Flueckiger Brothers Take Epic Stage Win for Trek World Racing

In winning today's Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic, Mathias and Lukas Flueckiger achieved one of their main goals in attending the classic South African stage race; to back up last years final stage win with at least one more in 2010. The stage took riders from Worcester to Oak Valley, a distance of 123km and with 2,240m of climbing. Conditions were dusty and warm, something younger brother Mathias has had trouble adjusting to after a winter in Switzerland, but today his legs came good around the mid point of the stage. The racing really didn't start among the main contenders until 90km into the stage when the riders were confronted with a long climb to take the riders up to the Groenlandberg Cape Nature Conservation area. The first part followed a steep dirt road up to Water Point 3 and part two took riders into virgin Epic mountain biking territory and deep into nature, all the way to the Groenlandberg saddle. Approaching the climb all the favourites were together, yet the brothers who are starting to get their race legs, rode their Trek Top Fuels away strongly on the climb and found themselves pulling a good margin. Once over this main climb, now with a 90 second advantage, they used their descending skills to full effect and increased their lead out to 2mins 38secs by the finish line. Mathias said: "I didn't have really good legs for the first half of the stage, but once we got to the hill, my legs felt great and I was very strong." Lukas said: "I was feeling good all day and was glad that when I felt strong on the climb I sensed that Math was also strong. This was great because he's been a little "off colour" for the last couple of days. To win our second career stage here is great." In yesterday's Stage 5 Time Trial, the boys opted to take it easier than others. Lukas: "We took yesterday easy and planned it as a rest day. We knew today was going to be tough and this was obviously a good option as it worked for us." Todays result has the Trek World Racing team in 4th overall, some 23 minutes down on the leaders Team Bulls. Trek World Racing Road Manager Paul Schlitz said: "After the bad luck they've had, especially on the first 3 stages, it was a relief to get a stage win. Now, the pressure is off them and they can really enjoy the last 2 stages." Result and Live Updates: www.cape-epic.com Photgraphy: Sven Martin