The 2022 Absa Cape Epic results are in, and what an exciting race it was.
Team Speed Company Racing, Georg Egger and Lukas Baum took the win and became the first-ever team to overtake the overall leaders on the final stage, going on to claim top spot.
The winners of the 2022 Absa Cape Epic men’s race. Speed Company Racing’s Georg Egger and Lukas Baum. Ride of a lifetime on this final stage to overturn a 2:45 deficit and claim the win ahead of Canyon Northwave MTB. #capeepic pic.twitter.com/I3rk3BB7nF
— capeepic (@CapeEpic) March 27, 2022
Team Toyota Ninety One Specialized, Sofia Gómez Villafane and Haley Batten, won the women’s category.
The winners of the 2022 @CMcom_ Women’s category at the Absa Cape Epic, Sofia Gomez Villafane and Haley Batten (NinetyOne-Songo-Specialized)!#epicwomen @WOOLWORTHS_SA pic.twitter.com/Wuc0dqfGGu
— capeepic (@CapeEpic) March 27, 2022
The gruelling eight-day mountain-bike stage race is known for having a different route each year, but usually involves a distance of about 700km and 17 250m vertical ascent. The race must be completed by both members of a two-person team with only 680 teams allowed to ride the race each year.
The race organisers also reported tragic news. During Stage One, a 47-year man died after being attended to by the medical team and airlifted to a nearby hospital where he received further treatment.
‘Despite best medical efforts, the athlete passed today. We share our greatest sympathies with the family and friends of the rider and will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time,’ the organisers said, according to Cape Town Etc. ‘We thank the medical personnel who provided the rider with continuous medical support and care.’
The General Classification top three results are as follows:
First Place: Team Speed Company Racing: 27 hours 44mins :06.5sec.
Second Place: Team Canyon Northwave MTB: 27:47:09
Third Place: Team Toyota-NinetyOne-Specialized: 27:54:45
See the full results here.
Picture: Screenshot from video
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