Pic: Sven Martin/Sportzpics

Day 6

South African riders Kevin Evans and David George (MTN Energade) took their first “proper” stage win of the 2008 Absa Cape Epic (they’d already won the prologue) in Hermanus at the end of Stage 6. Once again it was a sprint for the line, with Bulls (Karl Platt/Stefan Sahm) two seconds down and overall leaders Cannondale Vredestein (Roel Paulissen/Jakob Fuglsang) another second behind.

Paulissen and Fuglsang were keen to stay at the front of the field after struggling with punctures on Stage 5 and seeing their race lead cut by nine minutes. Finishing just a few seconds behind the leaders on Stage 6 allows them to hold on to their remaining nine minute advantage over Bulls. MTN Energade are over seven minutes behind Bulls, but ten minutes clear of fourth-placed Dolphin-Trek.

In the women’s race, Rocky Mountain (Alison Sydor/Pia Sundstedt) were back on top at the finish line, having been runners-up to Trek/VW WSD (Susan Haywood/Jennifer Smith) on the previous two stages. Rocky Mountain came home 12 minutes clear, taking their overall lead to over an hour. There’s another two hours back to third-placed Scott Contessa (Jane Seggie/Ischen Stopforth), so it’ll take something quite dramatic to affect the final finishing positions.

Full results at www.cape-epic.com.