Cape Epic stage winners
Stage 4 of the 2026 Cape Epic was claimed by the Schwarzbauer–Gaze and Courtney–Seiwald pairings, continuing the drama in one of elite mountain biking’s toughest stage races. The results keep both teams in the spotlight as the week-long South African race heads into its mid-race decisive phases (pinkbike.com).
Stage 4 featured an 87 km route with 1,750 m of climbing for the elite men and a 61 km course with 1,450 m of ascent for the elite women. (pinkbike.com) The fastest women's time on the day was 2:56:37.6, with the overall leaders crossing the line just 2.6 seconds later and the third-placed team finishing 1:43.9 back. (pinkbike.com) In the men's race the quickest pair posted 3:29:31.5, edging second by 0.5 seconds and leaving third 23.9 seconds adrift. (pinkbike.com) That men's result lifted the day’s winners into third on the overall leaderboard, while Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto retained the race lead with a 1 minute 37 second advantage over second place going into Stage 5. (pinkbike.com) The stage was marred by a high-speed descent crash that forced Rosa van Doorn to withdraw after she suffered facial and knee injuries and lost a tooth, leaving her partner to finish the stage alone. (supersport.com) A separate crash involving Wout Alleman on the Middelplaas descent delayed other contenders and cost time to the team of Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje, who still sit second overall despite the incident. (supersport.com) With three stages remaining in the eight-day Absa Cape Epic (March 15–22, 2026), men’s teams have covered part of a 707 km race with 15,900 m of climbing overall, while the women's event totals 545 km and 13,250 m of climbing for the week. (cyclingnews.com)
