2018 Absa Cape Epic LIVE | STAGE 3

you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] pain pleasure elation exhaustion and so what it's all about here at the absolute Cape Epic hello welcome to our coverage of day for stage three of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic the 15th edition of the untamed African mountain bike race coming to you live today from heartiest rosty yeah in Worcester which is in the Western Cape southern tip of the African continent and a beautifully cool day which I think the riders will be reassuring out there they make their way from Robertson all the way to Worcester 122 K is the longer stage of the race and sitting alongside me from the Absa Cape Epic command has written every kilometer of this course this year's route to Krishna toe on the the rude Rikki Christo today's right ride hundred twenty two K's 1,800 meters are climbing but the conditions are in their favor yeah there's me I think today's stage was set up to be a very long day out for for most riders but being a very cool and mild day I think riders can be very fortunate with the conditions at the sharp end of the race we saw trouble for basic somewhere specialized yesterday we saw how dangerous they can be because they close that down quite quickly with the other slavka habían Howard Graz but it's Canada affect you racing still holding on that to that yellow jersey well today favor them I think so I think it will favour cool RV and and and Graz and also the war Marathon style races and long drags and the climbing is not as steep as it was yesterday yesterday was much more punchy and a lot of different clients coming thick and fast way today is more stretched out longer climbs and long inclines where power and will in the saddle type of riding is what will get you over the line it's a crystal Czar's has been known to say doesn't matter how long it is or how steep the climb that's what you're riding on what about the surface today the surface is really good for most of the way there's one or two climbs if they go fast nay up to you there's an incline there that goes next to the fences it's quite rough and rocky and also there's a lander a technical terrain c-section choose your own adventure coming down from Penny Hill which is quite rocky and rougher polarized to deal with but other than that the surface is quite good right so let's before we see today's action set it up for you by reflecting on Stage two yesterday stage 106 kilometres it was an art and back loop from Arabella near Robertson in its 15th year the Absa Cape Epic as a mount of my grace like no other spanning the Western Cape as South Africa the teams of two both amateur and pro take on 658 kilometers of spectacular yet grueling trails this full-service HJ estate race will test the riders endurance and skill and tenacity before they cross the finish line at Valda B in palm it's stage 2 of the Absa Cape Epic and the route is an unforgiving 110 kilometers with 2,000 metres of relentless climbing there's no respite today for the 1,200 riders for the one to three climb thrown in to split the pack team Cannondale Factory Racing a man wealth whom we can unruhe Kevin's seen er wearing the yellow zebra leader's jersey just 40 seconds behind are investing some NGO specialized Yaroslavl harvey and howard Graz the riders all loop out of the Arabella wine estate it's just stage 2 of 7 and it's all to play for the overall race will not be won today but it could be lost Annika lungful and Kate Courtney are wearing the orange zebra leaders jerseys in the women's race they have just over 2 minutes on the second place team spur our very own Lou tee and Geetha me hills this is the most competitive Absa Cape Epic ever all the men's top teams are keeping a close eye on each other and assessing their strengths and weaknesses the pace is furious as they make their way through the farms and vineyards of the Robertson valley the slow professional teams are dropped and the lead Bunch consisting of Trix Ellis a marker to Cannondale Factory Racing Canyon topic center in vada Bulls in mystic Tsonga specialized and buff Scot MTB former olympic and world champion Yaroslavl Harvey has won the event twice and has joined this year for the first time by US Champion Howard Graz they take the initiative and make a break on the one two three time and put in over a minute under the chase back it's a massive effort but it's not rewarded as Scott's punctures and the time is quickly absorbed the chasing fact flies past them and into the boss Park technical terrain the four leading teams approach the finish line at Arabella wine estate they have a sprint on their hands Center and vada out in front leading the charge but it's manual phobic who makes his move and takes the lead partner and Rick Evans seen he must join him because the finish time is taken from the second rider to cross the line when the contras also in the mix but partner Christian Hynek is at the back of the pack haven't seen he finds the gap on the cross country specialists Prince parts robotnik Archer and Jasmine they cross the line together take a well-deserved win on a tough stage third goes to Canyon toe peak seconds in turn Barra and Canada alpaca racing take the win and maintain the yellow zebra leaders jerseys in the women's race lungful and Courtney from the abyss Tech Tsonga specialized team make a break midway through the race and managed to keep the gap all the way to the finish in Robertson they extend their lead in the overall to six and a half minutes the battle of the day was the second place with team Spurs Lu Chen WA Heels eventually getting the better of silver back MC Straus and last in the final meters investext longer specialized will be wearing the orange several leaders jerseys once more on stage three so confirmation of that stage two result he a second consecutive stage win for the Brazilian and a German combination can it affect you racing Rob I can guess my won the prologue there a second today or on stage to Licata and high neck showing ominous form the marathon world champion and the buff Scott MTB maintaining the form they showed in that prologue when they were on the podium call Harvey in graz well they managed their their deficit well that they lost almost three and a half minutes at that puncture but they made up nearly two of those to get to 142 adrift Bell and beers had a nightmare yesterday the leaders in the F Jersey and they finished fourth in that competition and they're out of the red jersey flan Guinea and Clos lead the xro Academy confirmation of lungful and Courtney's dominance is today four and a half minutes routine me hills was absolutely toasted about ten Ches up but she dug so deep the Belgian cross country champion to get up for the sprint to win that over Straus and last of the silver came C team Spitz had cramps today before they had more trouble yesterday lost twelve and a half minutes Spitz and the crew at third last year they're battling away this year sent herself and PMA sc/st racing in fifth place yesterday lille and MacDougal other leaders and the women's african answer jersey the first winners of that so conformation of the overall 2:23 call Harvey and Graz adrift today going into the stage three roba and geese Meyer in third place lurking it just behind them Alec Carter and Hynek as I said quietly keeping themselves in the business they're buff Scott likewise calamansi project had a good day yesterday Franz class and Marcus Bauer fish - hey Denis only one of the Scott's tram teams remaining the young guns after Nino shooter withdrew after his partner Matias tournament took ill on stage one revin Stanek a cigar and a consistent from Texas Alisa marker and the new leaders in the Absaroka Jersey our beer Korea and suit Maria Ellsworth ASG along vallencourt these six and a half minutes a veloute in heels and Strauss and last 14 minutes IVA spits into her at the battle live for the third place on the podium Kaka and Saunders the better of the two drama kama teams at the moment so that's how it looks after three days of racing we're into the fourth day and well we've touched on the weather in in in this event Krista yesterday it started cold in the morning it was it was hot but it certainly wasn't what we've experienced in the past at this time of year no they're familiar the typical carew scorching conditions that run it and I think the the field can be very fortunate with the weather we've been given and those riders like it get to me heels has just come over last-minute replacement into the field from there you're a very frozen winter in Europe and Kmart Alec you know she had a hard day there she's never ridden beyond 60 KS in a stage race before she's written two big hundred K days another big day today and those riders will be particularly pleased of the way the conditions are playing into their hands now this morning starting at Robertson it is 122 kilometers a day day the biggest of the longest of the stage not not of the race not necessarily the hardest of the whole race but Sydney out a long distance let's get the thought of some of the prime contenders on the start line this morning in the men's race hard to say I mean don't really know what to expect I mean it's the longest stage so it should be in a way good for us but let's see so far the stages were quite quite hectic quite flattish with no longer climb so we all see how is it today I mean there seems to be one longer time towards the end so that might be climb that can make the decision before the finish today day for longest stage with 122 case I think a lot of the top teams which are back in the GC they're gonna lounge early do some attacks and we just try to control control them and just hope that we bring it home and to the finish that's it maybe do the same thing but just avoid the mechanicals today you know it's really cool to see that euro and I are working well together basically you know he's pulling me all the way on the flats but to be able to climb with him that really gives us an advantage so yeah hopefully you know things work out hey we feel very good about to be a little bit the day yesterday because we had a little bit better flat tire and we lost plugged in and broke laughs and lost over three minutes so it was not so easy for us but mean today is on the stage and we can try something here so if I go there but misty and overcast it was a slight hint of a little drizzle as I lift Robertson may have had a bit of a damped first 45 minutes or so on the route but really nothing to to worry about big big mins in each field and hallmark of the Absa Cape Epic over the last few years is the absolute speed that they leave at the start area charging off the line and straight up the yellow jerseys on the front there with Roebuck and a gift smile making sure they are in attendance straight away so a real battle yeah you heard there Yaroslav call Harvey maybe we'll try something today seldom these guys give anything away at the start there but that is as good as you're gonna get from these guys yes we might try something today we could find out Hayden and Frisch Nate the Scots tram young guns going up to the front they're free to fly because Nino shorter and Matthias Tournament no longer in the race yeah I think a lot of these teams that haven't gotten something out of the rest up until this point will be fancying their chances for the dimension dollar hotspot that comes just off the 16 kilometers today this stage I think yesterday we clearly saw that khalaby and Graz were the strongest in the field and they would feel it was a missed opportunity to gain some time over their rivals and today a perfect stage for them to capitalize a nice open no roads through those farmlands around Robertson to the Breda River Valley and it'll soon get tougher this in clean spaces Jordan so route his partner Victor Kerr it see the two Frenchman making their debuts at the Absa Cape Epic the very prominent colors of paga euro steel two teams from South Africa in there that tastes via Kusa julian Jessop deciding if they want to have a little look at the front there that's young Julian Jessup so nice to see these youngsters from South Africa but it's very clear that the South African teams are backing in the company of the top international teams here admittedly I get Euro Steel South Africa's premier team without their main string rot right up in a bass due to an illness took ill just before the race sadly so Phillip