The challenge heats up at the Absa Cape Epic 2025 and the leaders consolidate their advantage. After winning yesterday's first stage, Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo were among the best performers in today's time trial, where the Italians fighting for the general classification defended themselves well.

The best time of the day was recorded by the Megamo Buff team composed of Czech Martin Stošek and Belgian Wout Alleman, who completed the 66 km and 950 m elevation route today from Durbanville to Paarl at 29.76 km/h, an impressive average considering the technical nature of the course. The strongest pair of the day beat the yellow jersey Swiss by 27" and the "our" Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto by a full minute.

The Wilier Vittoria team, winners of the opening prologue of the most challenging and fascinating MTB race, once again demonstrated they are among the few, if not the only ones, capable of keeping up with the Scott SRAM duo for the final victory. After just three of the eight race days, in the general classification the Swiss have a 44" advantage over the Italians making their debut in South Africa.

In third position are the Germans Lukas Baum and Georg Egger of Orbea Speed Company, today fifth at 1'45", trailing in GC by 4'32". In fourth place, at 7'41'', are Fabian Rabensteiner and Simon Stiebjahn of the Torpado Kenda FSA team, today eighth.

In the women's field, the race lead is firmly in the hands of Danish Annika Langvad and Argentine Sofia Gomez Villafame (Toyota Specialized), who today achieved their third victory in three stages, performing better than Cannondale ISB Sport and Efficient Infiniti SCB Sram. On the Italian front, we note the 5th place of Claudia Peretti and the 10th of Costanza Fasolis.

Watch the full stage replay and continue to follow the Cape Epic on tuttobiciweb.it!