The French Champion won the first round of the challenge in Marseille Luminy. Fumic, Avancini and Spitz on the Absa Cape Epic podium
Team Cannondale Factory Racing’s French Champion Maxime Marotte won the race in 1.27:06, preceding fellow Frenchmen Titouan Carod (+ 7”) and Stephane Tempier (+ 51”) on the finish line.
Marotte, third in XC World Cup two weeks ago in South Africa, confirmed in France his improving shape and launched his bid for the upcoming international events.
Meantime in South Africa, Northwave ended in style the 15th Absa Cape Epic, one of the most prestigious stage MTB marathons in the World calendar. Four stage wins and the final podium both in men and women’s categories was the final balance of the athletes equipped with Ghost XC, the first Northwave’s MTB shoes that eliminate the pressure points on the upper, offering the maximum power transfer on the pedals and the snuggest fit ever.
After a flying start, characterized by victories in stages one and two, German Manuel Fumic and Brazilian Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing) showed to be one of the strongest couples of the 2018 Cape Epic, taking the third overall place, 13’12” behind the winners, Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts (Investec Songo Specialized). Second place for Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek (+ 9’38”), while Austrian Daniel Geismayr, and his teammate Nicola Rohrbach finished fifth, after winning the opening prologue and the queen stage on Wellington’s finish line.
German Sabine Spitz was in the spotlight with a strong performance in the women’s race alongside her teammate Robyn de Groot. Ascendis Health’s duo was runner-up behind the winners, Annika Langvad and Kate Courtney, whilst Mariske Strauss and Annie Last completed the final podium.
Onigo di Pederobba (Italy), March 26th, 2018
