No Fluke For Flueckigers - Back to Back Stage Wins!

Hot on the heels of picking up their first stage win of the 2010 Absa Cape Epic, Mathias and Lukas Flueckiger of Trek World Racing have backed up yesterday's result with a win today in the 7th stage. Objective number 2, now realised, to win more stages than in 2009. Today's stage started and finished in Oak Valley, on a 99km course that rose 2,160m through the stage. In windy conditions that saw sporadic rain storms throughout the race, the Swiss brothers surprised many at the finish line as it was expected that Team Scott Swisspower would take the win after setting the pace most of the stage. The day started off hard and fast. Scott Swisspower attacked early with their rested legs and they drove the pace for most of the morning. Trek World Racing, Song-Specialized, Bulls and Merida all stayed with the leading pace until Scott Swisspower attacked and put in a few minutes on the rest of the lead group. It looked to be settling into a race between Trek World Racing and the other three teams for second place, until Song-Specialized dropped back, tired from their previous efforts. At this point Scott Swisspower were still in the lead, with TWR, Bulls and Merida chasing. Things were now set up for a sprint finish for 2nd. But surprising everyone at the finish line, it was the Fluckigers that rounded the turn into the finish stretch in first place after having passed the Scott Swisspower Team who had blown in the last kilometer. Interestingly, Team MTN who are ahead of Trek World Racing in the overall classification, dropped a chunk of time today, meaning the brothers are only 3mins 59secs from an overall top 3 podium, going into tomorrow's short final last stage. Ocerall results here: www.cape-epic.com Photography: Sven Martin