Simon Schneller and Urs Huber (BULLS Mavericks) won Stage 7 – the Grand Finale – of the Absa Cape Epic men’s race, but it was Matt Beers and Howard Grotts of Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne who claimed the overall title at the 2024 event.
With some tired bodies and minds amongst the elite riders – leader Matt Beers admitting on the finish line to lack of sleep and stomach issues – the early pace on the 67km, Stellenbosch Stage 7 loop was sedate by the past week’s standards.
As riders approached the famous Jonkershoek trails of Stellenbosch, a familiar pattern soon emerged, though – Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne in front, with BUFF – MEGAMO (Hans Becking and Wout Alleman) and Canyon SIDI (Andreas Seewald and Marc Stutzmann) for company. BULLS Mavericks, who have been ‘taking it easy this week’ by their own admission, were also in the front bunch and quickly moved into pole position as the stage leaders.
As Schneller and Huber (the 2016 Cape Epic champion) cracked on the pace, the lead pack split further, with only Beers and Grotts keeping pace with the leaders. With a healthy gap of more than nine minutes over second placed World Bicycle Relief (Nino Schurter and Sebastian Fini) at the start of the Grand Finale, overall leaders Beers and Grotts simply had to get to the finish in one piece. And so they did.
On the second half of the stage, BULLS Mavericks moved further into the lead, with Fabian Rabensteiner and Samuele Porro (Wilier Vittoria Factory) eventually overtaking Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne to move into second on the day.
The Grand Finale men’s race remained that way, as 38-year-old Huber rolled back the years to match Schneller’s pace and romp home for a stage win on the last day of the Absa Cape Epic. Wilier Vittoria Factory soon followed the winners across the line before the Yellow Jerseys of Beers and Grotts appeared on the grass of the Coetzenburg Sports Stadium to raucous cheers.
“It’s all pretty crazy,” said an obviously drained Beers. “To win three Absa Cape Epics. I am not really sure what to say. It feels like yesterday I won my first Epic. It’s a total whirlwind. I have been lucky with good partners and really good people. All my partners have been amazing. I am very lucky to have these awesome people in my life.”
Grotts, a 2018 Absa Cape Epic winner alongside Jaroslav Kulhavy, was elated to take home another title. “Today was awesome, just really fun. We played it safe all the way; that was the strategy. Matt is a great partner and we work so well together. We don’t push each other beyond what is reasonable. I think we have the same approach to life and that’s what has made this week a tough but fun experience.”
For a full photo gallery, visit the Absa Cape Epic Facebook Page here.
Results
Men’s Category, Stage 7
1 Simon Schneller & Urs Huber (BULLS Mavericks) 2:52:08
2 Fabian Rabensteiner & Samuele Porro (Willier Vittoria Factory) 2:54:24 +2:16
3 Matt Beers & Howard Grotts (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne) 2:55:16 +3:08
Men’s GC after Stage 7
1 Matt Beers & Howard Grotts (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne)
2 Nino Schurter & Sebastian Fini (World Bicycle Relief)
3 Hans Becking & Wout Alleman (BUFF – MEGAMO)
For the full results, visit the Cape Epic website here.
Source: Absa Cape Epic Media