not able to take part yeah I think that team will count on with aces experiences wonder perhaps african jersey three times in the past and i think he knows how to win it and they all will play it safe and and see when the opportunity comes and i will try and take it trademark go start and you can see right team's just making sure they don't get dropped early on here or years trouble now this is the grandmasters Robertson and woulda bought suitable say veteran of many many years on the road Tour de France rider of course and you can see the slime seeping out of that tire puncture for them now they had a huge lead 16 minute lead at the start of the day in the grandmasters say over party Brooklyn Hinz Yorker but it's very interesting leader was using a hand pump I wonder if they were trying to they must have put a tubing and just trying to inflate it a little bit before bombing it can't confirm that but a lot of slime out of that hi there let's body at least you know builds body booker behind them a one-day fall party Booker and recliner Joel Stransky were the main in third place in the Grand Master's and of course a winner of the Grand Master's before as well so that's the early images as they left Robertson from Arabella all the way to Worcester 122 case run about four and a quarter four four four twenty would you reckon yeah for that the predictor time is have them finishing at 11:40 today but with the conditions I think we can expect a faster time than that they've been averaging around 26 case in our these elite riders incredible speed so those are the elite let's go to the leach women Annika Longfellow and Kate Courtney where the leaders six and a half minutes they had over get to me hills and area Lou T at today start yeah its longest day so really anything can happen and I think that's what the Cape Epic is all about just being prepared for the unexpected but I think you know we slept well we worked hard yesterday but we're able to recover and are hoping to have another strong ride I think once you're out there you don't really think too much about it it might just settle the dust a little bit which isn't too bad and maybe it won't get as hot today so that's also yeah a little bit nicer so well yeah still feeling okay definitely a bit of more tired every day but there they are the plan is to save energy where we can but it's going to be a hot spot in the beginning so I get some fireworks will be fired there you're gonna try and hang on there if something happens or maybe even go for it depending on the other leg skill but and then it's just ticking over and hopefully yeah try our luck again so that's the elite of women's group their national champions are painted any loss of britain South Africa's Mariska Strauss of course the Danish champion is lungful the United States Champion is courtly and the Belgian champion is of course giving me hills and the German champion is there as well the legend Sabine Spitz and Robin duck would have had troubles in in the race I mean Sabine had cramps a couple of days ago something she has known for a long long time so they've had a difficult time perhaps they'll get it right today conditions as I said favoring perhaps those riders who have come from the northern climes today's route let's take a look at what we are going to be looking at the Arabella wine estate now they hug the longer Berg Mountains on the right-hand side of the r64 much of the route kid today Kristin yeah how much of the reasons as long the mountain race the first big challenge of the day is a dimension not a hot spot at least came into the Peters Express a single track climb it's quite rocky and expect the field to be strong out there because it is a single-file climb then it's up and down riders up until they get to the pain you'll climb that becomes quite late in the stage at around 78 kilometers and downhill from from pineal up to nay then is that quite rocky technical incline next to the fence that takes him after you to the dam and from the dam that is the brunt of time that dropped down into the finish here at art historian foster so very fast finish from from that 10 kilometers the mark that when they start a plan to do them so the first object objective for the teams both men and women was that dimension data hots about 15 grand up for grabs there was a bit of bragging rights to see you so got it in them midway through the race this is day four of eight for really big hundred K days to start with here so they so those who have maybe overextended on the first couple of days will state today will be day they might feel it I think so I think if you if you start today and you feel a little bit tired and the the length of the stage might it might just be the deciding factor and also a big consideration is that we only have a one I'd stopover in Worcester and tomorrow a very big day on the cause again so some teams might feel and consider louver today to make sure they are all ready for tomorrow start of the day today mystic Songo specialized had two minutes and 23 seconds behind Cannondale Factory Racing manual for me and Enric Evans scene II it is Col Harvey and Graz they were the animators yesterday but they had that puncture of course that set them back finished in seventh place let's take you to some early images from today's route it is a beautiful route in the Western Cape ears we rejoin the riders through those farmlands already you can see this group is now are going a little bit easier they've said those riders who were made up the sort of forty five team main group and this is Sabine Spitz the German champion and former World and Olympic champion leading the proceedings there around blue T on her wheel and he get along fellas there as well key to me hills this is the women's group going along early today you know I think some in spittle welcome to cool conditions are today and you can see they looking confident right to the front of the field up the early climbs that all know that this event takes a heavy toll on those who expend a little bit too much energy early in the race so I've been mindful of that some will be feeling it I know that the door macabre team of Amy MacDougall and Candace little took a conscious decision Amy had been suffering from illness to go really easy yesterday to go really easy today just managed their way through the day don't worry about where they would be finishing too much and then try and set up the rest of the week they're both pretty handy over the cross-country setup so I've got a time trial on Friday then two shorter stages on the next couple days South Africa's marathon champion Robin Duluth they're just riding on the left of rebel team ascenders health she said Sabine Spitz's teammate but Sabine well she is one of the truly great mountain bikers and taking charge right at the front and an attitude here we can see them this is the top of the Peters Express climb and it's very steep you can see the guys the field strung out on this clan and and this is an illustration what the weather was like up there this is dimension data hotspot so a little bit misty but damp as they crested the dimension data hotspot and then come again flying or four to the saint-like of this it's fairly that this top half of it is quite rocky but from there on it is through the vineyards not not particularly technical beautiful trails here for your ahsoka Harvey Howard Graz and then Canyon topic very much in it so on Nicola Roebuck and Daniel get smile those three teams just starting to separate themselves a little bit the amazing trail then we can confirm that the open court and Kristen Hynek did take the dimensional or a hot spot and that was just off the 16 kilometers so this is interesting the yellow jerseys one of the yellow jerseys they're buff scott has one rider there and so dude said to invite over to from Trek space I'll have to cope with the Czech Express and the the Dynamo from the United States who climbs so brilliantly Howard Graz in his second event call javi a two-time winner with Christoph Sauser of course has won everything else there is to win in mountain biking gold medal at the Olympics cross-country and marathon titles as well and staying with them you know today is the topic team of Christian Hynek and Alban Lakota yeah the quarter they've had a steady week actually that they've been after really disappointing 2017 when they finished outside the top ten they've come back this year fully prepared and up for this battle Licata if anything is looking in probably the best condition we've seen him in here for many many years is really really looking up for this battle yeah and you get the scenes that as the days go by they're riding themselves into the race and and staying up with the leaders today and is proof of that that's where they are they are they started today the Kenyan toepick team in fourth place some 5 minutes and 48 seconds off the lead so if they can hang onto the wheels of investing songo specialized just by staying with him they are going to improve their hopes of moving on to the podium ahead of century and vada who were just a less than a minute ahead of them on GC so they are closing in on that and it well on the road I would think pretty much virtual third place and at some stage it's a journalistic Zombo specialized at virtual leaders as well there's 223 not a not a huge gap Graz the Carter Hynek to answer every shoulder for the yet former Czech champion you know just checking back to see if the guys are there pretty sure he won't be able to see them and on the front again you can see cool RV driving the place just you can see the world champion stripes on the arm bands of Alberta Carter there we go he's the world marathon champion a three-time marathon champion and he wanted in singing in Germany last year again but as for you see our regulations only the cross-country champions either national or world can wear their stripes at this event so it's the little notification on their shoulders there of Hynek of the Czech Republic champion former and other Nakata let the Carter really I don't want to say this is his last a big big opportunity but he really has given himself a huge chance he has finished everywhere from second to eighth in this event and he's giving himself every opportunity to to go on to the top step of the podium a lot of experience fuller Carter he's been in this position before and I think you will definitely know how to manage any situation that comes his way they will just need to watch the this song a specialized team here to make sure that they they need time over song I specialized in there where they may be happy today just to stay with them and stay together but if they want to win the race at some point that would need to attack buff Scott really have been the revelation of this race throughout here they've been amazing from the from the get-go that the prologue querétaro and pinto disbanded and the portuguese and taking the initiative on that chase group as well buff scott started today in fifth place some seven minutes and 18 seconds off the overall lead and they were just behind Kenyan toe Pekin just ahead a cool amazi project another team with good legs this week which is great to see flying down better same trouble here gross and cool Harvey another puncture and that a puncture for this song going mystic specialize demon and now how much time will they lose on on Canyon topic just looking at the canyon topi get team there so they will definitely try and hammer it now to try and get an advantage over over the specialized boys and although you can see looks like a course of slightly strong and going off the back then there's Lakota well it happened yesterday for investing Songo specialized it happened with a women's team on the I've been dead back to the women's race and sevens fits dropping back to join Robin da hood team ascend herself looks like all the leaders are together their their orange jerseys up front they're key to me heels is there and so sorry on duty so all the leading women's teams are compacted together yeah they're the only teams seemingly missing from this group is any loss and Mariska straps the 13 in the overall GC yes so but back cam sieve had a really good week so far they were looking so comfortable there they came to the finish with Ariane and get to me heels as they come into the rehydration zone here and look at soybeans Fitz taking the bike of Robin de courten riding on with some Pike there so