Cross-country specialists Sam Gaze of New Zealand and Germany’s Luca Schwarzbauer produced a thrilling late surge to win Stage 2 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic in Montagu, showcasing their explosive racing style on a course designed for tactical finishing speed.
The 102km stage, which featured most of its climbing in the first half of the race, set the stage for a dramatic finale. Once the peloton crested the demanding ascents, the final 20 kilometres became a battleground for the strongest riders with the ability to accelerate repeatedly on rocky terrain and dusty tracks.
Riding for Canyon, Gaze and Schwarzbauer timed their attacks perfectly to take the stage victory in 3 hours 54 minutes 55 seconds. The Italian Wilier-Vittoria pairing of Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto crossed the line second, while South Africa’s overall race leaders Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje of Toyota Specialized Imbuko secured third place after another disciplined ride near the front of the race.
For much of the day Beers and Nortje controlled the pace in the leading group, particularly over the iconic Ouberg Pass where a selection of the strongest teams formed. But as the race approached the closing kilometres the cross-country specialists began to show their strength, launching a series of attacks that gradually reduced the lead group.
Gaze and Schwarzbauer proved the most aggressive in the decisive phase of the stage, repeatedly accelerating to split the field before launching a final attack that none of their rivals could match. The victory moved the Canyon duo up to sixth place in the general classification, keeping them within striking distance of the overall leaders as the race progresses.
In the women’s race, South African champion Candice Lill and her partner Alessandra Keller continued their impressive run of form by claiming their third consecutive stage victory. The Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi duo completed the 80km stage in 3 hours 30 minutes, extending their lead in the overall standings.
Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald of She Sends Foundation finished second on the stage, strengthening their hold on second place overall. With several demanding stages still ahead, the battle for both the men’s and women’s titles remains finely balanced as the 2026 Absa Cape Epic continues across the Western Cape.
RESULTS
Elite Men Stage
1. CANYON: Luca SCHWARZBAUER & Sam GAZE (3:54.55)
2. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (3:54.56 | +2)
3. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (3:54.59 | +4)
4. TORPADO KENDA FSA Fabian RABENSTEINER & Casey SOUTH (3:55.06 | +11)
5. ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis AZZARO & Juri ZANOTTI (3:55.07 | +12)
Elite Men GC
1. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (8:18.22)
2. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (8:18.24 | +2)
3. KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David VALERO SERRANO & Marc STUTZMANN (8:18.51 | +29)
4. ORIGINE-WILIER: Mathis AZZARO & Juri ZANOTTI (8:18.56 | +34)
5. TORPADO KENDA FSA: Fabian Rabensteiner & Casey South (8:20.07 | +1:45)
Elite Women Stage
1. THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (3:30.00)
2. SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate COURTNEY & Greta SEIWALD (3:03.48 | +1:57)
3. TORPADO FSA KENDA Katazina SOSNA-PINELE & Giorgia MARCHET (3:40.43 | +10:43)
4. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB Hayley PREEN & Hayley SMITH (3:40.44 | +10:43)
5. SANI2C EFFICIENT INFINITI Samantha SANDERS & Bianca HAW (3:42.49 | +12.49)
Elite Women GC
1. THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (7:23.17)
2. SHE SENDS FOUNDATION: Kate COURTNEY & Greta SEIWALD (7:26.48 | +3:31)
3. SYMBTECH.NET: Margot MOSCHETTI & Claudia PERETTI (7:48.21 | +25:04)
4. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley PREEN & Haley SMITH (7:49.18 | +26:00)
5. BUFF-BH | EFFICIENT INFINITI Rosa VAN DOORN & Vera LOOSER (7:50.11 | +26:54)
SPECIAL JERSEYS GC
Toyota Mixed
1. TEAM 69: Jenny RISSVEDS & Simon ANDREASSEN (9:42.33)
Absa African Men
1. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (8:18.22)
Absa African Women
1. SANI2C EFFICIENT INFINITI: Samantha SANDERS & Bianca HAW (7:56.19)
Open Women:
1. JOY RIDE: Jennifer BURTNER & Callah ROBINSON (13:54.08)
Open Men:
1. COLIBRI CYCLING: Eimantas GUDISKIS & Vladas JURKEVICIUS (9:22.20)
Great Grand Masters Men
1. OTB: Pieter MULLER & Corrie MULLER (12:08.18)
GIC Grand Masters Women
1. UAG EPIC: Martha KOEKEMOER & Jenny RÖNNGREN (12:58.18)
GIC Grand Masters Men
1. ORBEA FOX FACTORY: Ibon ZUGASTI & Ernesto MENDOZA (9:46.02)
NTT Data Masters Women
1. USWE SA: Mari DU TOIT & Janine MULLER (12:25.38)
NTT Data Masters Men
1. CZECHROCKET&SWISSDIESEL: Pavel gonda Tobias LUTHI (9:12.46)
Exxaro Women’s Jersey
1. EXXARO MANGANESE LADIES 1: Tsholofelo NKOSI & Bontle PHEPISO (15:35.34)
Exxaro Men’s Jersey
1. FAIRTREE DP WORLD CANNONDALE 2: Ethan MICHAELS & Damon TERBLANCHE (10:13.23)
