Doing well at the Cape Epic requires to skills: speed and survival. Well, probably other skills too, and some luck. But the brutally challenging South African stage race demands eight straight days of fitness, form, skill and luck.
Haley Smith and Hayley Preen, racing together as Chemcamp Honeycomb in the pairs stage race, thrived under those demanding conditions. After a solid start, the two Ha(y)ley’s worked their way forward each of the eight days to take an incredible second overall at the Cape Epic. Along the way, the pair landed four stage podiums, marking a wildly successful debut for the team’s first effort together.
On the men’s side, Matthew Beers and Tristan Nortje made history in the most dramatic fashion possible. The two took over the lead from Willier-Vittoria’s duo on the final stage of racing to become the first-ever all South African men’s team to win the Cape Epic.
Haley Smith and Hayley Preen soar in South Africa
The Ha(y)ley’s added another podium to their string of results at this year’s Cape Epic. Finishing third on the stage for a fourth day in a row, the Chemcamp Honeycomb team traded on a deadly combo of speed and consistency to work their way up the overall standings. The finish the 2026 Cape Epic in second overall, a massive result from both riders. The two avoided crashes, mechanical troubles and the dreaded Cape Epic illnesses all week to work up onto the penultimate step on the podium.
Up front, there was no stopping Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller. The Thomus Maxon Sabi Sabi duo dominated this year’s Cape Epic, winning all but one stage.
For Lill, this win avenges years of second places finishes – the South African rider has five Cape Epic overall silvers.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said the 34-year-old Lill. “But sometimes you have go through those deep, dark situations to get to where I am today. It makes it sweeter, and I’m very grateful to everyone around me who helped me get here.”
Lill’s veteran experience and raw speed surely helped guide Alessandra Keller, the current World Cup short track overall winner, through her first Cape Epic with such consistent success. The Swiss rider was thrilled with her debut at the South African Stage race.
“It’s a bit like…
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