Robin will have to run her dog back up and running and riding here are cool Harvey and Graz something you've done already in this event riding hard to close down that gap again yeah cool RV and rods on the full power you're trying to close the gap on and Canyon to a peak and here we can see them right in the front and actually miraculously I almost closed the gap in in no time so yeah the amazing repair job done by this pair they've had to do it time and time again and of course school Harvey taking the role as the senior statesman in this team you're immediately khalaby goes to the front and and sits the pace and it grows just taxing there we go a little nudge from cool Harvey who has just immense power there few riders in this field who could carry his town look at that they're back up with Kenyon Toki credited mystic songo specialized all back together again and denote our Kenyan topi Kerr thinking oh boy well you would what are we gonna do to try and get rid of on board now with Stefan psalm and the live view ebike on the land rover technical to write I think this is the the water point at nay is also the second spectator point of the day and that comes just over that after the land of a technical terrain section of the day the choose-your-own-adventure section look so Robert de quit might just be having a problem there well I'm telling you get him he kills is in a world of pain here she has had a tough tough day yesterday she said this morning shouldn't sleep that well but Scott just losing a wheel as they come around the bed with the yellow jerseys it's Cannondale Factory Racing canola Jersey hopes are there any in jeopardy today and I think we might see a shift of the of the Jersey yeah that's gonna be very interesting because Kennedale factory racing yesterday they to be fair and their group of four they didn't do too much work and that group coming to the finish and then they they took the win there quite neatly a second stage win yeah definitely I think also they weren't in a position where they had to work because they were in the yellow jersey and that gives you some sort of authority in the group and the experience showing where they positioned themselves correctly to to make sure they the first two riders across the line so assessing them the first section we've seen your basics on those specialized really are looking strong Canada at least ik topi Kenyan topi got real aggressive show from them for the weekend and there with them yah we felt early in the week that Canyon and topic we're playing their course very close to their chest but today we can see they definitely came off this stage and went hard to stay with with specialized so now we are live footage and there is a gapper here this is first and second and they're looking down at that I think that's Graz and cool Harvey in the second place the lighter jerseys here definitely is the white and black jerseys of Graz and khalaby and her peak gaining a little bit of an advantage here illustration of the Brawn fly dam here looking very very light indeed isn't it so that's the drought that's affected yeah so cool Harvey and Graz 20 seconds off the pace by Kenyan topic the Carter and Hynek up the road as they head towards the dam wall and they're not far from the finish not far from the finish at all here we're looking at it with inside of the last 10 kilometers so news from the route is that Graz fell off at a fairly technical tricky sandy section and kill javi had to pull him back on to try and make up the ground so they have lost a bit of good of Gandia they seem to find themselves in the same position quite often and you can see again pull our V on the front and driving the pace to try and close the gap to the leaders so as the question remains as the week progresses how long will Howard got to be able to hang on to Yaroslav call Harvey the Czech Express said train doesn't stop for too many stations and it doesn't carry too many passages so he's gonna really have to dig so deep to stay with cool Harvey which is doing now on the wall of the brunt Flay dam the very very low grunt Flay damn that's a wasted Cape in the grips of the worst drought in living memory this part of the world yatta-ankou love it I will also manage the the effort to dad on the climbs you'll see Graz going to the front and on the more flat sections that favor the more powerful style of riding off cool RV you will move into the front position and do the majority of the work well he is amazingly powerful is the Czech gap man Yaroslav cool javi which is amazing to see his power and he's just flipped over his shoulder see how how he Graz his going in his second f ck big last year he rode in support of kill javi and salza with pablo montoya his stuff partner pulled out after day 5 Graz did start day 6 and just as well because was able to help out zaza and cool javi halfway through that stage when they picked up a mechanical Krista tore has left us thanks very much Christo for the first while and we've been joined by a legend Robbie McEwen Robbie 12 times stage winner Tour de France Giro d'Italia numerous one-day races Aussie champion and a voice of cycling now Robbie thanks for joining us great to be here and in a place where I'm maybe slightly out of my element at a mountain bike event but it's it's something I love I love to ride as well although maybe not quite as fast and as painfully as these guys do it but it takes me back to my roots I grew up as a BMX rider so getting off road and dirt and jumps is what I lived for so it's great to be part of this event it's just fantastic yeah you've had a you've had a little while with the event I mean what have you made of it you may well have heard of it before what have you made of what you've experienced I've heard of it before I've actually been asked to ride in the past and I had a look at the profiles and some of the videos I thought I'll pass but I'd like to see it one day now I'm here I've got to say I'm incredibly impressed by the scope of the event that there's the sheer size of it I mean 1500 riders but just the infrastructure everything goes into it and now learning more from behind the scenes on this visit about the broadcast and how everything fits together to make it all work it's a huge undertaking when a mountain bike stage race or one day race hard enough yeah eight days out on the trails it's just incredible there are numerous now more and more of the your your former colleagues on the road taking to the event um and we've got our Kim Rodriguez you've got obviously George Hincapie Cadell last year winning maybe the Masters it has this given you a taste of it to come and come and ride it it's given me a taste but I've been in regular contact I go and visit George and Chris year everyday and from what I'm saying it it's not really encouraging me to want to pin on a race number I've been out here on behalf of the organization with some of the sponsors and their guests in the VIPs and I've been doing some riding we've been doing some riding on the course parts of it not getting in the way of the race in fact two days ago we rode on yesterday's course okay yesterday we rode on the stage one course so we got a good taste of it and it's a lot of fun but I'm happy just doing it at that speed I mean I did a lot of suffering in my career so I'm not quite ready to take all that on again but but it is interesting as we watch now the yellow jerseys this is a man who from ik and Enric Evans seen you digging deep here in the yellow jersey two minutes and 23 the deficit and they're on that damn wall right now and it looks like these guys are going to lose the yellow jerseys today thanks to that power from investing Tsonga specialized however that gap mate we're not entirely sure exactly what that gap is at this stage but they do all they can to close it down but you see these guys are in full-time troll mode the hands just narrow on the bars trying to get that little bit arrow and that makes just a massive difference on the mountain bike but it's funny and I've felt it myself you come off the trails and onto a sealed surface it feels like you're a bit bogged because the the mountain bike tires tend to grab a lot onto the that are really tough riding but these guys will have to rely I think on a little bit of cat-and-mouse amongst the front two teams to see who's going to win the stage but Kyle Harvey and good odds they know they have to just drive it all the way to the line if they want to take the jersey but at this stage into the race do they want to take the jersey yet all you want to leave that responsibility of chasing everybody else to somebody else and sort of back it off a bit I mean you you're very familiar with those that are tactics on the radio aren't you mean on a long big three-week stage race you don't want the jersey too early because it's the responsibility to say yeah that's it that's an interesting tactic here but this is Licata and Hynek and they are heads down Alvin Licata he wants this race I think this year like no one else he really is desperate for never won at World Champion in the marathon three times it's sort of the one big thing missing from his Palmeras and I got that impression when I heard him speak at the press conference in Cape Town before the race started you spoke before about Nino showed up wearing the world champion Jersey because he gets right of way as the ex-ceo world champ and Licata he said well I think I should be wearing it because this is more of a marathon so he sort of has a point too but he was really fired up and you can see that and I think as the race goes on is it's right up his alley to just ride it like as a marathon go for it every day try and wear them down he's going to make the race as hard as possible because then the advantage swings to him yep this is the yellow jersey then thermic and a ventini on their own with well not entirely are there because we've got a camera by Kenna and and the e bikes on on the radio and this is another one that's just fantastic initiatives taken by the organization here to get these pictures out live from the race I think people at home or watching streaming online they take for granted being able to watch races and particularly road race has always been pretty easy but to get the pictures out from a mountain bike races is simply incredible and you see how clear how stable this is so the fact that it's able to happen thanks also to dimension data for we're making it happen and all the hotspots they've created along the route it's technology's just amazing and bringing the sport this side of the sport to a much wider audience and you know this race is just going to gain in popularity because of that right there through they get into the brand flow reserve as we got to try and pop up to anneal godknows up in the helicopter there Neela can you can you hear us up there Neil while the Racing's really hit fever at the moment we've seen in the very early sections of the race 20 kilometers and meters physics grace the attack came from ER Scott cool javi ah Graz Connor another gap they took with them team champion and Toby the only team that could follow at that point and the race just carried on from there the gap just stretched and stretched it straight towards the end of the stage we've seen the old gods suffer a little bit of bogged down by a sand section back back just before just before the dam section and we saw Yaroslav quality pushing him never a good sign so obviously our quads is suffering from the early efforts of the stage and then of course leaves can enter peak world champion Avila Carter and his wife and Christian Hynek likely to take the stage one of the athletes waited when they turn we waited for a long time for a stage win and it's finally coming thank so much to Neil Gordon up in the helicopter tracking Alvin Licata and Christian Heinrich and they're inside the last four kilometres here maybe three to go on this tarmac road they'll hook a lift just before they get into Worcester and go on to the last bit of dirt road through a paddock and then onto the school which is on the outskirts of town on this southern part of Worcester which you can just see the outskirts up there the longer burg mountains in the distance so al Birla Carter and a Christian Hynek absolutely hammering this there you heard that was Howard Graz who had a difficulty with the descent and so that was where cool Arviat actually pushed him through there I suppose this is