The final stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic is all set to be a nailbiter. On Saturday’s penultimate stage, South Africans Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) powered back into contention on a stage won by the Buff-BH team of Wout Alleman and Martin Stosek in Stellenbosch.
Beers and Nortje finished second but, more importantly, pulled back 1 minute 37 seconds on the overall leaders, Italians Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto, and now lie just 13 seconds behind with only the Grand Finale stage on Sunday to go.
It was a thrilling end to a stage that climbed more per metre than any other stage of this year’s race with 2450m of ascent over the 76km route.
But unlike the rough trails from earlier in the week, it was a day to play for most of the riders as they raced around the manicured trails in near-perfect cool, calm weather.
In the women’s elite race, over 62km with 1850m of climbing, overall leaders Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller won their fifth stage with relative ease after the second-placed She Sends Foundation team was reduced to one when Italian Greta Seiwald withdrew through illness.
Seiwald developed a fever overnight and withdrew shortly after the start, leaving World Marathon champion Kate Courtney from the US to continue on alone.
The withdrawal meant that the Chemchamp Honeycomb team of Haley Preen and Haley Smith moved into second position after finishing third on the stage.
Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti (Symbtech.Net) took second place on Saturday to move from fifth to fourth on the overall.
MEN'S RACE
After winning the Queen stage on Friday, Braidot and Avondetto looked favourites to win their first Absa Cape Epic title on Sunday.
But early on it was clear that Braidot was feeling the effects of the long week. With 16km of the stage to go, the Beers and Nortje surged clear of the main bunch up the long climb towards the top of the The Doctor trail.
At time physically pushing Nortje, Beers powered up the steady climb cheered on by big local crowds. They first caught early leaders Sam Gaze and Luca Schwarzbauer of Canyon and were even starting to bring down the gap between the Buff-BH team who, with Canyon, had made the earlier break.
But Alleman and Stosek, who had suffered numerous mechanicals earlier in the week, were flying down the final singletrack towards the finish and secured their second win of the week by 18 seconds.
“It was so much fun with the crowds screaming for us along the route,” Allenman said. “We just wanted to show that, after all our bad luck this week, that we were still in shape.”
Beers and Nortje followed just 18 seconds later followed by Canyon and the second Toyota Specialized Imbuko team of Marco Joubert and Travis Stedman.
The yellow jersey ended fifth - the first time they had been off the podium all week.
After the stage Braidot quickly left the media interview area and it was left to Avondetto to comment on their dramatic day: “It was a tough day and Luca was on the limit in the last part, but we are still in it to fight for the yellow jersey. Thirteen seconds is nothing but it’s better to be in front than having to chase.”
Beers and Nortje had their own struggles with Nortje struggling to hold the pace early on.
“We could see that Luca was suffering, but Tristan was also hurting,” Beers said. “But he’s a tough kid and doesn’t give up. I knew he would come around at some point, although it took a little longer than I expected.”
“This was my bad day,” Nortje said. “Between Luca and me, it was about who was suffering more. But I kept believing and didn't want to be the first to give up.”
Beers is a three-time Absa Cape Epic winner, while Nortje won the Absa African jersey in 2025 alongside Marco Joubert.
WOMEN'S RACE
After the early withdrawal of Seiwald, it was clear that the class of Lill and Keller would be difficult to beat as Chemchamp Honeycomb and Symbtech fought it out for the podium.
By the 40km mark, the two had already cruised to a 1-minute lead and began to stretch it out as the local fans cheered on the pair.
“It was really sad about Greta this morning and we never want to see our competitors have to pull out like that. It’s been great racing them all week,” said Lill.
“But we had a really nice day today. I enjoyed following Alessandra on the downhills, and I think I’m definitely improving my skills there thanks to her.”
Preen and Smith proved that consistency is key as they moved into second on the GC.
“This is the way I like to race this race,” said Preen. “I always start further back and work my way up. But we can’t get too excited until the end of tomorrow.”
The final stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic takes place over 58km with 2150m of climbing. The course is the same for the women’s elite race.
EARLY BIRD ENTRIES
On Friday, organisers also announced that early-bird entries for the 2027 Absa Cape Epic will open on Monday at 4pm for Full Access members and at 5pm for general entries. Check out www-cape-epic.com for all the details.
RESULTS
Elite Men Stage
1. BUFF-BH Wout ALLEMAN & Martin STOSEK (3:13.49)
2. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matt BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (3:14.08 | +18)
3. CANYON Luca SCHWARZBAUER & Sam GAZE (3:14.20 | +30)
4. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO 2 Marco Joubert & Travis STEDMAN (3:15.36 | +1:46)
5. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (3:15.44 | +1:55)
Elite Men GC
1. WILIER-VITTORIA: Luca BRAIDOT & Simone AVONDETTO (24:34.35)
2. TOYOTA SPECIALIZED IMBUKO: Matthew BEERS & Tristan NORTJE (24:34.48 | +13)
3. CANYON:Luca SCHWARZBAUER & Sam GAZE (24:39.31 | +4:55)
4. KLIMATIZA ORBEA: David VALERO SERRANO & Marc STUTZMANN (24:44.39 | +10:03)
5. BUFF-BH Wout ALLEMAN & Martin STOSEK (24:48.14 | +13:38)
Elite Women Stage
1. THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (2:56.08)
2. SYMBTECH.NET Margot MOSCHETTI Claudia PERETTI (2:58.55 | +2:47)
3. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB Hayley PREEN & Hayley SMITH (3:01.09 | +5:01)
4. MASSI ISB SPORT Monica CALEDERON & Tessa KORTEKAAS (3:01.52 | +5:44)
5. TORPADO FSA KENDA Katazina SOSNA-PINELE & Giorgia MARCHET (3:05.43 | +9:35)
Elite Women GC
1. THÖMUS MAXON SABI SABI: Candice LILL & Alessandra KELLER (21:44.11)
2. CHEMCHAMP HONEYCOMB: Hayley PREEN & Haley SMITH (22:32.36 | +48:25)
3. TORPADO FSA KENDA Katazina SOSNA-PINELE & Giorgia MARCHET (22:44.50 | +1:00.39)
4. SYMBTECH.NET Margot MOSCHETTI Claudia PERETTI (22:51.59 | 1:07.48)
5. MASSI ISB SPORT Monica CALEDERON & Tessa KORTEKAAS (23:05.01 | +1:20.50)
IMAGE: Martin Stosek (left) and Wout Allemann win stage 6 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic | Photo: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic