Stage 1 out of Saronsberg Wine Estate around Tulbagh over 88km with a brutal 2450m of climbing was no short on drama. The stage featured four major climbs with Raptor Rise setting a tone of sweeping switchbacks through fynbos, continued by Boegoe and the Kliprivier Trails and finally Fanti’s Pass, the final two kilometres of which average a 14% gradient and peak at over 20%.

However, the stage wasn't just about challenges and climbing. Riders were rewarded with the opportunity to ride never-before-raced singletracks such as Jan se Bos, as well as established trails including Assegaaibos and God's Window.

As in the prologue, the heat and dust were common themes and played havoc with all comers, making it a truly Untamed stage. From the third-placed team on the day, Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne (Matt Beers and Howard Grotts) to the last riders who came home with the Hyenas and Hannele Steyn the ‘Last Lioness’ who has seen it all before.

“We expected a very hot, dry and dusty day,” Steyn said at the finish. “I mean, we were quite concerned. And I tell you, every time we saw the clouds, we were like, ‘wow, thank you…’.” 

According to Steyn, the heat did nothing to curb her enthusiasm for her 20th Absa Cape Epic. “I really am enjoying it. I've got a wonderful partner and that's so important. If you don’t have a good partner this ride can be even tougher,” she said. 

Echoing her sentiments about partnership was defending champ, Matt Beers who had to work hard with teammate Howard Grotts to overcome a few challenges.

“In the last singletrack I made a mistake and had a crash,” Beers commented after the stage, explaining how he and Grotts worked hard to manage their pace and stay in touch with the leaders. “There was a lot of dust, so it was hard to see. A lot of riders were breaking chains and having mechanicals, so I think that is going to be the tone for the next couple of days,” he said.  

The stage was however won by Hans Becking and Wout Alleman (BUFF-MEGAMO). Alleman was in complete command of the BUFF-MEGAMO Stage 1 race strategy from start to finish, coolly guiding the team home in 3:38:48, two seconds ahead of Nino Schurter and Sebestian Fini (World Bicycle Relief). Schurter and Fini retain the yellow.

In the Aramex Women’s category, there was little to separate GHOST Factory Racing (Teprstra and Koller) and Cannondale Factory Racing (Candice Lill and Mona Mitterwallner) until the final few metres, where Ghost once again took line honours.

They retain the overall Orange Leaders jersey in the Aramex Women’s Category, with Lill and Mitterwallner only a minute behind in the GC. Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, third-placed in the GC, now sits six minutes behind the leaders.

Here is how the rest of the categories and special jerseys were spread:

NTT MASTERS CATEGORY 
The Bulls Masters team Karl Platt and Tommy Misser retained their their NTT Blue Jersey by blazing the course in an impressive time of 5 hours, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds. Following closely behind, the Absa Masters duo of Craig Uria and Michael Posthumus claimed second place, finishing just 9 minutes and 12 seconds later. The CzechRocket & SwissDiesel team, represented by Pavel Gonda and Tobias Lüthi, showcased their prowess, securing the third position overall. These results underscore the competitive spirit and skill displayed by all participants in the race.

MASTERS WOMEN'S CATEGORY 
In the race, Team Asterix&Cleopatra, represented by Nina Brenn and Barbara Schwarz, claimed a commanding victory. Following behind, Team Absa LastLioness, (Hannele Steyn and Janine Muller), finished 28 minutes later. Meanwhile, Team Swede Enough, with Jenny Rönngren and Sharon Walton came home in third on the stage.

MIXED CATEGORY 
In a closely contested race, the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, led by Riaan Weideman and Samantha Sanders. Following closely, the Resicon duo, Angus Rodwell and Shelley Knowles, secured second place just 8 minutes and 11 seconds later. The DriveTrain of Joel Stransky and Rouxda Grobler finished third.

GRAND MASTERS CATEGORY
In a fiercely competitive stage, the Pedal Project team of Oliver Imfeld and Thomas Jauner, demonstrated exceptional skill and endurance, securing the top spot overall. Close behind, KMC - AAZ SPORTS, represented by Abraao Azevedo and Peter Vesel, claimed second place. Meanwhile, LGE Midas, led by Igna De Villiers and Fanie Venter finished third.

GRAND MASTERS WOMEN'S CATEGORY 
Toyota Memory Keepers (Hanlie Booyens and Michelle Lombardi) rode strong to win, with Absolutely SheUntamed (Ingrid Avidon and Ann Harrison) in second and Rola Motor Group (Comine Claassen and Fiona Austin), rounding out the top three.

GREAT GRAND MASTERS CATEGORY 
Multiple Absa Cape Epic category winner Barti Bucher with Meerendal teammate Peter Furrer, secured a commanding victory in the stage with a time of 4 hours and 43 minutes, placing 86th overall. They were followed by Toshiba Namibia (Frank Snyman and Atle Hansen), with Forestiére & C&C (Ralf Kropp and Rene Vallee) rounding out the top three.

ABSA AFRICAN SPECIAL JERSEY 
Honeycomb Pro Cycling of Marc Pritzen and Tristan Nortje overlook Imbuko A (Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha) to pull on the red jersey for Stage 2. Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Sarah Hill and Hayley Smith (#SheUntamed) did the same. 

EXXARO SPECIAL JERSEY 
Fairtree DPworld Cannondale’s Kusaselihle Ngidi and Damon Terblanche have a comfortable lead of well over three minutes in the men’s race, with Fairtree NTT 1 (Yomelela Mfazwe and Ongezo Mini) in the women’s green special jersey. 

AMATEURS
Lauris Purnins and Oskars Muiznieks, representing Latvian wannabe pro cyclists, secured the top position, finishing with an impressive time of 5 hours, 15 minutes, and 11 seconds. Following closely behind, Simeon Niederer and Patric Tinner of Team Alilililili were once again second. Christopher Portugal and Renato Tapia Landa, competing for Portugal - Tres Piñas, rounded up the top three.

AMATEUR WOMEN
In the Amateur Women's race Team Ar&Co (Paula Lopez and Alejandra Cristina Tattenbach Arias), clinched their second stage in a row They were followed closely by Team RoadexEMU, led by Krista Pūcīte and Beate Kovgere, secured second place with Team Young&Brave (Tanja Schutte and Iliska Verwey-Schutte) coming in third.