19 MARCH
STAGE 2
TECHNICAL
TERRAIN
1000
800
Wildekrans
Tokoloshe
600
The Machine
400
Lebanon
Rotary
200
0
0
10
20
Hermanus
30
RATING
WHERE TO WATCH
Race start: 07.00am
A Wildekrans Wines
(49.5km)
While you wait for your favourite
riders to pass by, you can enjoy a
coff ee or a wine tasting; because
both will be open for the race.
www.wildekrans.com
Distance from race village: 31km
Leading men: 09.00am*
Leading women: 09.40am*
Last rider: 12.10pm*
B Lebanon Village
(71.5km)
This is the day’s last chance to
see how the racing is shaking out.
The local children ensure riders
receive a rapturous reception and
while the elite men and women
will surely fl y through, the riders
further down the fi eld are going
to need much encouragement.
Distance from race village: 43km
Leading men: 09.55am*
Leading women: 10.30am*
Last rider: 14.00pm*
40
50
60
70
86
Oak Valley Estate
RACE PREDICTION
Making amends from the day before, teams
who missed out on the big move, or who
lost time from mechanicals or misjudging
their eff orts, will want to claim back some
scalps. However Stage 2, and the attrition it
promises, is a day in which the trail surface
and the profi le are likely to dictate the order
of the day, rather than a revenge attack. No
mercy will be shown to a rider caught out
by a sandy section (Grotts’ only obvious
weakness last year), and the Wildekrans
Tokoloshe climb looming at 55km is set to
brutally rip up the front group. Their skills and
canny positioning lead experts to predict a
top result from Cannondale Factory Racing.
Experienced Absa Cape Epic racers like
Mariske Strauss and Jennie Stenerhag
will look to use their know how on the
changeable terrain, unseen to the likes of
Anna van der Breggen. If they catch a hint
of weakness, they have the fi repower to
capitalise. Annika Langvad will be all too
aware of this, making sure the pair soften up
Leading men fi nish: 10.30am*
Leading women fi nish: 11.15am*
Last rider fi nish: 15.10pm*
*Predicted times only
86KM BREAKDOWN
Singletrack: 19.3km, 22%
Farm road: 50.1km, 58%
District road: 6.6km, 8%
Tar road: 10km, 12%
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 151