The 2026 KAP sani2c got underway in the Southern Drakensberg on Wednesday with a fast and demanding prologue that immediately established the key contenders in the women’s race.
Representing Cycle Nation, Frances Swanepoel and Rachel Seaman delivered a composed ride to finish fourth in the elite women’s category. Their time of 57:33 placed them just outside the podium positions but importantly kept them within striking distance of the leading teams heading into the opening marathon stage.
At the front of the race, Samantha Sanders and Vera Looser (Efficient Infiniti Insure) demonstrated their intentions early, setting the fastest women’s time of the day. Fortress Toyota’s Cherise Willeit and Ila Stow secured second place while Safari Essence Titan Racing completed the podium.
For Swanepoel and Seaman, the prologue was always about positioning rather than winning the race outright. The pair avoided costly mistakes on the technical terrain and established a solid foundation for the three days of racing that lay ahead.
The result leaves Cycle Nation fourth overall in the women’s General Classification, close enough to challenge for the podium while preserving energy for the longer and more demanding stages to come.
With the opening test complete, attention now turns to Stage 1 where the first significant gaps in the General Classification are expected to emerge.
Women’s Prologue Results
- Samantha Sanders / Vera Looser
- Cherise Willeit / Ila Stow
- Danielle du Toit / Roxanne Kemp
- Frances Swanepoel / Rachel Seaman