Absa Cape Epic (South Africa) - Press Release: The first-time Absa Cape Epic entrants moved into first place in the CM.com Women's category on Stage 1 last Monday and never looked back. With perfect stage race tactics throughout the event, they finished 12-and-a-half minutes ahead of second-placed Faces Rola (Candice Lill and Mariske Strauss).

On the final 68km Grand Finale stage from Stellenbosch to Val de Vie Estate, the CM.com Women's category race took on a familiar shape.

Early on in the stage NinetyOne-songo-Specialized and Faces Rola pulled away from the other women's teams, even with BMC MTB Racing's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot looking like she meant business at the start of the stage. BMC MTB Racing dropped away after a strong start, leaving NinetyOne-songo-Specialized and Faces Rola to contest The Trail tp Val de Vie alone.

Stage 7 Results:

1. Faces Rola: 03:23:22.4
2. NinetyOne-songo-Specialized: 03:27:20.1
3. BMC MTB Racing: 03:36:15.4

General Classification:

1. NinetyOne-songo-Specialized: 33:41:11.3
2. Faces Rola: 33:53:43.3
3. BMC MTB Racing: 34:28:17.3