New day, same result. The Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team once again proved to be among the most competitive squads at the 2026 Cape Epic , matching the second and fourth places they achieved in yesterday’s prologue. Over 90 km and 2,150 metres of elevation gain around Montagu , six teams arrived together to contest the stage in a sprint finish. Simone Avondetto and Luca Braidot once again secured second place , while Juri Zanotti , paired with Mathis Azzaro , finished j

They knew they could perform well in the prologue — and they did. The Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team opened its 2026 Cape Epic with a strong second place from the duo Simone Avondetto – Luca Braidot , while Juri Zanotti , paired this week with French rider Mathis Azzaro , finished fourth . On the 20 km prologue course in Durbanville , Avondetto and Braidot — runners-up overall last year — finished just six seconds behind local winners Matthew Beers and Tristan Nortje ,

One year after the unforgettable experience of 2025, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team  is back in South Africa, ready to once again embrace the magic of the Cape Epic. This is mountain biking’s ultimate stage race – often dubbed the Tour de France of MTB – a grueling team event raced in pairs through dust, heat, wild landscapes and technical trails. Last year, in their very first appearance at the race, Simone Avondetto  and Luca Braidot  produced a remarkable performance