Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane Extend Cape Epic Lead

The theme of the day was wind, climbing and more wind. And sometimes climbing with wind. The leading teams in the Aramex UCI Women’s race on Stage 1 also formed a tight-knit bunch for the early part of the day, until Langvad and Villafane pulled away before the rough, rocky and steep ‘Rhino Climb’. 

By the top of the climb, they held a three-and-a-half minute lead over nearest challengers, Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM. The Toyota | Specialized team stopped briefly for some tyre repairs, but the delay wasn’t long enough for Looser and Skarda to close the gap.

“That was such a brutal climb,” said Langvad. “This race likes to throw everything at you over the week but it felt like it all came in one day today – Sofia had a bad crash just 5km in, we had a flat tyre, there was the climb, and the wind was blowing non-stop.” 

Despite the mishaps, Langvad and Villafane powered through the stage. “There are lots of positives to take from today though and I am very happy with our performance and very proud of my partner for the way she rode because that was not a nice crash – she went down quite hard. 

“You have to be efficient at the Cape Epic and you have to take your opportunities because you never know what is going to happen in the week. I think that’s what Sofia and I achieved today. I feel like I am riding myself into form and I am excited to be here.”  

Stage 1 of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Leader, Toyota | Specialized’s Annika Langvad

Villafane was in an equally buoyant mood after a commanding Stage 1 performance. “The Absa Cape Epic always likes to test on Stage 1 and today was no different. The climbs were exposed to the elements, I had a crash, everything seemed to happen at once, but we still had a good day out there and we have built up a nice lead on the second-place team in the general classification. We are in a very good space heading into Stage 2.”   

Stage 2 could produce fireworks because, for the first time in the event’s history, a stage will take the shape of a point-to-point time trial, with riders setting off in pairs from Meerendal Wine Estate for the finish line at Fairview. 

Aramex UCI Women’s Cateogry Stage 1 Results

1. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 4:43:35
2. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRam – 4:49:17
3. Rosa Van Doorn and Janina Wüst – Buff Megamo – 4:51:37
4. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 4:53:41
5. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 4:55:02

Aramex UCI Women’s Category General Classification 

1. Annika Langvad, Sofia Gomez Villafane – Toyota | Specialized – 5:56:08
2. Vera Looser, Alexis Skarda – Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM – 6:03:06
3. Rosa van Doorn, Janina Wüst – BUFF MEGAMO – 6:09:06
4. Monica Yuliana Calderon Martinez, Tessa Kortekaas – Cannondale ISB Sport – 6:09:26
5. Bianca Haw, Hayley Preen – TitanRacing SE Honeycomb – 6:10:52

Original Copy: Absa Cape Epic, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane won Stage 1 to lead the 2025 Absa Cape Epic by more than five minutes and secure the overall lead of the women’s race in the Western Cape on Monday, 17 March, 2025. Photo: Sam Clark/Cape Epic

Photo 2 Caption: Stage 1 saw the Danish and Argentinian team of Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane win prime position  Photo: Michael Chiaretta/Cape Epic

Photo 3 Caption: The UCI Women’s lead peloton sparkled with national jersey competitors in South Africa’s toughest MTB stage race. Photo: Sam Clark/Cape Epic

Photo 4 Caption: The first South Africans to cross the line were Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen racing in TitanRacing SE Honeycomb colours. Photo: Sam Clark/Cape Epic

Photo 5 Caption: With so much international talent,Haw and Preen (pictured) were the only South Africans in the top 10 team finishers. Photo: Michael Chiaretta/Cape Epic