Competition is heating up between the ladies? teams participating in this year?s Absa Cape Epic. For the first time since the race started last week Friday, stage 4 saw the leading teams sprint to the finish line, creating loads of excitement for onlookers.

The Trek/VW Wsd team, Susan Haywood (USA) and Jennifer Smith (NZL) were the first to cross the finish line at a time of 5:26:36. This puts them in 2nd position overall (23:56:15). The Rocky Mountain team, Pia Sundstedt (FIN) & Alison Sydor (CAN), finished second (5:26:36) but still maintain their overall lead at a time of 22:58:05, leading with almost an hour overall.

Finishing in third place was Scott Contessa, Jane Seggie (RSA) and Ischen Stopforth (RSA), at a time of 5:51:08. They maintained their position in fifth place overall (25:03:42). The Absa Ladies, Erica Green (RSA) and Hanlie Booyens (RSA), finished in fourth place in a time of 6:06:54. They are also placed fourth overall at a time of 24:52:04.

The Dolphin-Trek Mtb Racing team, Fabienne Heinzmann (SUI) and Katrin Schwing (GER), who managed to maintain their position under the top three for the first three stages of the Absa Cape Epic, finished in fifth position at a time of 6:20:55. They are third overall (24:50:06), moving down from stage 3?s second position overall.

The Trek/VW Wsd team, Susan Haywood and Jennifer Smith, said they had a great race after crossing the finish line first. Smith commented that the Rocky Mountain team let them pass. ?They actually gave the stage win to us, which was such a classy thing to do and a huge compliment. It was a true sign of their strength and confidence that they did this. Also, near the end I had some grass in my drivetrain and couldn?t shift. Alison and Pia actually waited for us.? Haywood and Smith were also really surprised at their time. ?When you ride with Alison and Pia, you automatically ride faster. We changed our strategy for today and worked very hard in the feed zones to not waste time. We didn?t want to lose the group that we were riding with as it was really great riding with them.?

Haywood added that they could stick together on the downhills as they trust each other so much. ?Alison is one of the best descenders in the world, but her style isn?t reckless. She would never endanger anyone behind her.? She also said that there was an immense amount of fair play amongst the ladies.

?The Rocky Mountain team had plenty of opportunity to attack. Today was a sign of how relaxed they are with their comfortable lead. On the other hand, it was hard racing for us but we had a lot of fun along the way, chatting and laughing. Our only conclusion is that this must?ve been recovery day for them.?

Smith added: ?Alison kept commenting that she?s an old lady ? it must be some kind of a joke. She looks as if she?s fallen into the fountain of youth ? she?s so fit, healthy and youthful.?

Haywood continued: ?It?s so exciting riding in an event with a strong field. There are 4 to 5 very strong teams in the Ladies division. This is definitely the hardest stage race I?ve ever done because of the pace, but in the end it?s all worth it. The other thing is that the race demands planning as well. This adds a certain dynamic which makes it almost like a road race. You have to strategise, use race tactics and position yourself ? a workout for both mind and body. It?s actually really nice as it keeps you so interested in the race and aware of the bigger picture. With other stage races that I?ve done before, you go into survival mode ? getting from stage to stage. This is much more challenging and interesting.?

Smith continued: ?Today?s stage was really beautiful. The Absa Cape Epic is nothing like I expected with constant changes in scenery ? every stage offers a different kind of beauty. It?s actually a shame that you can?t it more because of the competitiveness of the race. You start recognising people you are riding with by their jerseys, but you know nothing about them. Then in the evenings when you want to meet them, you don?t recognise them because they?re not wearing a helmet or cycling gear and their faces are clean.?

The Scott Contessa team, Jane Seggie and Ischen Stopforth, who finished in third position today, said they were in a group with the Absa and Dolphin teams for a good 25km until the bottom of the first climb when they broke away. According to Seggie they both felt really strong today. ?We decided to give it a try and one climb later we were in shock because we thought the other ladies caught up with us. We were really happy to see that it wasn?t them and that we made a mistake. We ended up riding with the Mixed teams at a really nice speed. It?s so amazing for us to be on the podium at this event. We?re really going to enjoy this as we know it won?t happen again,? she added laughingly.

?We found the last couple of climbs very difficult and mentally exhausting. It really was a case of for every downhill there?s an uphill. We?re exhausted, but blown away by our result.?

The winners in the Mixed category, Ivonne Kraft and Nico Pfitzenmaier, were riding with the Rocky Mountain team for most of the way. Said Kraft: ?We had quite an emotional start to stage 4. We noticed 5 minutes prior to the start that a bolt was missing from Nico?s rear disc break, so we started late. We only caught up with the leading ladies 40km into the race, and shortly after we also caught up with Cyclelab Toyota, Yolande and Johan. Yolande?s been struggling with her shoulder and the technical sections of today?s route must?ve been really challenging for her. We continued riding with them for around 100km into the race when we hit a very technical climb. We then took off with the Trek/VW Wsd and Rocky Mountain teams. The girls are used to riding cross country and could play their Joker card.?

Kraft added that it was actually very nice to ride with the leading ladies because we know each other so well and there is so much mutual respect. As a very strong downhiller, the ladies let me pass. ?We know each other?s strengths and weaknesses and give way to let the others ride at comfortable speeds. There is so much mutual respect and we feel a sense of responsibility for each other with the World Cup season around the corner. The beauty of riding in a mixed team is that Nico is such a gentleman. He was my ?domestique? today, carrying four bottles with him and sharing them with me, and did quite a bit of leading for us girls.?

For stage 5 of the Absa Cape Epic, the route will take riders from Swellendam to Bredasdorp (146km, 1819m climbing). While it may look like an easy day on the smooth dirt roads, riders will ride approximately 20km of rough dual tracks in the De Hoop Nature Reserve where rocks and deep sand kill their momentum and their legs. Many will be frustrated with having to get off and push. All this will finally be worth it as riders will get a magnificent view of the ocean as they come over the last hill. This protected area is alive with flora and fauna including proteas, baboons, ostriches, eland, steenbok and Cape mountain zebra.