one of the things powered Graz in his first race at the real sharp end of the race last he was riding in support so it wasn't quite as hectic now he's getting to grips with with what it means to be at the deep end there's always a big difference riding for the win or riding for someone else and taking a back seat a little bit and you get into the part of the race where it really comes down to the line you're riding for the win you're riding for those important seconds and minutes and you're under pressure because you'll put yourself under that so much physical pressure to get it done and that's when mistakes happen it doesn't matter what discipline it is it's in in any sport in fact those mistakes happen and that's what you've really got to be aware of I spoke earlier about the possibility of cat-and-mouse where there's none of that these guys are clearly in front the others kill Harvey Graz tried to catch back up but these guys a look almost certainly on their way to the stage win look over the shoulder just a check if you can see anybody in the distance yes it's a long straight stretch there there may be able to keep an eye on that and you know as many as well as any that when you're on the bike and you're looking to see someone there you it almost feels as nice ten meters behind you're not a kilometer behind you know it doesn't it yeah if you can see anybody at all they're just too close you'd like to get out of sight that now these guys Lockhart a he he knows that this is not just the stage when putting yourself right back in contention because it's funny for for people who are familiar with road racing and then to you the road pros they seem to think all for five minutes there's an enormous gap you'll never make that up it can happen in the space of a couple of kilometers in the Cape Epic so that's what makes it so exciting for people who aren't mountain bike aficionados to watch it because that chops and changes just so much all right six minutes just to put you in the picture six minutes and 48 seconds as the gap from Canyon tow peak in 4th place to the first place the yellow jersey can adele factory racing and they were 4 minutes and 20 seconds behind second place in vista kong go special ice at the start of the day so in all likelihood they're not going to put four minutes and twenty seconds into investing Sandow specialized now but they'll certainly put time into the yellow jerseys and investing songho specialized are looking perhaps to get into the yellow jerseys depending on how far back Bhumika Devon city workers they were 2:23 ahead of cool Harvey and rot so there's the game being played here as they turned into this horse farm and not far from the finish here well Joel it may be that nothing will really change how far is the placings in the top three but it'll certainly tighten things up right at the top and set things for a really exciting stage because a lot of riders are talking about tomorrow as a pivotal stage on this race they say it is the hardest one it's not the longest but it's the one they're really worried about 1k out and they are now on the outskirts of Worcester here Alban Licata and Christian Hannukah Hannukah Khalsa winning here with Robert men in a few years back and Licata well he's had shots at this title at this event some Niner attempts he's finished every place from second to eighth in his time here and he's setting it up beautifully here he's arrived at the fck pippick probably his best condition of all time we literally the gap between these two riders and a mystic song ago specialized is a minute at this stage say yeah Robbie I think you're right though what may well happen is that the order will stay the same but it's going to be very very tight at the the gaps are going to be very very tight it's fascinating stuff Robbie it is fascinating to watch it all play out but now these guys are riding on their way to the win and I'm gonna try and get down there around the finish line and talk to a few of the guys and get their stories get their excuses hard luck story as well and of course get the big one from the winners thanks very much Robbie wicker and joining us here we'll hear from Robbie through the week a superstar a legend in road racing and it'll be great to have a quick words from another superstar a legend as we watch the guys come into the finish here Canyon topi coming to the wards the finish Kristoff's ours has joined us alongside he has been watching the race unfold here Christophe another side he just wedding day for investing Tsonga specialized day yeah it's a Aussie and having the choice is a YouTube bonus for for all the other days and as Robbie said everything's gonna gonna tightening up in the top three top four that's that's exciting that damn wall we've seen just before the Dahmer was super super rough unfortunate we didn't have all that on TV our boys actually wanted to attack there but Howie obviously getting up to the demo was in was in troubles and then the cunning guys they took it to their advantage and you can see actually how much time you can make on a quite short stretch just on the flat I believe Yaroslav is leading all by is leading Howie to the finish where these two boys are similar strengths they can share the work I certainly can this is a Lakota and Hynek on his tail there for Kenyan topic they'll be loving this urban Licata it's a long while since he's got himself into a contention to really contesta and overall if the episode Cape Epic so he'll be delighted there into the finish here in our Alban Licata and Kristian Hynek they'll turned that last left it's stage 3 it's 120 to case and stage winners Canyon toe peek into Worcester they've taken the wind ahead of investing songho specialized very very strong riding indeed from there Kenyon Toby Calvin Licata and his partner Christian hi Nick delight for them they put their hat in the ring here as serious serious contenders for the overall brilliant brilliant ride celebrations for Alberto Carter and his man Christian Hynek brilliant brilliant job buy this pair so there certainly be interested know what time at what time all the other teams coming in you it's a very cool feeling winning but then yeah you quickly check and ask people hey what's the what's the difference and that's why we have Christoph Sauser sitting alongside me he's got his clock running and there they come so it's gonna be fascinating you see what that comes down to Yaroslav cool javi Howard Graz into the school grounds now nudging towards a minute I'd probably be around about a minute karate he's Howie's he's taking a few shots here today yeah Howie he doesn't look so good on this last kilometres recovery will be the key for him tomorrow 105 one minute and five seconds are there and they're about Howard Graz and Christoph Sauser down from in Vista Kong go specialize and that all unfolded really in the last eight kilometers here just before the run flow down wall is where it started to go a little bit wrong for Graz and Cole Harvey but then again it's an illustration of how tough this event is I mean Howard Graz has turned himself inside out for three days with with the Yaroslav call Harvey and and one little mistake it can can cost you and look at him there shattered yeah uh if you know the weight of Howie he's a lightweight and poised him for the climbing he's superb but they're holding on onto your own in the flat it's it's hard with his his physics but it's it's a good combo still it's a very very good combo have a few minutes now ahead of second place and if they play it smart I don't in the top seed in the hot seat for for winning this race well not since 2010 has Elvin Carter one stage at the fck Pepa commenced his five here come the yellow jerseys it's manual free week and only Kevin's seen Eve it's still a little time to just get a bit of air from these guys they love riding their mountain bikes they are serious cross-country races of course but there's no question their content in this race 40 days in yellow yesterday will it go today we'll wait and see it may well well a minute and five back we'll see if they lose that Jersey to invest six Songo specialize that may well be the dell it'll be a few seconds in it by it going into tomorrow yeah very exciting that's that's what you want to see us a racer it's very hot but you know this many days to come you shouldn't count seconds here you have to play day by day that's that's very important that you don't get too focused on on Sunday on the on the last day a day already course the journey to valve the V and we're halfway there to Velda we which is over the mountains and not too far away in part will go to Wellington before then but the Valdivia is the ultimate goal for every single one of these riders and who will be wearing those yellow jerseys when they get him there looks like we may have new leaders so it's already two minutes between this and investing songho specialized so 223 was the gap at the start of the day so I think we could have cou live in Graz in yellow tomorrow but we'll only be seconds and as Kristoff's as I said don't worry about the seconds but you know what must be nice running the yellow it is simply a cool feeling putting that Jersey on I don't agree with a weed robbie in mountain biking if you have to yellow you don't want a place that is not going into the yellow it's ever it's just mentally it's so so important and you know if you can stay with number two it as I mentioned yesterday it's a winning it's a winning day basically by the way I think it's the first time ever the pairing peanut and I'll don't win the stage of the observation yeah oh yeah yeah and that's a significant move for that pair so is I'm gonna do their confidence the world of good the gap is now three minutes than haven't entered the grounds yet so they will be certainly not in yellow of jerseys tomorrow this pair but it will be mystic songo specialized who will be in the yellow jerseys but they won't be too concerned Manuel fuuuck and Enric haven't seen you've got that 39 kilometres very very tough time trial on Friday in Wellington and then two relatively shorter days 76k days taking us to Val de vie on Saturday and Sunday well Saturday's stage and the set around Wellington Sunday into Val de vivre it seems like the two taking very long turns at the beginning when I've seen was always mono in front and now all the time arancini mice would be would be better just to rotate a little bit more now close in on the school they've had a tough day this pair in the yellow jerseys perhaps the three of them tomorrow there'll be it a little more relaxed as they hit through the gate and onto the grounds here at RTS frosty the recap and CD and under off a week of can Adele factory racing they will relinquish the yellow jerseys they finished third today I think won the last two stages and they are now we reckon the gap bird to Mystic Zambia specialized up for four minutes which makes it five minutes to can Adele toe Pete tell you what the start of the day is start tomorrow is going to be incredible it leave the gaps between these riders absolutely amazing look at our fantastic race village here at the f-ck pit making it's a tough day for for the calendars for them to think about tomorrow because they lost it today really on the bike physically and it kicks in after all these days of racing and if you lose if you lose the yellow mentally it's tough to to star today tomorrow you could be in the yellow and have it had a tough day and still be in yellow and think well we're going okay now they've had a tough day and they've lost the yellow they've lost four minute to their closest rivals it's going to be very very tough for them to deal with that so we'll be hearing from leading riders is Ivan CD and Rumi sits here enough yeah pretty rough I mean hundreds any two K's longest stage of the epoch and the guy's specialized in topic on the first climb into the box and then just make the move and we just try to control the damage we're riding clever in the bunch in the back and then at one point at Land Rover technical terrain we made the move and then we came together with the squad buff guys worked pretty well together I think we didn't even close the gaps to her front guys and then they got there guys too got a flat tire and then from their own be cracked on and was more or less like a Tom trail to the finish tough day but we made it and we're quite happy about it long days to go to the finish and so