With the dreaded Queen Stage now behind them, riders at the Absa Cape Epic woke up with a renewed sense of purpose – and the finish line firmly within sight. After surviving one of the most demanding days of the race, the penultimate stage in Stellenbosch presented a different, yet still formidable challenge.
At 76km with 2,450 metres of climbing, yesterday’s route featured slightly less elevation than the brutal stage that preceded it, but remained far from forgiving.
Steep, punchy ascents continued to test already fatigued legs, while the flowing descents offered brief moments of recovery – a welcome contrast after Friday’s relentless grind.
Bouncing back from Friday’s demanding stage, which included minor mishaps and technical issues, Epic Team Deloitte (Luke Borg / Mark Bonnici) gained valuable time.
The 76km route, featuring cross-country-style trails with steep climbs, fast technical descents, and repeated short undulations, favoured cross-country specialists and suited them well.
They delivered a strong ride to finish in 4:58:01.6, moving up to a provisional 74th place overall in their class.
Reflecting on the stage, the team noted a marked turnaround in both morale and performance.
“After yesterday, our morale was slightly dampened, but once we got going, we found our legs,” Bonnici said.
“The climbs were more flowing, and the cross-country route made it a fast stage – one of the fastest we’ve had. We’re happy to have found our rhythm again, and being able to manage our nutrition properly made a big difference.”
Team Gaudos (Stephen Grima/Brandon Sultana) followed, completing the stage in 5:15:03.7.
Building on Friday’s performance, the duo continued their steady climb in the general classification and now sit in a provisional 83rd place.
Nonetheless, fatigue is beginning to take its toll, with limited recovery time impacting their ability to perform at full capacity, as Grima explained post-stage.
Their effort was further challenged by a fall from Sultana – fortunately without injury – though it resulted in damage to a brake lever.
A stop at the mechanical station was required, and the pair were forced to continue for a period without full braking.
“Despite the setbacks, we are both satisfied to have completed another demanding stage safely. Our focus now shifts to the final day, with the finish line – and the coveted finisher’s medal – firmly in sight,” said Grima.
Team Kalamba Racing (Etienne Bonello and Marie Claire Aquilina) edged closer to completing last year’s unfinished business, finishing the penultimate stage in 5:49:49.5.
Both riders were in positive spirits at the finish, reflecting on a demanding stage that featured long, punishing climbs similar to the previous day, with the toughest sections coming mid-race.
They highlighted the quality of the trails and were able to increase their pace towards the closing kilometres.
“The deeper we get into the race, the more consistent we’re becoming while other teams are starting to fade. In the last 10 kilometres, we were able to up the pace,” Bonello explained.
“Spirits are high after yesterday’s brutal stage. Tomorrow, we’re aiming for another strong ride and to leave everything out on the course in the final stage.”
The result marks their strongest performance of the race so far, moving them up to an impressive 18th place overall.
With just one stage remaining, the Maltese teams are now pushing for a strong finish.
While the final route is shorter at 58km, it still features 2,150 metres of climbing and several steep inclines before the riders cross the final finish line in Stellenbosch.
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