Meerendal CBCs Jennie Stenerhag and Esther Süss were second fastest in the Cape Epic’s 26km long Prologue course, which kicked off at Meerendal Wine Estate on Sunday 19 March. Ahead of Stenerhag and Süss in the women’s category, were Stenerhag’s ex-teammate Robyn de Groot and Sapine Spitz.
Hot and dusty conditions greeted the 1 200 riders as they prepared to take on the short but challenging Prologue route through the Durbanville Hills. For Meerendal CBC riders, months of hard and consistent training were finally behind them, and for the leading women’s team the day was extra special, as it was also Süss’ birthday.
“I woke up with the start gun early in the morning, and since then my heart rate kept rising,” laughed Süss as she warmed up ahead of the race start. “For the last two months, everyone kept asking me if I’m ready,” Stenerhag added, “so I’m really glad today had finally arrived.”
Just before 10h30, local time, the wait was finally over. Meerendal CBC 2, featuring Hielke Elferink and Cornelia Hug, rolled down the starting ramp. A minute and a half later, Stenerhag and Süss followed suit.
By the first time check, it was clear that it was going to be a good day for Meerendal CBCs leading team. They were second on the time sheets atop the Dorstberg, at the 5km mark. Although they lost time on the stage winning, to de Groot and Spitz, they limited their losses to only 39 seconds on a course which favoured the stage winners’ explosive power, rather than Stenerhag and Süss’ supreme endurance. They managed to establish a one minute and 39-second gap to the fourth placed stage finishers and pre-race favourites, Ariane Luthi and Adelheid Morath. In third place, one minute and 10-seconds behind Meerendal CBC, were Mariske Strauss and Annie Last.
Speaking after the stage race, Stenerhag said, “Obviously we would have liked to have won this stage, but we are happy with second place. There is still a long week ahead.” Stenerhag was the stronger of the pairing on the day, as Süss struggled with the heat, but with a long afternoon to recover before making their way to the colder climates of Hermanus, ahead of Stage one on Monday, this afternoon.
The heat also got to Elferink and Hug, the Meerendal CBC 2 riders, who finished the stage in seventh position seven minutes and 55-seconds down on the stage winners. But as Stenerhag said, the Cape Epic has only just begun and with seven long stages ahead, it is all still to play for.
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Absa Cape Epic | Prologue Results – Hansgrohe Women’s Category
1) Ascendis Health: Sabine Spitz & Robyn de Groot (1:15.26,6)
2) Meerendal CBC: Jennie Stenerhag & Esther Suss (1:16.06,3)
3) Hansgrohe Cadence OMX Pro: Annie Last & Mariske Strauss (1:17.15,7)
4) Team Spur: Ariane Lüthi & Adeleid Morath (1:17.45,1)
5) Dormakiaba SA: Candice Lill & Vera Adrian (1:20.18,9)
6) Merchants: Jeanie Bomford & Samantha Sanders (1:20.42,2)
7) Meerendal CBC 2: Hielke Elferink & Cornelia Hug (1:23.22,5)
8) Hollard-Velocity SportLab: Carmen Bucher & Michelle Vorster (1:26.09,2)
9) LIVBeyond: Fienie Barnard & Dalene van der Leek (1:27.02,6)
10) Galileo Risk Garmin: Theresa Ralph & Yolandi du Toit (1:27.08,9)
Stages to Come:
Stage 1: 20 March | Hermanus | 101km
Stage 2: 21 March | Hermanus to Greyton | 102km
Stage 3: 22 March | Greyton | 78km
Stage 4: 23 March | Greyton to Elgin | 112km
Stage 5: 24 March | Elgin | 84km
Stage 6: 25 March | Elgin | 103km
Stage 7: 26 March | Elgin to Paarl | 85km
Jennie Stenerhag and Ester Suss, of Meerendal CBC, on their way to second on the Absa Cape Epic Prologue. Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
(Left to Right) 2nd Place Jennie Stenerhag & Esther Suss of Meerendal CBC, 1st Place Sabine Spitz & Robyn de Groot of Ascends Health and 3rd Place Mariske Strauss & Annie Last of Hansgrohe Cadence OMX Pro during the Prologue of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by Shaun Roy/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Jennie Stenerhag in action during the Prologue of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by Mark Sampson/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Hielke Elferink and Cornelia Hug, of Meerendal CBC 2, dig deep up the Dorstberg during the Prologue of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
For more information please contact Seamus Allardice (082 748 7772 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or visit www.capebrewing.co.za or www.cape-epic.com.