far everything is under control we lost the yellow jersey so you think going into tomorrow's stage a lot of riders are saying it's going to be the toughest one at least on paper do you think it's maybe an advantage going in not leading tomorrow a little bit of pressure off expectations and pressure but yeah I mean tomorrow we go with our Ken and their jerseys and we go again for the hunt tomorrow is a good stage for us a lot of single trails left and right and we try to put them now and do the box ok recover well and good luck for tomorrow McCune they're talking to many of whom each and enric haven't seen yeah I suppose it's easy to say now that they've lost the yellow jersey that it feels a bit heavy on them they can free the rider in relative anonymity tomorrow without that yellow jersey what we'll keep ya know and how I'd feel about taking the yellow no they're more than happy yellow makes you lighter in my eyes completely yeah you have a caution and you live with that caution you you show actually the best you know at this stage and if you if you got kicked out of the yellow especially by four minutes it means he didn't have a good day and it's it's hard to turn that around again even even you believe you it's gonna be a big good day for you everybody right really high leveling entrails on open roads and I think if everything goes normal to Canyon and and invest Exxon go specialized okay so perhaps perhaps Cannondale Factory Racing will be going a little bit deeper now just keep in contention they'll have to dig very very deep as the marathon men well there was lots of talk about that for the last couple of weeks first four days over 400k today does suit the marathon men and perhaps we seeing that now and they're up Chris tonight congratulations on the stage stage win Alvin it's been a long time between drinks a stage win in this race 2010 was the last one we were just discussing it yeah yeah it's insane about it how crazy is that there was a really cool stage a really Martin stage and actually was enjoying it the whole day we first get the win on a hot spot today I mentioned that the hot spot and then from then on we both felt really good we kept on luckily we had Jana on our side he was like in a locomotive it was insane how how he's putting the hammer down and then we made immediately you know I think in that case we made one two minutes and then it's like we are like the whole day out there alone just with them but then the other a flat I think they fixed it quite fast and then they came back we kind of waited for them too because it was still 35 case to go and yeah then how we were struggling a little bit in the enter so we we could get the stage minutes for now really a great thing and now we're back in the in the game back in the game back you know neither at the top of the classification but today's cooler conditions you think that really played in your favor yeah I think so cooler conditions for me this kind of condition is okay if it's them getting too much cold I don't like it but this was just great was also a nice stretch breathe with the morning morning rain and like alabanza we were feeling really good within jam we jumped in the right strain with yarrow and then we were missing it and finally me an album together got a statement it's fantastic enjoy the podium celebrations and rest up for tomorrow thank you very much it's a long walk Christian I go in here with Robert men and so that's a gotta set up this race incredibly because it looks now just unconfirmed but the gap with the yellow jerseys investing songo specialized 2 minutes and 12 seconds to Kenyan it to Cannondale Factory Racing and then to third place is Kenyan topic three minutes and 14 seconds it is the gap so it is gonna be a fascinating race beautifully set about anything we've had runners closest this for a long long time the state would probably have you can remember that Christoph yeah I mean last year wait there Scott I think looking forward to the next few days and also have to be on the sidelines and come here commentate it's a nice introduction them and basically giving my yeah it's lovely to have you sitting alongside 39k time trial in a couple of days as well which just mixes things up again now after these four big big marathon stages yes I hope our our voice will will start lost for me it's always really nice to two-time the front and you know exactly where you are if you want to be the last of their for me completely always like to and I'm sure the all the to two as well you always know what's what's going you know what to do so that's what to then that's what's on the menu for tomorrow is to ensure that you you you in the yellow jersey for the for the last time with only two minutes and 12 seconds in game on for these top bad teams I think we've got another chat from one of those top three teams let's pop back to Robbie McEwen the stage win all day just at the end a little bit of bad luck you were in the lead with the other team but what went down exactly they had two flat tires first one was quite good because because you guys maybe four five minutes slow slow flat tire and we lost quite some time but I mean great stage for us and we did it so the the goal this morning was just to get rid of Fumi she and Enric and have a crack at the Jersey yeah I mean obviously you know a good stage to try to go for it because y'all could pull on the flats but I mean I was still suffering like a dog out there yo ro you know helped me out so much there so now we're in yellow just kind of recovery as hard as you can now and tomorrow's on Piper a difficult stage a lot of people saying it's going to be the hardest of this Cape Epic so yeah a little bit of apprehension about wearing the jersey having to control the race tomorrow or not I mean I think I think the more climbing there is that that kind of suits me better the flats were today and I'm and it's gonna be cool to be in yellow no matter what thanks guys and best of luck for tomorrow Robbie chatting to Yaroslav and however I think is the first American we've had in the in the yellow jersey at the Absa Cape Epic so just another look here at Albin la carta just putting on the power there you know and how he and Christian towards the finish yeah both of them are super well around it riders they can they can climb they can put the hammer down in the flat their weakness if there's a weakness that's more the technical the choosing lines yeah because they're really come from marathon racing with the sole familiar with the Cape Epic terrain they are not gonna lose time to to other ride a significant time to other like downhill specialist spicy and cross-country races well they had it in control they're winning the stage and not taking yellow yet but it's the first time since 2010 that that man over the cod has won a stage and the first since 2015 for is part of Christian Hynek and we with Tomas teach and our leading women that is Kate Courtney and Annika Longueville from Denmark in the orange leaders jerseys it's gonna be a good day for investing on those special lines yeah just a coming back the first time American in the yellow I guess it's also the first American woman in well it's orange jersey but that said totally there yeah and that's that's very unique and here we we go again it's exactly like with the Yaroslav and howard he's missing the draft in the flat and here it's the same and it's also this very similar physics kite and how we small and light so disadvantage on the flat but they're really up to four it index AMISOM just before you you go we've got Jenny's then I was gonna come in a little while to chat us through some of the women's racing but crystal from a from the the team perspective to have obviously the to young Americans coming into the team and I mean how much of a role does the epic play in I you you approach the year from a team perspective I mean it's a very important event for the team it's a super super important it's a it's a to the front of mountain biking and we would never ever skip this event you have to be here we get such good coverage out of it it's also a consumer event so there's so many fun for riders can rely to this event and they're really interested in in what the pros riding and they can pretty much transfer that to to their own bike where cross county becomes so much Formula one of race yeah and it's also event the team's derives they don't have to promote results I mean the media here so baking they do it for you and we would never ever skip and not bringing the best riders here an illustration of how tough it is in the sandy section air for Kate you are in the sand very important put your weight to the back and try to power quite a big gear let your handlebar loose let do it a bit Auto steering you have to be very very subtle very smooth and especially look ahead and not down on on your wheel and and try to to steer too much it has to go automatically bicycle at handlebar christophe thanks very much for joining us I know you've been out riding with the the tripperz as well a bit today look forward to hearing you from the rest hearing from you for the rest of the week yes thank you very much looking forward to tomorrow he's gonna have a debrief I'm sure from cool Harvey and Graz who will be in yellow tomorrow in the men's race after a terrific day today by them they did have a couple of punctures but that goes to the charity and yet they are still just two minutes and 12 seconds off the lead not much has changed in terms of the distance between the leaders just the names at the top of the leaderboard with Canada a factory racing dropping off the lead and investing songho specialized now putting two teams in the leaders jerseys with Anik Ellenville and kate caught me here powering towards the finish they've still got a way to go heading towards the dam section here this is a really tough little section Christa was talking about it earlier I think along the fence line here that just is sapping and and it's looking now they're coming towards the end of it there but you saw Kate Courtney taking some strain through the sand so we've heard from the men Jenny sterner ha welcome welcome lovely to have you back I I know it's not where you would like to be sitting in doing a big week with your your your injury that's where you find yourself how's it be in the last few days watching from afar we're not hearing you at the moment Jenny so we'll come back to Jenny Sinha who I'll tell you what happened she pulled a hamstring at the Cape Town cycle to remand by grace a couple of weeks ago and most of us may have pulled the hamstring in there you think it'll get off you'll get over it in a few days unfortunately not for Jenny it was a lot more serious and required surgery so she said to watch from the outside and had to withdraw from the race her partner was going to be Estus us the defending champions from last year ester is now riding in the lone leopard jersey after her new partner Angelique otezla Rita had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury having had a crash on stage number one so Jenny's been watching from afar she said company her parents have come over from Sweden to be with you to watch your race sadly not but I can hear you on our live streaming can they get me I hope yeah we'll try there we go we've got a kid so so it's been a it's been a tough week for you no doubt just watching but what have you observed yeah it's been quite interesting to see it from the slide I mean there has you say there's nothing I can do about my injury now it happened so yeah but you are interesting to follow the goals and seeing what's happening and there yeah yeah just a few like different things there you've seen there's been a lot of sickness in the race and just watching these two is also quite amazing they are incredibly strong and yeah but it's obviously it's been sad to watch but at the same time it also quite interesting yeah this is quickly touch on their new combinations because we've got a lot of them in the in the women's race how many you know they haven't ridden a big stage race like this together yes they know each other but when it gets down to it in the deep and dark caves of the pain that you're in a stage race here how does that that communication in the bed down and find itself yeah that is obviously where you can find out when you are in the race and you can get along very well outside of the rice or off the bike but then it can actually