All set for a thrilling final | Cape Epic - Stage 5

"The stage win feels great, especially after the start I had," said Stirnemann. "In the beginning I was really struggling for rhythm. It took me quite a while to get started, but I think after the first climb of the day I started feeling much better. It was fast again from the start. In fact the whole stage was hard going..." Nino Schurter: "It's absolutely amazing to win the stage. On the first big climb of the day I noticed that Sauser was struggling; that's when we decided to go for it. Both the SCOTT teams were feeling good, so it's great that we have now taken two stages for the team."

After moving into yellow, Schurter expects an exciting finish to the Absa Cape Epic. "The yellow zebra jersey is obviously a bonus," he said. "The cross-country guys have really been doing well at the Absa Cape Epic this year; we're happy to continue the form. Tomorrow will be the longest stage and everything can happen. We of course want to keep the yellow jersey."

In the Mixed category, Jenny Rissveds and Thomas Frischknecht enjoyed a huge victory on the stage and only a major disaster looks able to prevent them from taking that title when the race finishes at Val de Vie on Sunday. Grant Usher and Amy Beth McDougall are second with a 42-minute gap to SCOTT-SRAM Nextlevel.

Stage 6 of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic is billed as the Queen Stage - the toughest of all seven. It features the daunting Groenlandberg climb and a number of vicious up and downs - perhaps a day for the marathon experts to exert some control.