Nino Schurter & Lars Forster Win First Stages

19 March 2019

The Cape Epic, known as the "Tour de France of Mountain Biking", couldn't have started any better for SCOTT-SRAM with three back-to-back stage wins.

Oak Valley Estate, South Africa - Nino Schurter and Lars Forster of Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing won the 90km Stage 2 of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic in the Yellow Jersey. The current World Champion and European Champion already won the Prologue on Sunday as well as the first stage on Monday over 111km. Being the leading team they finished today in a time of 03:37:41 to extend their lead to 4.4 over Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini of Cannondale Factory Racing, who finished third in Oak Valley. Andri Frischknecht and Gert Heyns - SCOTT-SRAM's second team – are ranging in a solid 23^rd position after stage 2.

European Champion Lars Forster and World Champion N1NO Schurter won yesterday's Prologue and managed to win Stage 1 and Stage 2 in the Yellow Jersey. Photography: Gustav Klotz

“It was a tough battle, but we always felt comfortable and been able to control the race. It`s amazing to actually have a hat trick now with 3 in a row.”

N1NO Schurter
Olympic Champion & 7x World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

“It`s amazing, I really didn`t expect that. I was thinking about doing good, but starting this good with 3 wins makes me really happy.”

Lars Forster
European Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Stage 1 - Heaven and Back to Earth

The longer the race went, the smaller the leading race group became. After two thirds of the race when the Specialized team faced technical issues, it was down to SCOTT-SRAM and the Cannondale team to find out the stage winner. On a last long climb, it was first Lars Forster then Nino Schurter who attacked hard to get away. The last 20 km they managed to get a 3 min lead over Cannondale, and so the second day went to the team in the Yellow Jersey.

The Cape Epic never disappoints when it comes to racing bikes in an amazing scenery. Nino Schurter and Lars Forster dominated the first two days. Photography: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic, Gustav Klotz.

"The team again works great! Lars Forster is the best addition to the team we could ask for. He is super strong, both physically and mentally. With our second team, we're in a pretty good place, too. I'm optimistic that we can keep up the super positive vibes throughout the week and hopefully stay strong."

N1NO Schurter
Olympic Champion & 7x World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

"It's my first Cape Epic experience and I start to like it. It's great to have such an experienced teammate like Nino. Stage racing is obviously not the same as XC! It's great experiencing new things and I'm super grateful to do so in a team with such good vibes."

Lars Forster
European Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Team director Thomas Frischknecht: "Both Nino Schurter and Lars Forster are in a very strong condition, both mentally and physically. They are very well syncronized, even though racing with each other their second day ever to team up in a race. They trust each other blind. It looks like at least at the beginning of the Cape Epic that they are by far the best team. The team spirit is phenomenal, also with the entire support crew - that's the best mix anyway in order to have hopefully even more success the coming days."