be quite different when you are on the bike who's there just to get the presentation ceremony flower presentation of the men's race in heart on the stage [Applause] they seldom not happier Enric and money lovely to see even a third today they've lost the yellow jerseys but they just love riding their bikes and everybody you know Kelly there's a partnership with really get on well yeah definitely they seem to you know each others quite long now the new combination Howard Graz and Yaroslav cool Harvey and we saw today how did start to take a bit of strain today no question this is uncharted territory film did ride last year but as I said earlier not at the real sharp end he was riding in support of Columbia browser well it's eight years since our Bella Carter stood on the top step of the podium for a stage and the four years since Christian died Nick and they're back together they never on a stage together but they are now the top step of the podium would you show me the light diamond pendant Oh feet and give them so much confidence when they're weak to come as we hit - Valda beef in Nepal and the finish is all to play for just three minutes and 12 14 seconds between those three teams of on a general classification it's going to be a fascinating finish for this race we're gonna see the presentation of the yellow jerseys shortly and that'll be on the shoulders of investing songho specialized the men notice of kill javi and how it rots Kristoff's arse acidity the yellow jersey makes you lighter that the orange jersey make you feel right like the last year yeah i actually think i agree christoph on that one hit it is a special feeling and you do get a little bit of extra confidence when you wear that Jersey and I mean you you are in the lead so you can afford some little small mistakes and so so yeah it's definitely a good thing to wear that one oh yeah they're cool harvey and across how he trots don't get the smile of his face is delighted second attempt at this Raceland you can turn for the trick champion the leaders of the Absa Cape Epic Howard Graz and Yaroslav cool harvey and on the race leader's yellow zebra striped jerseys going into tomorrow's stage for i just get the feeling you really haven't seen them in these few days unfold how beautifully set up an hour on icy surfaces this race is for big mountain stages one short but really tough time trial then the three slightly shorter stages really is it correct mix of of stages Yanis love well how it is the slight of the pair but they won't mind that they are in yellow going into the process finishing over four minutes ahead of Kennedale factory racing wait a second face ever brought back with the women and here Sabine Smithson Robin deferred enjoying a much better day today giving me feels and area new T this is second and third on the road it's good to see that Sabine eyes feeling better today I think maybe she had a stomach bug or something on the first day for her and yesterday perhaps struck me a little bit there nice to see the back in I'm going well today yeah definitely and interesting to see how Ariana's partner recovered from yesterday and do we know anything about the time gap from the leaders here not at this stage with this to find the gap that ok cool now they're in that sandy section that I think we've seen Kate endure unag in a short while ago it's interesting to see how they riding here it's a special technique to ride in sand it's not not that easy see their Robin is dropping a little but it's very very difficult the Belgium seems to be liking the sand she does cyclocross power through the sand there and it's and it is it's that funny combination of power but you take the weight off the front wheel and and it almost hit the wheel do its own thing exactly you have to be very light on the bike to not to dig the front wheel deep and these are all skills that that many mountain bikers massive amount of bikers are coming to grips with as they they want to advance their careers and you know you've put in incredible efforts and work in terms of technical skills and and learning all the time yeah definitely like I said at the prologue there you can make up so much time if you have good skills you can you can definitely lose like if you're in a bunch and you can't really ride the technical stuff you can lose that lose that bunch and lose time on it and if you have good skills you can definitely make up a lot and get away on technical sections and I think one of the days Annika and quote M Kate got away on some technical sections so it's very important to learn how to ride well technically yes area just off a bike get one that she took outside here it must be a lot steeper than it looks there yeah definitely it's always like that maybe yeah we got fairly wet so news from the course thanks to Robbie McEwan coming around here today's two minutes thirty is the gap to to Annika and Kate Courtney service lead to this second group of team ascend herself Robin Hood and her partner sevens Fitz and Jimmy Hills who but not only has she recovered she's looking really strong yeah she does that's great to see and I think Annika and Kate they are just doing what they sort of need to do today just to be up ahead and extend that needle oh but they don't really need to go too hard and they can save a little bit for the for the rest of the stages the one absentee from this group they're in third overall they were 14 minutes ahead of cinders health-food no doubt now trying to put as much time between themselves and any last and Briscoe stars to try and get back some of that time and moved closer to a third place and Hills they could the hydration pack yeah it's a bit different to see you up and amongst the top riders to wear that but it's obviously a good thing I mean personally I struggle a lot to drink during a stage like this because it's it's difficult to you on your limit the whole time and if it is technical and stuff it's difficult to get your bottle and actually drink as much as you need to so it's not a bad idea to have the Camelbak on but it's definitely a different sight to see on the top riders well there they go Kate Courtney and annika lungful so just I know it's best to compare them in to the women's race but in terms of this combination and the cool hobby graz combination as christophe was alluding to not dissimilar the power and strength of Annika lungful and that much slighter frame of Kate Courtney cool Harvey Graz a similar combination and Kate's riding her first steps to Cape Epic Howard is riding his first as a serious contender so it's been different they're heading into areas they probably haven't been before in terms of physical and mental capabilities definitely the epic is not finished until it really is finished it's it's tough those last days when you are physically really tired you're mentally really tired and yeah I think only experience can can explode it actually is it's really difficult to explain to someone how hard this is you have to sort of live through it and you have written many Absa Cape Epic there is categories and learnt how to write and learn torture how your body responds learned how to recover how many years have you won it last year did you feel you were at your absolute best last year were you better previous years and it Justin go your way no I think last year was my absolutely best year definitely I think I wasn't quite good form the year before also when I had my heart problem and had to stop because of that but y'all know definitely Yost Lee was the that was the best then but you still don't really know how to have your body is going to respond day after day and I mean last year also I had bad days Esther and I were quite lucky cuz there we were on quite similar levels but we did have on and off days like the one day I felt bad and she felt better and then the next day I felt better and she was a little bit off and we actually took turns so it was every second day for both of us so it worked extremely well because then when the other the the one feeling stronger could help the the weaker one sir it was a perfect epoch for us last year so far Nick a lungful hasn't looked as though she's had a bad day killer me to little a bad day in this race definitely not Anika is so so strong she can she can almost take anyone to do a win I think she is and she is an extremely good team partner she knows how to ride to help the other person and she will always look off to the other person and never ever ride away from her and so she's a very good partner so I I do believe in this team down in the Suzy tuck at the moment position pioneered by Christoph Sauser I say pioneered publicly and then at this sort of levels probably the kind of done for me maybe you have done a good just fulfilment it may be come to know but she is such a sting on the front is doing well just it to hang there and death make sure she's on I think his will on this section of tarp which will come to an end fairly shortly drop down off the road and back onto the trails and dirt on this stage three of the adds okay baby 122 kilometers from Robertson to Worcester if you are just joining us welcome to it our coverage why live streaming to you from the Absa Cape Epic the 15th edition of this event as the the journey began at Table Mountain on Sunday with a prologue of 20 kilometres we've been arted robertson about two hours inland from Cape Town just bordering on the semi-desert Carew area in amongst the mountains but the couple of days there and then a journey from Robertson to Worcester the vague direction of towards Cape Town earnest and a southwesterly direction and tomorrow it is over the mountain to Wellington and in the time trial in Wellington in around the mountains of Wellington on Friday and in Wellington again on Saturday before riding through to Val Derby and Paul on Sunday for the end of this journey it is a huge journey into the middle of the day this is the middle of the race fan day for was forget where you started the race Cape Town Table Mountain seems a long long way away yeah it does the the days just goes together and it seems like such a long time since you started it when you are here on day four and and you know by the end of it you you have no clue where you where you have been I know people ask you where you rode in that and that year and it's everything is a blur you just don't know where you've been I know care has two bottles on her bike and Kate's got one there whoopsie don't let go well that is really really unfortunate hit the sand there were two riders have in front of them and I think Ellen found a cake Courtney went down thankfully for both it was a soft landing on the sand here but that'll be a little shock to the system and again an illustration of just anything can happen regardless of where you are on the street you know you just never know it just happens in a second and it can be all over so you have to have a little bit of luck on your side also too to get through this two looked as there were two stationary riders on them on the left just getting back into the bikes might have stopped in the sand there and very oddly for some reason aniket was on their line and that's a very very strange so now here we go she's got on a line yeah I think she had to brake a little bit because they were standing still and then her front wheels started to go sideways and that's when it happened and and also in the sander if you are an aligner day even if you'd seen the riders meters before it's actually very difficult to change lines without coming to grief they seem to be no worse for wear after that fall in the sand Annika and Kate okay just freakness of these things that can happen so quickly and your race can be turned on its head a little bit of assessment so what's going to do mines now you know obviously now they're back on the bike so they're fine and they feel that nothing happened and so but last year we also had one of those things when it went through my mind that that was the race that was over when Esther went into a bush upside down so yeah it can happen very quickly and you you just have to stay calm and not panic and just yeah I'll get up and assess if anything happened to you on the bike and just carry on if everything is fine and just get going short little section it was into the sand there having been on there on the taro it's another back onto the tar and we look as though they're heading towards the brunt fly dam and Wooster still