1 200 cyclists take on the Cape Epic

The first stage of the Absa Cape Epic began with about 1 200 competitors cycling 23km through farmland in Durbanville. José Hermida of Spain and Rudi van Houts of the Netherlands won the men’s event prologue, which began at Meerendal Wine Estate. Ariane Kleinhans, from Switzerland, and Danish cyclist Annika Langvad clinched the orange jersey in the women’s race. The 11th edition of the race will have cyclists spending the rest of the week on the saddle, touring 718km of Western Cape trails and tracks. Predictions are that the cyclists will face some wet days as they make their way through Robertson, Greyton and Elgin before finishing on Sunday at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.