Lill and Keller Storm to Prologue Victory
The 2026 Absa Cape Epic roared into life today at Meerendal Wine Estate. In the Elite Women’s category, the spotlight belonged to Alessandra Keller and Candice Lill (Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi), who proved exactly why they were the pre-race favorites for a high-intensity opener.
The Prologue: A Masterclass in XCO Power
The 20km course, packed with technical Tygerberg singletrack and 650m of punchy climbing, was tailor-made for the “XCO engines” of Keller and Lill. They dominated the technical descents and explosive climbs, crossing the line in 51’24.6″.
Their nearest challengers, the newly formed duo of Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald (She Sends Foundation), put in a massive effort to finish just 56.8 seconds back. Courtney, racing in her Marathon World Champion’s jersey, showed incredible grit alongside Seiwald, who stepped in as a late replacement only days ago.
Elite Women’s Prologue – Top 6 Results
- Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi (Candice Lill / Alessandra Keller): 51’24.6″
- She Sends Foundation (Kate Courtney / Greta Seiwald): +56.8″
- Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti (Rosa van Doorn / Vera Looser): +2’09.3″
- Symbtech.net (Margot Moschetti / Claudia Peretti): +2’47.2″
- ChemChamp Honeycomb (Hayley Preen / Haley Smith): +3’06.0″
- Sani2c Efficient Infiniti (Samantha Sanders / Bianca Haw): +3’16.4″
Team Analysis: Strengths of the Podium
- Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi (1st): Their strength lies in raw technical speed and explosive power. Keller is the reigning XCC World Champion, and Lill is arguably the best technical climber in the women’s field. They thrive when the pace is “on the rivet” from the gun.
- She Sends Foundation (2nd): A blend of Courtney’s (UCI Mountain Bike Marathon (XCM) World Champion) marathon endurance and Seiwald’s recent form (coming off a dominant Tankwa Trek win). Their ability to adapt to a last-minute partnership change and still finish within a minute of the leaders is a testament to their world-class bike handling.
- Buff-BH Efficient Infiniti (3rd): Vera Looser is a former Cape Epic winner, and Rosa van Doorn is the reigning Marathon World Cup overall champion. Their strength is “diesel power”—they may not have the twitchy speed of the XCO specialists, but they are incredibly efficient over long distances.
Looking Ahead: Stage 1 – The Reignition of Tradition
Route: 66km | 1800m Climbing | Montagu
Tomorrow, the race shifts 180km east to the rugged terrain of Montagu. This isn’t the manicured singletrack of Meerendal; it’s the “raw, remote character” of the Karoo.
Who is best suited for Stage 1? While Lill and Keller have the orange jerseys, Stage 1 might start to favor the She Sends Foundation and Buff-BH teams.
- Kate Courtney & Greta Seiwald: Courtney’s marathon rainbow stripes aren’t just for show. As the race shifts from 50-minute sprints to 3-4 hour mountain grinds, her ability to maintain high steady-state power becomes a huge asset.
- Rosa van Doorn & Vera Looser: Keep a close eye on the 3rd place team. The Montagu route features rugged jeep tracks and technical climbs like “Abrikooskloof” and “The Ruins.” Van Doorn and Looser are marathon specialists who typically get stronger as the stages get longer and the terrain gets rougher.
Stage 1 is a “roller coaster” that trends upward. If the XCO specialists (Keller/Lill) can’t shake the marathoners on the early climbs like Signal Hill, we could see a very tactical battle into the Montagu finish.