away away probably around about 12 to 13 Kay's away from these leaders it's a fairly faster run into the finish across the brunt play damn war and then down on to the tar raid and the finish here they don't want anything else untoward to happened there's the brunt Flay Dam in the distance the sad side indeed it is at this time of the year this Richard draft that is affecting the Western came back with it Thomas each riding the estream both bikers have live you bringing you these images from the route incredible images right in the race this is what it's like to race at the sharp end most mounted bike riders not be able to get this coast it's just fantastic to be right on their on their wheels head down Kate here just looking down your ride with a power meeting do you pay it much attention I do ride it with a power meter but I'll never look at it during a race I don't I just feel that I follow the race and do how ride as I feel but it's always interesting to look at it off to the right and see what it was sort of but during the race not so much it can be good sometimes especially in a time trial just to not go too hard from the beginning and so but your are tend to not forget it too much these guys and Thomas quietly skims past them oh look at that tear thanks Thomas he's pointed out that there's a rider with his handlebar broken snapped handlebar incredible it's hanging down always he holding it in his hand it looks like he might have a brake lever there but a broken handle buys that fishy it looks like him Thomas fish nicked the man who runs this Scott odlo team fantastic free she has had a crash he's riding with us Couric and another legend one of the world champions of many world champions riding this race Thomas fish neck unfortunately for him his team is a pro elite team is in tatters Nino shooters back in Switzerland Matthias cinnamon is recovering from an infection and I'm afraid the young guns mikheil hunter Hayden and Thomas Rishi's son Andrey are out of the race with a slight injury so that's very disappointing for them that this man can ride a bike true legend of the sport Thomas fish net one of the early pioneers of cross country marathon look at his handlebar snapped it in half we've seen that before yeah we saw that with Sanders last year but they couldn't fix it at least it's actually quite impressive to ride a bike like he is doing at the moment if anyone can he'd be amazing as well spotted by a man on the bike there it's just hanging loose the cable said keeping it attached amazing Thomas ditch picking up that as they crossed now into the reserved area of the brunt flayed an evidence of recent fires and the in the area and a disused road used to be the main road in fact into Worcester coming from front cheerfully straw barrier this used to be the main main road along the banks of the dam not they've got to be careful here sandy area and free she running just behind Kate Courtney so they're around five kilometres from home a nickle anvil and at Kate Courtney from the United States 11 t to see such talented youngster come and take on the FSA Cape Epic at an early age I know you lend an F and my was Alaska were made to come and race it race the event we started getting there with more and more of these cross country ladies coming to course I think so it looks like it and it would be great if they do because I think we need more ladies ladies teams to race in the epic it is growing year by year but I still think we can do with a few more so I hope that's a World Cup before the epic will attract quite a few more of them to come and race next year yeah just her you land an F the world champion did race the World Cup it she raced that with it not yet fully healed collarbone break after cyclocross it accident so she'd stay on for the prologue in Cape Town but decided that wouldn't be best to take on the Absa Cape Epic without in terms of setting out for the rest of the year it's unfortunate she wasn't able to but the fact that she has the intention the intention to write of this year means that she should be back next year and obviously we were supposed to have a few more teams also if it wasn't for the pull out a few weeks before including myself yeah I mean the amalgamation yeah and of course a stir and Candice Lille was been arrived with partner for up she had to pull out the anchor always meant to ride with Amy McDougald and the yank had to Palazzo those teams amalgamated so we would have had more yeah what are you we hoping for more teams thanks to you absolutely run fly there Matt in the or just behind them feeding the farmers in this area very very slowly though afraid due to the drought and these men just sitting quietly behind cake or deep and I think a longboat empower us the Danish rider who take he last year entirely off but decided to complete her dentistry studies which had been sort of sitting on the backburner for quite a while well she won a world title in 2016 and marathon world titles all over the place and then she got those out the way and then now focused and well she's got one job now miss to ride bikes she's doing it pretty well here are definitely I think it was only from the epic that she took some time off last year to do the studies obviously she did the whole cross-country season and did well and she won the world champs marathon also so yeah she wasn't really off but now this year she said that she focused on the Cape Epic and the same with Kate they have trained a lot in to prepare for this race and it has been a focus for them it's almost reach nicked a new scooter Thomas by the way was the man who came second of our pensions in the 1996 Olympic Games so we've got gold and silver from the Olympic Games and actually interestingly there have been 15 men who won medals at the Olympic Games since 1996 in mountain biking cross-country with broaden Olympic Games and nine of those are in South Africa at some stage over the last two months so many of them riding this race so it shows the attraction of this country and a you've spent a lot of time in this country of Sweden more time here than in Sweden's yeah actually yeah yeah the last 13 years Wow and your parents are out to die sadly to watch your race but yeah you're spending more time with them now yeah I think I also thought that when this happened that at least I can spend more time with my parents if I had been racing I would hardly have seen them yeah they would have been around but you're so busy when you do this race so you don't really have time to to spend time with someone else so you have to just look after yourself and get all the recovery and everything so yeah in a way I guess it was a good thing like the same disguise time with them yeah just in terms of an injury I know each other on Sunday about it but for those you just joining us here in terms of the recovery and the prognosis going forward what's the thinking well it is looking good I went to see the doctor yesterday and he says it looks good and I can at least start to take the price off for a few minutes per day at least that's something but I still have to wear it for six weeks and other four weeks to go and on crutches as well and then after that I can start with proper physio and hit on an indoor bike and after about three months I can be outside cycling again so it's it's a long time and prediction in about six months it's a la race again wow that's that's really really tough ik just a game for those who who don't know Jenny and if you are a slightly squeamish disposition you told that the hamstring muscle off the bay yeah of the sit bone so serious injury has been reattached and recoveries on its way so that's that's good news accounts we look forward to seeing you back in there this is the race for second seven spits and Robin Hood Robin on the front there and then get to me feels the Belgian cross country champion and Ari and Bluto different cadence said would be those riders yeah Ariane has a high cadence she she's always riding like that and it's different styles so what works for you sort of I mean a lot of people can say that you must have this or that and but it's really it's what works for you and there might be an ideal way but if if it works for you to have a lower cadence then I think you should you should stick with that yeah so as I say if it works then it must be good yeah sure each particular rider little tweaks in terms of setup and then you might position yourself on the frame and different different styles and types of frames you might be easy but actually the the way you peddled is the way you peddled well so the gap probably around five minutes between Annika Kate and this chase group of Timur cinders health and team spurt so news from the course about that team silverback came see is that any last and the miss curse trust not having the best of days at water point for they were six minutes behind this group so that puts him in dead you know this is a complete thumb suck but probably more than ten twelve minutes behind the leaders of this state and probably leaking more time it's been a tough day for a silverback MC who'd been looking so good through the race but again two riders who predominantly are cross-country races both rode very well into second place last year behind Ginny and and the ear sternly scared me a bit had a good World Cups at stellenbosch eleventh for any and 2054 maryska going into a fourth day of racing him I just have been a little too much for them today they'll have to recover welcome tomorrow I think they might have had a puncture or something in the beginning of the race because they they had a quite a gap at the first checkpoint and I think that might have been a puncture and then when you fall behind like that it is quite difficult to catch up on your own knowing that the other side up ahead together working together and and so so it's going to be interesting to hear afterwards what what has happened for them Stefan some knives dropped back to pick up a second or two group so the tactic here are Ian sitting behind the Geeta yesterday she was up front and get netted to try and catch it yeah I think that was a bit difficult forget when when the others were up front so I think today Ariana's watching her a little bit more to sit behind and not not let her a drop because I think that was mentally quite hard for her so she's definitely doing the right thing he had to just watch her partner and make sure that she stays with the others six and a half minutes was the gap to the second place team spur from the investig-- some very specialized combination at the start of the day so quite a big gap already and now we reckon close to five minutes as they arrive along the banks of the Bron fly dam this group have yet to reach the actual war and arnica and part them okay - already gone there there they are they were crossing the bridge River now in the classic get arrow tuck miss Suzy tuck his sir are they killing for my word she just has got such power she's an amazing writer she is just so so strong they look very different when they sit on the bike we can see that already on the prologue when Kate was wagging her upper body quite a lot and Annika just sits so still but that's also something it's just your style it said nothing says that the one thing is the right and the other thing is the wrong thing to do yes your your riding style Time Trial mode for investing songho specialized as they close in on the finish of the Absa Cape Epic yeah in Worcester ok just all the while just keeping an eye on behind yeah that's exactly what what I meant when I said she is a really good partner she constantly look to see that kate is on her wheel and that it's not too hard for her so so that you can get as much sleep as she possibly can get up his chest he's getting out and having to to just change up and get a little closer again yeah exactly you know kate has to work quite hard to just sit on a wheel that's a strong nanny guys yeah she is that time Cronus and has done well on the road at the time trial at the Kepler pasture was fitted the world's about three years ago on the time trial bike fuel should be a very handy acid in her in a road team definitely and I remember it remember that road time trial when she was up there and no one really knew who she was watching the roads will sand yeah she just went in there and did so well with that I think I actually heard something that it was like there was third time on that bike or something