With the Absa Cape Epic now past its halfway mark, teams are beginning to adjust their race strategies. Stage four, centred around the Greyton area, was notably shorter than the previous day’s gruelling 140km, covering 87km.
Nevertheless, the route remained highly demanding, featuring a series of technical climbs that offered little opportunity for recovery.
Mark Bonnici and Luke Borg (Epic Team Deloitte) were once again the first Maltese team to finish, crossing the line in 4:58:57.3.
Reflecting on the stage, Borg noted that while it was far from easy, it offered a welcome reprieve after the previous day’s effort. Improved weather conditions and sunshine in the final kilometres contributed to a more positive outing, as the team continues to recover from recent health issues and regain energy.
“It was a beautiful stage with rolling hills. Even though it was shorter, it actually had more elevation than yesterday — but overall, a nice breather,” he said.
Team Gaudos (Stephen Grima and Brandon Sultana) followed in 5:04:24.8, tackling what they described as a true mountain biking stage.
“It was a beautiful race – pure mountain biking with phenomenal trails, plenty of climbs and downhills, and even a bit of mud. Although shorter than other stages, it was still tough,” said Grima.
The duo emphasised their focus on consistency and long-term goals, aiming to steadily improve their positions while ensuring they complete the race.
“It’s not just about positions – what matters most is crossing the finish line and earning the medal,” he added.
Looking ahead, the team is also targeting membership in the Amabubesi Finisher Club — an exclusive loyalty programme for riders who have completed the Absa Cape Epic three or more times.
“Amabubesi”, meaning “pride of lions” in Zulu, recognises this achievement with a special medal, certificate, and access to a dedicated club area within the finishers’ tent.
That’s our long-term goal, and hopefully we can be the first Maltese team to achieve it,” Grima noted.
Team Kalamba Racing (Etienne Bonello and Marie Claire Aquilina) delivered a composed and tactically sound performance, navigating a stage that combined fast, flowing trails with punishing climbs. The opening kilometres were particularly rapid, with riders pushing through dusty conditions as the pace surged early on.
Despite the scenic nature of the route, the terrain offered little respite. Steep climbs packed with tight switchbacks tested both strength and bike handling, with the ascent towards the “UFO” standing out as one of the most demanding sections of the day.
Demonstrating race awareness, the team opted to skip the final feed zone in a bid to gain time on a closely matched rival team ahead of them – a decision that underlined their competitive intent.
They went on to finish the stage in 21st place, maintaining 22nd overall in the general classification.
Reflecting on the stage, Bonello highlighted the importance of resilience, noting that keeping morale high was key: drawing on last year’s experience, he continued to encourage his teammate, reinforcing that the situation remained manageable despite the challenges encountered on the course.
Attention now shifts to Friday’s Queen Stage – widely regarded as the toughest and most decisive stage of this year’s race. The penultimate long push will see riders tackle a demanding 134km route from Greyton to Stellenbosch, featuring a formidable 2,750 metres of elevation gain.
While today’s shorter stage provided a valuable opportunity for recovery, teams will need to capitalise on that respite as they prepare for what promises to be another gruelling day in the saddle.
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