Annika Langvad (Toyota-Specialised) has returned from retirement and having a toddler to take out her sixth version of the Cape Epic, dominating the ladies’s class of the seven levels in a pairing with Sofia Gomez Villafañe who snared a second title in 2025.
Whereas Langvad secured her place as essentially the most profitable rider within the race’s historical past – participating in six editions and profitable each one – Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) raced to his third title, and first since 2019, with Filippo Colombo.
The lads’s pairing entered the ultimate stage with a battle on their arms, because the Willier-Vittoria duo of Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto tightened the hole on stage 6. Nonetheless, a robust efficiency from the Scott-SRAM pairing to take second as Braidot and Avondetto pale to sixth left Schurter and Colombo with a 1:31 profitable margin to the Wilies-Vittoria duo as Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A) got here third, 12:58 again.
Three-time males’s champion Matt Beers, teaming this yr with Keegan Swenson (Outride-Toyota-Songo), completed twelfth total. The German duo of Georg Egger and Lukas Baum, who gained the general in 2022 and had been second in 2023, completed fifth total.
“That was arduous racing all week and it carried on into the ultimate day,” mentioned Schurter in a race media launch. “This can be a very candy victory. Going into the Grand Finale we discovered we had been in a position to tempo ourselves properly and all of it labored out for us on the day.
“It’s a really completely different sort of racing to World Cup racing however profitable right here is all the time a profession spotlight. The group dynamic makes it so attention-grabbing and once you get the best accomplice it’s very satisfying.”
Langvad and Villafañe went into the ultimate day of racing with a big margin after having topped the rostrum proper by from the prologue to stage 6. Solely on the ultimate stage did they finish their profitable run however nonetheless got here second. The Toyota-Specialised pair gained with a 21:32 margin to Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM’s Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb), who completed fourth final yr, had been third at 38:07 again.
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Looser gained the GC in 2023, and was fifth final yr with Skarda, ending on the rostrum seven of eight occasions through the week, however it wasn’t sufficient to displace the dominant efficiency for the Toyota-Specialised duo.
“This week has simply been loopy,” mentioned Langvad. “Our week didn’t actually go to plan and after crashing earlier within the race, I’ve been in a number of ache.
“Sofia has simply been essentially the most superb accomplice, however I’ve not been having enjoyable on the market. Profitable is superb, although. I gave start seven months in the past. I didn’t experience my bike for years. Folks assume I’m some superhuman bicycle owner. However this week has been very arduous. I’m drained now. I simply wish to lie down.”
A complete of 1,500 cyclists on two-person groups, representing 63 nations, took half within the 2025 Cape Epic on the rugged trails of the Western Cape in South Africa. Within the elite classes, there have been 25 UCI ladies’s groups and 50 UCI males’s groups.
Learn on to see how the race developed by every stage of the 591km race with 16,350 metres of elevation acquire.
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Males’s GC
Group
Outcomes
1
Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
23:12:39
2
Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
00:01:31
3
Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A)
00:12:58
4
Samuele Porro and Marc Stutzmann (Klimatiza Orbea)
00:23:13
5
Georg Egger and Lukas Baum (Orbea Leatt Pace Firm)
00:41:55
Row 6 – Cell 0
Row 6 – Cell 1
Row 6 – Cell 2
Ladies’s GC
Group
Outcomes
1
Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
05:03:10
2
Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
00:21:32
3
Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb)
00:38:07
4
Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas (Cannondale ISB Sport)
00:40:06
5
Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti (Torpado Kenda FSA WMN)
01:01:19
Prologue
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Julian Siemons and Greg Van Avermaet completed twenty seventh total within the Prologue of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
Sofia Gomez Villafañe and Annika Langvad through the Prologue(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Willier-Vittoria) made their rivals rise up and take discover within the prologue, with the primary timers profitable the new and dusty 26km prologue to and from Meerendal Wine Property.
“We believed we might have a very good race at present after we seemed on the distance and the profile,” mentioned Avondetto. “We’re tremendous proud of the victory and it’s good to return right here and shock everybody.
“It’s a terrific feeling to win and a good higher one to start out within the Yellow Zebra Striped Jersey tomorrow. Right this moment was a stage that suited us. We just like the quick levels. I believe tomorrow shall be loads more durable, however we’re in a very good place proper now.”
Annika Langvad could have been away from skilled racing since 2019 however nobody was underestimating what she might do in league with Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised). If there have been, nonetheless, any doubt they had been gone when the Toyota-Specialised pair went straight to the highest step.
UCI Males – Prologue prime 3
1 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
2 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
3 – Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha (Honeycomb 226ers)
UCI Ladies – Prologue prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
2 – Margot Moschetti and Samara Sheppard (eFort x ChemChamp)
3 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
Stage 1
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The lead riders throughout Stage 1 of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Meerendal Wine Property(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
Georg Egger leads the bunch throughout Stage 1 with teammate Lucas Baum(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
The 92km stage with 2,750 metres of climbing delivered the primary large check of the race, the space opening up the gaps that began the intense GC sorting. Schurter and Colombo took to the entrance of the lads’s race from 70km together with prologue winners Braidot and Avondetto, although this time it was the order was reversed because the Scott-SRAM partnership surged within the closing kilometres to take the win.
