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Ralph Naef and Jose Hermida Win
4th Stage of Absa Cape Epic
 Barrydale,
27 March 2007: The fast and furious
stage 4 of the Absa Cape Epic
presented by adidas kicked off at
7.00am in Ladismith today, with the
riders covering 121 kilometres of
tarred roads and farm roads, short
climbs and a few technical
obstacles. They then moved through
the Leopard Rock game reserve and
passed well known landmark, Ronnie's
Sex Shop, where sandy jeep tracks
and wildlife were visible. Then the
route led onto more rocky terrain
for the final 30km into Barrydale.
The total climb of the day added up
to a total of 1 285 metres.
Team Multivan Merida Biking Team 1
have clinched their first stage win
in the fourth stage of the 2007 Absa
Cape Epic. Team members Ralph Naef
(Switzerland) and Jose Hermida
(Spain) crossed the finish line in
Barrydale at around 11.00am, having
clocked a winning stage time of four
hours seven minutes and 52.4
seconds. Their closest competitors,
Karl Platt (Germany) and Stephan
Sahm (Germany) of Team Bulls came in
just nine seconds behind them. “It
was our best day today but it was
also the toughest because we were
pushing so hard from the start to
the finish. We actually planned it
this way. The South Africans rode a
phenomenal race as they maintained
their lead up until the final 20
kilometres of the race. We were
sharing the lead work within our
group today, with Karl Platt
(Germany) and Stefan Sahm (Germany)
with whom we stayed together up
until the finish”, says Naef of
today's stage.
Leaders defended after 4th stage
Today’s stage saw all top riders in
the Ladies, Masters and Mixed
classifications defending their
leading positions. Anke Erlank (RSA)
and Yolande de Villiers (RSA) of
team Duravit came in just 39 minutes
after stage winners Ralph Naef (CH)
and Jose Hermida (E) of team
Multivan Merida Biking 1 in a time
of 4:48.01,7. “Compared to the
previous days, today was a walk in
the park”, Yolande quipped. “There
was much less climbing involved, but
the terrain was very rocky and sandy
so once again our bones are aching.
Luckily we caught a nice group along
with the Mixed leaders Yolande
Speedy and Paul Cordes and we rode
well together.” Despite their
overall lead time of more than one
and a half hours, the two South
African ladies are still racing like
maniacs. “We push ourselves every
day to give our best. We are just
too competitive. But I couldn’t have
found a better partner. She is the
ultimate team mate and has made this
Absa Cape Epic my best experience to
date”, Anke Erlank adds.
Here We Go South Africa
 Kevin
Evans (RSA) and Brandon Stewart (RSA)
of team Raleigh MTN Energade 1, the
Best African Team in the race, took
the lead for two thirds of today’s
stage impressing not only their
fellow countrymen, but also the
international pro riders in the
field. For over 70 kilometres they
maintained a lead between 2½ -3½
minutes. Expectations ran high when
the team passed the final vantage
point and still had not been caught.
The smell of victory was in the air,
when suddenly team Multivan Merida
Biking 1 and team Bulls overtook
them in the final stretch 20
kilometres before the finish. ”When
the guys passed us I thought well we
can still make it onto the podium.
However, when Roel and Jakob
overtook us on the last five
kilometres, I was devastated. We
were riding 25km per hour uphill and
all of a sudden those guys were
flying past us as if they were
riding at 55km per hour. There was
nothing we could do. Our legs were
revolting, there was simply no power
left. Had it been 20 seconds later
on the top of the hill, we might
have been able to go with them. We
didn’t threaten them; they just
wanted to defend their lead.” Kevin
and Brandon discussed the previous
night that they wanted to attack on
day 4. “Fortune and favour is with
the brave”, Kevin says. “And today
was the best day for us to give it
try.” They decided that when the
guys let them break away, they would
give it a go. Later they heard that
Ralph had decided not to chase them,
but to allow the SA champs their
moment of glory. Ralph Naef said he
was actually blown away at how long
the South Africans could maintain
that lead as he was pacing to catch
up with them and they never
appeared. “When Ralph passed us he
encouragingly patted my back and
said ‘wow, great job, come on, stay
with us’ inviting us to ride along
but at that point we were too
finished. But it was nice to get
that bit of recognition from a world
champion.” Now Kevin and Brandon
will concentrate on keeping their
African leader jersey and riding
consistently with the hope of even
climbing up a place. “Before the
start of the 2007 Absa Cape Epic,
no-one believed that we could place
in the top ten with such a world
class field at the start. So
actually we are happy to prove them
wrong.”
From asphalt cowboy to mountain goat
 Roadie
David George (RSA), who teamed up
with Mountain Bike World Cup
Champion Christoph Sauser (CH),
after his partner Rupert Rheeder
became sick and withdrew from the
race, gave an impressive performance
today. The multiple Giro del Capo
champion thoroughly enjoyed riding
with the world’s best in the
off-road category. “At first I was a
bit intimidated by the option of
riding with Christoph. After all, he
is one of the best in his class”,
George says. “But the two of us are
very similar physically, so we are
an evenly matched pair. Of course,
he is a much better technician. It
was really amazing to ride with
these guys. Only when you see and
feel what mountain biking is all
about, can you improve. Christoph
watched me during the ride today and
tonight he will give me his
feedback.” While all the other pro
riders travel from stage to stage
with a support crew, David and
Rupert have been on their own, even
sleeping in tents. Being ‘adopted’
by team Specialized for the second
half of the race makes the Absa Cape
Epic experience even more enjoyable
for David. “Tomorrow I will also
ride a Specialized bike. I only got
my bike two weeks ago”, he says “I’m
not that used to it and might as
well change.” Currently having no
sponsor gives him the freedom to
spontaneous decisions, for instance
wearing Christoph Sauser’s team
colours during the race. He even
considers a mountain biking career.
“I’d like to take mountain biking
more seriously. I really enjoy it.
You need a different kind of power,
but it suits my physique. It has to
pay the bills, though. But if a team
was approaching me with a good
offer, I’d be keen to change.”
The Colour Red
 Since
March 2006, red has become the
colour of the Absa Cape Epic. After
a successful first event, Absa
Corporate and Business Bank
confirmed a three year title
sponsorship of the Magical and
Untamed African Mountain Bike Race.
Life has since become easier for
sponsorship manager of Absa, Matt
Ellenbogen and his team. “Last year
we only had six weeks to plan for
the event due to coming on board at
a late stage. This year we have had
a lot of time to work and plan with
the race organisation. We got a lot
of activity in place to make the
most of one of the top events in the
country. The Absa Cape Epic is a new
experience for many people. Every
time we bring somebody along, we
convert them to Absa Cape Epic
followers. There's this incredible
camaraderie and spirit among the
riders and it's just infectious. If
you're on the sides watching the
teams, you pick up on it, you feel
their enthusiasm and their pain.
This year we have 12 teams in the
race, a mix of pro riders, semi pro
riders as well as teams of clients
and bankers. We wanted to give our
top clients the opportunity to ride
the race. In the top end of the
group, our Masters team won the
third stage yesterday and our pro
Mixed team is in the top three. They
got a podium finish yesterday so
we're very happy. The competition is
much tougher this year, but we
definitely feel the guys are getting
a bit stronger.
Warm regards,
Sonja Gueldner-Hamel
Absa Cape Epic
Media Director
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