Lisa Bone was certainly among the pre-race favourites, but was perhaps uncertain of her own formidable strength. A breakthrough victory at the Cape Town Cycle Tour will change the Enza Construction Cycle Nation rider’s perception of her own capabilities, as well as her standing in the elite women’s peloton after a commanding performance that culminated in a hard-fought sprint finish. Bone edged out the Russian age-group Gravel World Champion, Daria Pravilova, and the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Champion, Kate Courtney, to win the 2026 title.
The Enza Construction Cycle Nation team had a clear plan for the race, and it worked out virtually perfectly. “We had a plan to try to neutralise the strength in depth of the Tshenolo [Pro Cycling] team,” Bone explained. “One of my teammates attacked early, and a Tshenolo rider went with her. When we caught them on the Smitswinkel climb, I attacked straight away.”
This move pulled a group of favourites clear of the peloton. There were 135 riders on the elite women’s start list, and the contenders for victory pulling clear early allowed the women to race without the crashes that marred the men’s race. “Usually, we go up Smitswinkel at quite a steady pace, but we flew up there this year!” Vera Looser emphasised. “That was actually great because the group was so big and for mountain bikers like myself, it always feels safer to be in a small group during a road race.”
Along with Looser and Bone, the elite selection with 60 kilometres to race, included Pravilova, Courtney, Candice Lill, Tyler Jacobs, Taneal Otto, Tiffany Keep, Magda Nieuwoudt, Hayley Preen, and Sonica Klopper. The group worked well together to the foot of Chapman’s Peak Drive were Lill attempted to whittle down the field further by setting a ferocious tempo. The African Cross-Country Mountain Biking Champion pulled three riders clear, but a headwind on the descent to Hout Bay neutralised the attack.
10 kilometres later, on Suikerbossie, Courtney attacked and briefly led solo, but the American was reeled in by Bone and Co. Once the twelve riders were back together on the descent towards Camps Bay, it became clear that a sprint finish was likely.
“I actually thought about attacking on the kicker climbing out of Camps Bay, but the group was rolling through so well that I knew they would catch me,” Bone stated. “I had studied the finale and saw that the winner tends to sprint down the left. With the wind blowing in a cross-headwind from our right, the left was the most sheltered place to be. “I just went for it and gave the sprint everything. This victory is entirely down to my team. They were amazing today. They sacrificed themselves for me, worked hard to overcome the strength of the Tshenolo [Pro Cycling] team, and put me in a position to race to my very best. It wouldn’t have been possible without every single one of them!”
“I think I’ve just been building my base and growing in confidence over the last 12 months,” Bone smiled. “I still have to tell myself that I belong in the elite women’s field. Today, every time there was a pinch point or a split, which I made, I gained a bit more confidence.”
There can be no question that Bone belongs at the sharp end of women’s road racing in South Africa following her Cape Town Cycle Tour performance. In holding off the country’s most established racers and international talent, she earned not only the 2026 title but also well-deserved star status. Behind her, the top eight riders were all awarded the same time, highlighting how competitive the 48th edition was.
Pravilova and Courtney were second and third, Looser and Keep fourth and fifth. Lill, Preen, Otto, Nieuwoudt, and Klopper completed the top ten places.
2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour Elite Women’s Results:
1. Lisa Bone: Enza Construction Cycle Nation (2:06:26)
2. Daria Pravilova: Etalon (ST)
3. Kate Courtney: She Sends Foundation (ST)
4. Vera Looser: Efficient Infiniti Insure (ST)
5. Tiffany Keep: DAS Hutchinson (ST)
For the full results from the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour, click here.