Within the ladies’s race Langvad and Villafañe had been clearly intent on not losing a second of their efforts to construct their total lead, taking off midway by the stage to carve out a profitable margin of practically seven minutes on the second positioned duo of Looser and Skarda.
“The Absa Cape Epic all the time likes to check on Stage 1 and at present was no completely different,” mentioned Villafañe. “The climbs had been uncovered to the weather, I had a crash, all the pieces appeared to occur without delay, however we nonetheless had a very good day on the market and now we have constructed up a pleasant lead on the second-place group within the normal classification. We’re in an excellent house heading into Stage 2.”
UCI Ladies – Stage 1 prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
2 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
3 – Rosa van Doorn and Janina Wust (Buff Megamo)
UCI Males – Stage 1 prime 3
1 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
2 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
3 – Lukas Baum and Georg Egger (Orbea Leatt Pace Firm)
Stage 2
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Riders on stage 2 of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
UCI males’s leaders Schurter and Colombo throughout Stage 2(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
A 66km time trial awaited on stage 2, and with Langvad and Villafañe beginning final there have been loads of carrots forward alongside the way in which to gasoline their cost. That, Langvad mentioned, could have spurred them to go just a little sooner than was sensible originally given the warmth however they managed to reasonable and ship a sustainable effort and nonetheless seize one other win.
Within the males’s occasion a brand new pair rose to the highest with the Buff Megamo pairing of Wout Alleman and Martin Stošek – a late swap for Hans Becking – this time outpacing the constant Scott-SRAM due of Schurter and Colombo.
“Wout was pushing like loopy and I used to be simply holding his wheel,” mentioned Stošek. “He was so quick and I felt like I used to be slowing him down. I’ve had two dangerous days on the (Absa) Cape Epic and I actually needed to experience properly for my accomplice, so I simply hung in there – so now I’m so completely happy to win this stage – that is why we’re right here, to win levels … It’s been seven hours of struggling for me this yr and perhaps two moments of enjoyable. However now now we have a stage win!”
UCI Males – Stage 2 prime 3
1 – Wout Alleman and Martin Stošek (Buff Megamo 1)
2 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
3 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
UCI Ladies – Stage 2 prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
3 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
Stage 3
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Riders throughout Stage 3 of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at Fairview, Paarl, Cape City, South Africa(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
South Africans Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje experience on stage 3 en route to 3rd on the day for UCI males(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
An excessive warmth warning meant the stage within the Western Cape’s Paarl area was lower from 90km to 78km however that definitely did not make it a simple day forward. Within the males’s race the early climbs delivered some attrition however it was mid-race that the important thing contenders had been making their presence felt and amongst them had been South Africa’s Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A). They led into the ultimate 25km, laden with single-track, however in the end Braidot and Avondetto prevailed within the dash, crossing the road only one second forward of the ever constant Schurter and Colombo whereas Joubert and Nortje had been simply behind in third.
Langvad and Villafañe as soon as once more prevailed within the ladies’s race however it did not run all their approach.
“That was by far my worst day at this yr’s Absa Cape Epic,” mentioned Langvad. “I simply felt so sketchy your complete experience. Right this moment was the primary day the place I felt I had been away from mountain biking. I used to be fortunate to stroll away from two crashes with none main harm. It was insanely sizzling on the market at present and we actually simply needed to experience conservatively. We didn’t wish to push too arduous. It was all about sustaining a lead at present.”
Samara Sheppard (e-FORT x ChemChamp), nonetheless, did not stroll away from her crash unscathed with the rider from New Zealand leaving the race with a damaged hand.
UCI Ladies – Stage 3 prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
2 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
3 – Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb)
UCI Males – Stage 3 prime 3
1 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
2 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
3 – Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A)
Stage 4
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The main bunch throughout Stage 4(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
Tristan Nortje leads UCI males’s race on stage 4(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
It was a repeat of the ladies’s podium on the 80km stage 4 with 1950m of climbing, as even regardless of the falls of stage 3 Langvad and Villafañe nonetheless managed to experience away anytime their lead was threatened. They beat Looser and Skarda to the road by 50 seconds, extending their GC lead over the Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM duo to just about quarter-hour.
Within the males’s race Braidot and Avondetto additionally as soon as once more beat Schurter and Colombo to the road by only one second, conserving the general tight with simply three levels left. There was simply 42 seconds between Scott-SRAM and Wilier-Vittoria.
“It was very tactical. Everybody was sticking collectively,” mentioned Schurter. “It got here right down to a dash and the Wilier-Vittoria boys simply had the sting. We’re nonetheless within the Yellow Jersey and that’s the place to be!”
