After a very fresh start to the morning, with temperatures dropping overnight, the women spent some time warming up on the rollers. Newbie to the Cape Epic Kate Courtney attracted attention with her pink S-Works, while seasoned Epic winner Annika Langvad looked in the zone while sitting on her top tube. Team Investec Songo 
Ariane Luthi and Githa Michiels, Team Spur, starting the day in 2nd looked energized and ready to edge closer to the Ladies Jersey. This combination is also new and yesterday proofed to be very effective in racing for the top position.
Annie Last and Mariska Strauss were the first team on the trainers, with both riders warming-up behind the Pro entrance.
Team Ascendis Health Sabine Spitz looked energized on the trainers, with Robyn DeGroot calmly waiting for the start
Team Investec Songo – Annika Langvad “We changed our strategy and rode conservatively until we had 30km to go”, this worked well for the leading ladies today, Annika said she suffered in the heat yesterday and they had decided to change strategies to cope with the hot dry conditions.
RedBull athlete Kate Courtney said she was learning daily as she rode with champion Annika, sitting in her slip stream on long drags. Kate said the course was difficult with short punchy climbs which never ended. The pair look fresh and ready to dominate, but as everyone is aware in mountain biking but specially in the Cape Epic, anything can happen, it is a long race to the final podium.
An exciting sprint for 2nd place played out between the very competitive Team Silverback, Annie Last/Mariske Strauss and Team Spur Ariane Luthi/Githa Michielis, Team Spur winning by centimetres.
The day was aptly described by Githa Michielis “I died many times today”
It is fantastic seeing the racing legs of Ariane Luthi back! What a fighter and champion, guiding the newbie Githa to Team Spur 2nd spot on the podium. 
The heat has been taxing for all riders, as the Cape is in the midst of an extreme drought, hot dry conditions have made hydration and effort management essential.
Team Silverback KMC looked as fresh as the winning team of Annika and Kate, this might be significant a we go into tomorrow’s queens stage. 
The energy from both Mariske and Annie is light and relaxed, indicating that in this hard race, they are taking things day by day. This is a team to watch.
Team Ascendis Health once again fell off the pace in the second half of the stage, Sabine Spitz still suffering with leg cramps. We would love this team to come good and have lady luck behind them. 
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