Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) added a few more seconds to their overall lead when they won the 87km Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
Terpstra and Koller continued their 2024 Cape Epic dominance and claimed their seventh stage with a commanding performance. They are now one stage victory away from matching the eight stage wins of Sina Frei and Laura Stigger in 2021
Stage 6 started with everything to play for in the women’s race. Cannondale Factory Racing sat just two minutes and 50 seconds off the overall lead on Saturday morning and would have fancied their chances on the trails of Stellenbosch. As has been the case all week, Ghost Factory Racing, Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne and Cannondale Factory Racing set the early pace.
Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne (Sofia Gomez Villafane and Samara Sheppard) launched an early attack in an effort to pull away, but this appeared to do more harm than good, as Villafane was soon spotted giving Sheppard a push on one of the route’s less industrious climbs. By the 50km point of the race, Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne found themselves a minute behind Ghost Factory Racing and Cannondale Factory Racing.
It remained that way for the rest of the race until the final 6km when Terpstra and Koller decided to put the hammer down and race home to the finish. Lill and Mitterwallner, who have given everything all week, just couldn’t go with the Orange Jersey leaders.
“Today was so cool,” said Koller. “It was really, really tough but we stuck to our plan and it worked. Every time we have tried something this week, it has worked. It’s been an unbelievable experience. Anything can happen though and we just try to make the best out of every day. The racing is to the finish line and that is only tomorrow. We take nothing for granted!”
Terpstra added, “We’d like to go for eight wins but we will see how we feel tomorrow. We know the trails out here well and we love riding in Stellenbosch, so we are looking forward to a good, tough day again.”
Cannondale Factory Racing’s Mona Mitterwallner knows that the best-laid plans can fall apart in a flash at the Absa Cape Epic, so she and Lill will chase hard to the finish.
“Today was another day of trying,” said Mitterwallner. “It was just not enough. Candice was super strong but I just didn’t have enough. The Ghost team has an answer to everything we try, but when we look back at Absa Cape Epics, we know the Orange Jersey can change on the last day. We are not giving up and everything is to play for; it’s not over.”
Lill echoed her partner’s sentiments. “We have given it our all every day. We have nothing to lose on the Grand Finale so will give everything we have from start to finish tomorrow.”
The Grand Finale is a 67km race on some of Stellenbosch’s most iconic trails, taking riders into Jonkershoek, through Eden and down G-Spot, finishing at the Coetzenberg Sports Fields. Expect raucous racing and a surprise or two as teams jostle for their final position of the 2024 Absa Cape Epic
*Early bird entries for the 2025 Absa Cape Epic open on 25 March 2024 at 15:00 (GMT+2) and are sold on a first come first served basis. Early Bird Entries are highly limited with only 150 available. For those not successful with an early bird entry, The Lottery is already open and the first draw will take place on the 28th of March 2024
For a full gallery of Stage 6 images, visit the Absa Cape Epic Facebook page here.
Aramex Women’s Category, Stage 6
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) 4:30:39
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) 4:31:39
3 Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-Ninetyone) 4:40:55
Aramex Women’s Category GC after Stage 6
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) 27:24:15
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) 27:28:06 +3:51
3 Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-Ninetyone) 27:46:10 +21:55
