HIGHLIGHTS | PROLOGUE | 2025 Absa Cape Epic

First time entrants Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria) claimed a surprise win today at the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Prologue on Meerendal Wine Estate.

The Italian duo are cross-country specialists, but ahead of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic they weren’t listed among the favourites. In hot, dry and dusty conditions, they claimed first place on the 26km Prologue in a time of 59:45.

Two-time winner Nino Schurter (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) - riding with countryman Filipo Colombo - finished second in 1:00:05 with South African duo Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha (Honeycomb 226ers) rounding out the podium places in a time of 1:00:49. In a quirky twist to the day, first-place was all-Italian, second-place all-Swiss and third-place all-South African - a bit like getting three consecutive double-letter scores in Scrabble.

In the Aramex UCI Women’s Category race it was a successful comeback to the Absa Cape Epic for five-time winner Annika Langvad (Toyota | Specialized). Langvad, racing with 2022 champion Sofia Gomez Villafane, hasn’t raced professionally since 2019. On her return to the Cape Epic, anticipation was high that she would carry on where she left off.

Thanks to a well-paced ride with Villafane, the Dane duly obliged, winning the Prologue by three seconds ahead of Margot Moschetti and Samara Sheppard (e-FORT x ChemChamp). Namibia’s Vera Looser and US rider Alexis Skarda (Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM) took third place on the day.




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