Lowvelder Samantha Sanders and her teammate, Riaan Weideman, are in the lead in the mixed category after stage 4 of the 2023 Absa Cape Epic.

The South African pair have won three of the first four stages of the gruelling race. They claimed the green jersey (for the mixed team leaders) on stage 1 and have retained it since.

After today’s (Thursday March 23) time trial, they held a 00:05:44 lead over Spaniard Ibon Zugasti and Belgian Alice Pirard.

The 648km seven-stage eight-day team mountain bike event in the Western Cape started with the prologue on Sunday. The total elevation the riders must conquer is 15 475m.

The race started near Hermanus on Monday and will finish at Val de Vie Estate near Paarl on Sunday

Sanders and Weideman, riding for Toyota Gazoo Racing, won the 98km first stage on Monday in a time of 05:17:40.

The Orbea Factory team of Zugasti and Pirard were second, 16 minutes and 53 seconds slower than the South Africans.

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Team Toyota Gazoo Racing continued their dominance on stage two, completing the 116km in 05:32:27.

Again Orbea were second in 05:39:28.

Sanders and Weideman had overall lead over Zugasti and Pirard of 12:15:03.

Team Toyota Gazoo Racing held onto the overall lead after stage three, despite finishing second.

Zugasti and Pirard won the 100km third stage in 05:14:03. Sanders and Weideman clocked 05:18: 12, but still held a 00: 05:02 overall lead.

Day 4 today comprised a 47km time trial. Weideman and Sanders rode a brilliant time trial, winning with a time of 02:21:49. They opened another 42 seconds on Zugasto and Pirard, who clocked 02:22:31.

Sanders told Lowvelder that so far everything has gone their way. “I think the most important components to a successful Cape Epic are preparation, communication and trusting in your game plan. Then of course luck and some experience go a long way, too. The Epic is an exceptional challenge; it’s long, it’s physically demanding, but what many people may not realise is that it is a massive mental challenge, too. You need to stay focused, positive and alert, and so far we have managed to tick those boxes,” she said.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing team know the win is far from secure. “There are still thee days of hard riding ahead of us. The racing against Ibon and Alice is tight which is why it’s important that we ride our own race and not get caught up in their tactics,” Sanders said.

Friday’s stage 5 is 102km long.