Anne Terpstra of the Netherlands and Nicole Koller of Switzerland, racing for the Ghost Factory Racing team won an eighth stage in a row on their way to the 2024 Absa Cape Epic title in Stellenbosch on Sunday.
By winning every stage of the 2024 race (the Prologue and seven stages) the Cape Epic debutantes matched the performance of Laura Stigger and Sina Frei, who also won eight stages on their way to the 2021 title.
The Grand Finale was animated by an early attack from 2023 champion Vera Looser and her partner Alexis Skarda (Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM). GHOST Factory Racing’s Terpstra and Koller couldn’t be spooked, though, and they calmly made their way back to the front of the women’s race.
As has been the case all week, Terpstra and Koller were joined at the front by South African champion, Candice Lill and marathon World Champion, Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing).
Lill, in fine form throughout the week, pushed the pace to apply some pressure on the GHOST riders, but true to form, Terpstra and Koller were able to respond and ultimately ride away from Cannondale Factory Racing on the second half of the stage.
Mitterwallner admitted at the end of the race that she had been battling illness all week. For Terpstra and Koller, though, the week couldn’t have gone any better.
“This is incredible,” said a delighted Terpstra. “I don’t know what to say! The Cannondale and Specialized teams put up such a hard fight this week. It was really exhausting, so it is amazing to be standing here as an Absa Cape Epic winner.”
Koller was just as thrilled with the victory. “It’s a dream come true – completely unbelievable. We honestly didn’t expect this when we planned to race the Absa Cape Epic. We didn’t think we would be finishing our first-ever Epic like this. It was a tough week, a great race. We worked hard but we had fun as well. What a week.”
An emotional Lill – smiling since day one – said she and Mitterwallner ‘went through a lot this week’. “We made the best of every situation and fought hard. I think we formed a great partnership and friendship.”
Mitterwallner was equally complimentary of her Absa Cape Epic partner and vowed to return for another crack at the Untamed African MTB Race. “Candice is the best athlete I have met; I really love her and I hope we can try again in the future.”
Aramex Women’s Category, Stage 7
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing) 3:32:07
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) 3:36:52 +4:45
3 Vera Looser & Alexis Skarda (Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM) 3:40:09 +8:02
Aramex Women’s Category GC after Stage 7
1 Anne Terpstra & Nicole Koller (GHOST Factory Racing)
2 Candice Lill & Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing)
3 Sofia Gomez Villafane & Samara Sheppard (Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne)
For full results, visit the Absa Cape Epic website here.
Source: Absa Cape Epic Media
