The team of Karl Platt & Stefan Sahm win the top overall spot at the 2009 Absa Cap Epic stage race. Team Bulls races on RockShox suspension. "Crossing the final finish line took a load off my mind," the Bulls' Sahm said. "After all these obstacles, the joy is even greater. You can’t compare winning the Absa Cape Epic to anything else. It’s outstanding and for us the biggest and most important victory of all. It means the world to us." Platt added,"When we were crossing the finish line all together my thoughts were bouncing. We had so many highs and lows and sometimes made up time only to lose it again. Mentally and physically it was a very tough race and now in the end I’m unbelievably happy. After the prologue, I really didn’t expect to win. ... I guess I’ll have to tape my shoulder again before we go partying tonight." Out of the 1,196 riders that started this year’s Absa Cape Epic, 503 teams and 1,078 riders completed the 685km (425 miles), climbing a total of 14,663 meters (48,106 feet).