Cycling: Swiss leads climb to victory in cape mountain classic

Wwitzerland's Christophe Sauser and his South African team-mate Burry Stander won the prologue of the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. The 36ONE Songo Specialized riders finished in a time of 1:02.40,7 and were followed by Hannes Genze and Jochen Käss of Multivan Merida Biking (1:04.22,9) with the Bulls team and three-times winners of the Epic, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, in third place (1:04.35,6).

"This course definitely suited us," said Stander afterwards. "It's the best stage we've ever had – we're cross-country riders. It also suited our bikes. Susi [ Sauser's nickname] was hurting me today and I had to slow him down a few times. Usually I lead at the start, but as soon as we hit the first climb he was leading and did so for about 80 per cent of the way."

The first of the race's seven stages takes place today on the Saronsberg Wine Estate.