UCI Males – Stage 4 prime 3
1 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
2 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
3 – Wout Alleman and Martin Stošek (Buff Megamo 1)
UCI Ladies – Stage 4 prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
2 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
3 – Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb)
Stage 5
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Annika Langvad throughout Stage 5 (Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
Filippo Colombo and Nino Schurter throughout Stage 5(Picture credit score: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic)
The queen stage had arrived with 2850m of climbing over 98km within the day of racing that began at Fairview, Paarl and ended at Lourensford Wine Property however not earlier than riders had made their approach over a sequence of brutal ascents, the ultimate one – The Nek– topping out with round 15km of racing to go.
Total rivals Scott-SRAM and Wilier-Vittoria emerged on the entrance on the highest of that essential climb, with Schurter and Colombo then getting away on the descent so as to add a strong 1:10 to their total lead, although at nonetheless beneath two minutes Bradiot and Avondetto weren’t carried out but.
Within the ladies’s race it was a better battle however Langvad and Villafañe nonetheless reigned supreme to take their sixth win in a row as they crossed the road twelve seconds forward of Calderon Martinez and Kortekaas. “That was insane,” mentioned Langvad. “That was all the pieces you’d anticipate on a Queen Stage and extra. Going up the Nek was horrible. The mud was sticking to the wheels and I might barely flip my pedals over. At one stage I didn’t assume I might get to the highest.”
UCI Ladies – Stage 5 prime 3
1 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
3 – Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen (TitanRacing SE Honeycomb)
UCI Males – Stage 5 prime 3
1 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
2 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
3 – Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A)
Stage 6
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Cannondale ISB Sport duo of Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas win stage 6 for UCI Elite ladies(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
Tristain Nortje and Marco Joubert win Stage 6 for UCI elite males
The 87km stage with 2,550m of climbing broke Langvad and Villafañe’s profitable streak. Calderon Martinez and Kortekaas delivered an emphatic victory, with the Cannondale ISB Sport duo pushing the tempo from the beginning and pulling away from the remainder of the sphere midway by. That gave them a lead of 6:40 on Toyota-Specialised by the point they crossed the road.
Within the males’s race it was round 25km to go when the highest three groups emerged on the entrance, after which at 12km to go – with a eager eye on the GC – Wilier Vittoria attacked to try to slim Scott-SRAM’s lead on the penultimate stage. The plan labored, in that Braidot and Avondetto dropped Schurter and Colombo. Nonetheless, Joubert and Nortje held agency and the South African Imbuko ChemChamp duo then gained out within the closing sprint to the road, lastly securing that stage victory that they had been striving for all week.
“We simply by no means gave up. And at present it got here,” mentioned Nortje. “That stage was so intense although. It was wild. There was mud, rain, trails, all the pieces. I felt good. I felt dangerous. At one stage I didn’t assume I might even end the stage. I’ve by no means suffered a lot on a motorcycle. It was so sketchy on the market and so nerve-racking attempting to maintain all of it collectively, however we did it!”
The second-placed Wilier-Vittoria obtained 1:20 on Scott-SRAM, narrowing the GC hole to 32 seconds forward of the ultimate stage.
UCI Males – Stage 6 prime 3
1 – Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp A)
2 – Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria)
3 – Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM)
2 – Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Toyota-Specialised)
3 – Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda (Environment friendly Infiniti SCB SRAM)
Stage 7
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Schurter and Colombo have a good time males’s GC win after Stage 7(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
Ladies’s GC podium after Stage 7 of 2025 Absa Cape Epic(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
Riders throughout Stage 7 of 2025 Absa Cape Epic(Picture credit score: Sam Clark/Cape Epic)
There was a closing stage win to chase in addition to an open normal classification battle within the males’s class within the final climate shortened 40km day with 1050m of climbing. Braidot and Avondetto had labored arduous to drag again the general hole to Schurter and Colombo right down to 32 seconds, however maybe just a little too arduous. The Wilier-Vittoria duo battled, taking sixth whereas the ever constant Schurter and Colombo got here second to on the stage and saved their total win safe. Matthew Bers and Keegan Swenson (Outride-Toyota-Songo) had been the step beneath on the stage, making their first podium look of this yr’s occasion whereas the highest step belonged to Georg Egger and Lukas Baum.
Within the ladies’s stage, the GC was all however determined, with Villafañe and Langvad holding a buffer of over 20 minutes. They may afford to ease off just a little, nonetheless celebrating profitable the final word prize by an enormous margin as they crossed the road in sixth. Taking the stage honours for a second day operating, Calderon Martinez and Kortekaas continued their late cost. “Profitable at present and yesterday makes up for all of the dangerous stuff earlier within the week,” mentioned Cannondale ISB Sport’s Kortekaas. “We raced arduous from the beginning at present and felt actually good, so we’re tremendous proud of the final two days.”
