Lill and Keller Outlast Courtney and Seiwald to Extend Cape Epic GC Lead

It was a day of relentless climbing, dusty technical descents, and high-stakes tactical maneuvering. While the rugged terrain of the Klein Karoo broke spirits and bikes alike, the Orange Jersey duo of Candice Lill (RSA) and Alessandra Keller (SUI) of Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi remained unbreakable, securing their third consecutive stage win in a masterclass of defensive racing.

The Long Road from Montagu: Course Profile and Difficulty

Stage 2 was a monster. Spanning 102 kilometers with a punishing 2,250 meters of vertical ascent, the route was officially rated a 4/5 for difficulty. Starting and finishing in the historic town of Montagu, the course thrust riders into the semi-arid wilderness of the Klein Karoo—a landscape known for its “sharky” rocks, loose dust, and energy-sapping gravel sections.

A unique feature of this year’s race is the “breakthrough” timing for the UCI Women’s category. To ensure equitable racing and maximum exposure, the women joined the course at the 22-kilometer mark at Stemmet (Water Point 1). This allowed the Women’s Elite field to hit the most challenging 80 kilometers of the day—including the legendary Ouberg Pass—right as the energy of the event was at its peak.

The Buzz at the Stemmet Start

There was an undeniable electricity at the Women’s start line today. As the Men’s Elite bunch thundered through the water point, the Women’s field was called up immediately, creating a seamless transition into their own race.

“It was super cool,” Alessandra Keller remarked after the finish. “That was a huge bunch of men that came through there. Even I got really excited to see them. I think the women’s start worked super well today with the timing, and we had a good, fair race.”

As soon as the gun went off, the pleasantries ended. The teams were thrust immediately into the “meat” of the course: 15 kilometers of unrelenting climbing to the summit of the Ouberg Pass.

Tactical Chess on the Ouberg Pass

Coming into the stage with a nearly three-minute lead in the General Classification (GC), Lill and Keller were in the enviable position of being able to race reactively. Their primary rivals, Kate Courtney (USA) and Greta Seiwald (ITA) of She Sends Foundation, knew they had to make the race hard early if they wanted to chip away at that deficit.

Courtney, a former Marathon World Champion, and Seiwald set a blistering pace up the Ouberg. “They started making it super hard up the first pass already,” Candice Lill admitted. “Luckily for us, we could stay with them. We followed their wheel most of the day, which allowed us to save some energy while still making a little bit of time.”

The sight of the two powerhouse teams locked together against the backdrop of the Karoo’s vast, open plains was a testament to the high level of professional women’s mountain biking in 2026. Behind them, the battle for the final podium spot was equally intense, with the Lithuanian-Italian pair of Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet (Torpado FSA Kenda) keeping the leaders in their sights.

Mechanical Heartbreak for Buff-BH

While the front-runners were locked in a tactical stalemate, disaster struck further back. Rosa Van Doorn (NED) and Vera Looser (NAM) of Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti started the day in third place overall, just over three and a half minutes off the pace.

However, 15 kilometers into their race—right in the middle of the Ouberg climb—Van Doorn suffered a catastrophic “snakebite” puncture. The rocky terrain of the Klein Karoo is unforgiving; even with modern tire plugs and CO2 canisters, some gashes are too large to seal. After a frantic but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to repair the tire, Van Doorn was forced into every rider’s nightmare: riding on the rim to the next technical zone. This mechanical failure effectively ended their bid for a stage podium and put their third-place GC standing in serious jeopardy.

Downhill Masterclass and the Slagkloof Descent

Once the summit of the Ouberg was cleared, the riders faced the “Toyota Tough” descent—a rough, rocky singletrack section that snaked through the shrubs of Slagkloof. This is where technical skill replaces raw power.

Greta Seiwald put on what commentators described as a “downhill masterclass,” leading Courtney through the treacherous terrain with surgical precision. The Thömus Maxon pair followed closely, with Keller noting that the recent change to their “trail brakes” gave them the confidence needed for the steep, slippery downhills. “The braking is like on point,” Keller said. “You can be on those steep downhills and feel in control. I enjoyed both the technical parts and the dirt roads today.”

The Final Move: Thömus Maxon Strikes

As the race neared its conclusion, the tactical shadowing finally came to an end. Sensing a “chink in the armor” of She Sends Foundation as the fatigue of the 102km course set in, Lill and Keller launched a decisive attack in the closing kilometers.

They crossed the line first in just over three hours, securing their third win in as many days. Courtney and Seiwald followed just 37 seconds later, a narrow margin that underscores how close the competition at the top truly is. Torpado FSA Kenda rounded out the podium, finishing a strong third.

General Classification Outlook: Greyton Awaits

With three stages in the books, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller have cemented their status as the dominant force of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic. However, they are under no illusions about the challenges ahead.

“Minutes and seconds is what it’s all about right now,” Lill noted, acknowledging the incredibly tight racing in both the men’s and women’s categories. “Montagu is planning out to make some extremely exciting racing. The level of everybody, all the professionals, is so high.”

Tomorrow brings Stage 3, the “Big Transfer.” The race leaves the rocky hills of Montagu for a long, 140-kilometer transition stage to Greyton. It is a journey into the unknown for many, including the leaders. “I actually can’t wait to go to Greyton,” Lill said. “It’s been a few years since we were there for Cape Epic, and I don’t really know what the stage looks like, but I’m sure it’ll be another cool day of racing.”

As the Orange Jerseys continue their march toward Stellenbosch, the rest of the field will be looking for any opportunity to disrupt their momentum. In the Cape Epic, as Rosa Van Doorn learned today, the journey from hero to heartbreak is only one sharp rock away.

Stage 2 Women’s Results:

1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi: Candice Lill & Alessandra Keller (3:00:xx)
2. She Sends Foundation: Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald (+37s)
3. Torpado FSA Kenda: Katazina Sosna-Pinele & Giorgia Marchet

Overall GC Standing (Elite Women):

1. Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi (Lill/Keller)
2. She Sends Foundation (Courtney/Seiwald)
3. Torpado FSA Kenda (Sosna-Pinele/Marchet)