The Aramex Women’s Category was business as usual with Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) cruising home to claim their sixth successive stage win at the 2024 Absa Cape Epic in Wellington on Friday.
Terpstra and Koller continued their perfect debut when they crossed the finish line 20 seconds ahead of nearest challengers Cannondale Factory Racing (Candice Lill and Mona Mitterwallner) for a sixth stage win. They now sit just under three minutes ahead of Cannondale Factory Racing in the women’s general classification. Sofia Gomez Villafane and Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) finished third on Stage 5 and remain in third place overall in the Aramex Women’s Category.
With two stages to go, Ghost Factory Racing have their eyes on matching the 2021 performance of Sina Frei and Laura Stigger, who won all eight days of the Absa Cape Epic on their way to overall victory.
Terpstra and Koller were seemingly untroubled on the 70km stage, riding comfortably alongside Cannondale Factory Racing and Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne up until the halfway mark. Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne dropped back, leaving GHOST Factory Racing and Cannondale Factory Racing alone at the front of the race from just before the final water point.
Mona Mitterwallner, only 22 and already a two-time Marathon World Champion, has enjoyed an excellent first Absa Cape Epic, but she just hasn’t been able to attack with Lill when needed this week. This has allowed Terpstra and Koller to push hard in the closing moments of each stage and slowly edge further ahead in the general classification.
With a handful of kilometres left on Stage 5, this familiar scene played out as GHOST Factory Racing made a break for the line and ultimately the stage win, with Cannondale Factory Racing dropping off the pace ever so slightly on the home stretch.
“I think everybody expected us to attack where we attacked,” said Terpstra. “But we thought we’d just try and see if we can get a gap. It was not necessarily the goal to gain more time, but more to come through safely and not take any risks.”
Koller added that their knowledge of the area and the quality of the trails made for a good day of mountain biking. “We love these trails. We’ve also trained here before. I already knew them a little bit so it was very cool to be out there riding on something we knew; they are so flowy and totally like cross-country style riding – great fun.”
With two stages to come in Stellenbosch, GHOST Factory Racing will be back on familiar terrain again – as will Candice Lill. Which should make for an exciting finish to the Aramex Women’s Category
“‘I’m looking forward to the next two days in Stellenbosch,” said Terpstra. “Both stages have amazing trails and we’ve been training there for years, so it will be so nice to finally race on them.”
Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic is an 87km stage with 2400m of climbing that will start and finish in Stellenbosch and take place on the town’s famous trail network. Many of the world’s elite riders train here each year, making them intimate with the twists and turns. Expect an explosive final two stages of the 2024 Absa Cape Epic.
Aramex Women’s Category, Stage 5
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) 3:21:52
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) 3:22:12
3 Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) 3:25:35
Aramex Women’s Category GC after Stage 5
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) 22:53:36
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) 22:56:27 +2:51
3 Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) 23:05:15 +11:39
How to Watch
To watch the racing action unfold, tune in to the daily live broadcast on the Epic Series’ YouTube channel, from Sunday, 17 March. Fans of mountain biking can also share in the excitement of the race by following @capeepic on Instagram or by liking the Cape Epic Facebook page. For more information please visit www.epic-series.com/capeepic or click here to view the full 2024 race register.
Source: Absa Cape Epic Media