and I feel gets such high good position in in a world champ that's amazing I've got a flotilla of pilot fish guiding them in and they're pretty illustrious company of Thomas fish Nathan Scott team they're riding in the Grand Master's they staying well clear of this pair the leaders in the women's race as they close in on that horse stud farm on the left the airfield they're just good to see the hangers yeah we're still the war just so I know cup pointing up the road there's you if we cut away as we go back to the second group eater Robyn and her partner there we go back with our leaders yeah they're not far away they'll be turning off and it's a little bit further than they probably think we'll let them know I've already a bit but not just a turn off and on into the finish there's a little bit of a drag as they go through the farmlands towards the towards the finish area they're probably about a half or so of Sandy road on the outskirts of Worcester turnoff just now just stuff I hit them in this situation you just want there you just want to see the finish line you are so close and you're just so tired and you just just want to just stop now and yes they may have had some time chicks and they'll know that they've got it fairly comfortably in hand but your mind plays funny games with you it has to be just behind us they can't get our away so we better keep hammering it along especially in a section like that's sand when you feel like it's going so slowly and you just think that everyone's going so much faster than you but obviously everyone's going a slow cuz it's sand but sometimes you don't understand the hedge when you're so tired and that's a little tumble in the sand I say to them that felt like five minutes a week about ten seconds they're into the whole stud those men stay where they are and I think Thomas ditch is big enough to ensure that they all stay behind his broad elbows and shoulders he'll guide them I think those guys are quite happy to get a get a bit of a lift Alec a bit very low over thee over their handlebars elbows bent case it's a little bit straighter she's the younger of two of course Kate under 23 World Cup champion last year she finished second in the world champs after a nasty crash Cena Frey winning that county a massive talent yeah definitely she is she will be very good at this she's got many many years in it lots of talk about the Absa Cape Epic being you know too tough for the younger riders and a bit a minute I think we're seeing now that young riders no matter how young you are if you're good enough you can you can ride it yeah definitely I mean they're all training a lot in long hours and so so they can definitely do it I think it's more on the mental side that you must be able to cope with it and that obviously doesn't really have to do with age even though the older you get the more you do this the more experience you get but if you if you have a good head house gonna say if you're mentally tough from when you are young then you can do he come and do this okay Courtney digging deep here with Thomas ditch now sitting right behind the leaders in the women's race and cloudy relatively cool day it has been all the way from the start with a factor light drizzle at the start as we left Robertson and there is our finish it our tears so HTS it's a Technical High School droste here in Worcester woollen town one of the biggest towns this side of the Detroit club pass and these riders are closing in on the finish Annika Lange Bell of Denmark a three-time champion she's races he started three she's won three Absa Cape Epic and she's riding with a novice in Kate Courtney from the United States the American champion and the world champion of silver medicine in the under-23 category deck hands last year and she's just doing a superb job both for an aquiline felon guiding young Kate and Kate in hanging with the experience and learning as she goes along from Anna Columbo so there's the finish any copters overhead Sen deaf nothing like a helicopter and look at the finish to get you off the saddle and firing away as an eagle on top and Kate Courtney into the play field they know they've got this in hand a fantastic job a game faultless riding from the mystic songo specialized smile from life they'll smile from Courtney and victory number four and the f-ck epic in 2018 the investing Sango specialized team American Kate called people and Danish champion and Stark and I go unfilled congratulations they've done another marvelous job absolutely amazing what they've done I'm very impressed by Kate she's showing great depths of determination of strength and teamwork now this is the second group on the road much better day for Team ascenders health here seven Smith's and Robin de Groot Lutie thank you to me feels just behind them they're in second overall seven and Robin we'll look if we're looking to make up ground on the third on GC silverback km seed and he last to Briscoe Strauss had troubles earlier today believe there may well about a puncture I've had three good days so far today it's gone against them so they spits and we'll be looking to make up as much time as possible on them there were fourteen minutes down at the start of the day there won't make all of that up but don't think today now let's see if we can hear from the stage winners down in the finish area I mean Kincaid congratulations you've smashed him last checker was over five minutes but it wasn't without incident out there today no need to this greasing about 20 Lobby but blackly I learned Timur Anika wall she is such a gymnast o player I mean I was within my limit and when I went over my limit I got to ride the Annika Express unfortunately couldn't make out exactly there's a lot of people around on a signal set all over the place we're trying to get a better signal clear signal to hear what the drama was for Kate Courtney and Annika long fellas our second group turns in to the stud and Thomas takes Stefan at least takes a little D trip I'll be back with a motorbike now so what's going to happen here Ginny I think they are Ariane and Geeta is waiting for a sprinter they're probably going to try and take the the second place on the stage and it doesn't look like they are going flat out as it looks now and especially just before when the team ascendance were sitting next to each others maybe it would have been better to sit behind each others like all four in a row to save some energy and do a bit of more of working together and so I think I think both teams are not going flat out they are waiting a little bit for the sprint a waiting game ut we saw yesterday you really get up of the canvas she'd been not quite knocked out but she'd taken account some tin case on the finish and dragged herself back onto the back wheel of her partner and then put in a sprint to get the better of Strauss and last to take second place so they'll be looking for another second place here it'll be a confidence boosting ride for seven spits and Robin to crit second or third for them but I'd love to have second yeah it's just ten bites just time to go it says gone a little bit a hit here she looks as though she might have some speed mmm the cross-country rider here are definitely and she must try and do the same as yesterday and go first in the sprint it was quite impressive to see that sprint yesterday because she was a little bit behind and you know she just went for it I think she's surprised everyone she collapse in a heap at the finish they're given everything and that's what you want to see so Robin defer it's sitting here right behind almost between the two tasters trying to get a bit of a shield whatever she can out of it Sabine is up front death it Robins in a difficult situation yet will she know the finish that will probably not okay I can't remember what it looked like we came in here a few years ago 2015 probably different angle yeah exactly so when you move from town to town you don't know at all what the finish is going to look like so it's very difficult to position yourself for his friend Larry Ann's going after seven spits is about the second rider across the line here now Robin and 7 Luke are tight it is here once they get through that gate at all on because there's only a couple of metres and then a left turn Sabine and Robin sticking as close together as possible try not to let Gaeta me feels through here Aria I was looking over his shoulder trying to find a space for Gaeta now Sabine goes on the outside Robin gets blocked a little here by Ariana and has to dig out Geeta's got the line just to her right Robin looks over his shoulder spits goes to Fred can't get past arjan that's clever work work by re under foot has to not come on the lift and spits is there now here goes get to me Hills they leaving spits Robin Hood digs deep there into the school now and it is very very clever tactics there Robin to food corn bacon it's going to be re uh new teeth and he feels like this with the ticket again for the second day in a row what a fascinating build tussle that went on there closing into the school the curtains 50% herself in 3rd place oh every comma yeah definitely I think still Robin and Sabina is gonna be happy with a third place after the the previous two days absolutely and a really tough last couple of days and five minutes behind the five and a half minutes behind the leaders so more time gained by basic Songdo specialized on team skirt it was six and a half so it's not gonna balloon up to about nearly 12 minutes the lead but yeah I think Raman and Sabine will be quite pleased that they vote there they're back in the game if not in the overall at least that they're pushing for a place on the podium now yeah definitely it's gonna be quite interesting to see now how far behind Danny and Maurice guys that's the team that doesn't could the start of the Briscoe Strauss you can't fault them for giving absolutely everything yet there is that honey cap and another great ride by investing some NGO specialized but good to see the racing all the way to the line Kate Courtney young star not only of the cross-country world and on the women's front but also the Absa Cape Epic so clear skies now overhead was serving left Robertson in the fairly cloudy cool and almost damp conditions it's now much much clearer almost hot recovery is key getting into the deep end fourth day of the race now there's your recovery strategy change from earlier in the week not much you try to get as much food as possible you you should have tried to do that already from day one what can change is that you're starting to get really big cravings for special food yeah healthy food and you know you just want to eat just as much as you can it's not so important what he just said that you eat and a lot I know last year Esther and I the this stage of the race we all we wanted was pizza did you have yes definitely yes sir getting me kills with Robbie McEwen let's see if we can have you're all smiles out the other day he died I saw you hopping around limping a little bit after the finish tell us what happened I didn't wanna make a show like yesterday sure I thought that we'll try to stand a little but I am also so tired but yesterday was close to the sprint so that's why I was really but today was really hard day again I hope I can get the day off from my partner so I can relax a little but yeah it's just the heart I'm not used to it like I said but I'm really happy I could be good to finished second I was really happy we could get back to Robin and Spitz yeah I was really happy they I could rest a little and I thank them but also there for that yeah the competition is really tough it's like when line 14 kids try to attack it's like hell breaks loose and it's my gang just keep going here and yeah yeah everyone just to finish this ice yeah they should be proud of themselves because now if I really feel it and even for just for the fun guys I think yeah good job because it's really tough it is super tough you sit on everyone's faces maybe except yours you're all smiles but a very solid second place yeah there was a hot spot at 17 Ches and Annika I'm Kate just really went for it it was she was so strong I was just really hanging in the ropes there it's just that cross-country intensity I'm really struggling a little bit but then over the long run I can recover again and I think we showed a really solid performance and yeah I was the Robin and Sabine you could work a bit together which was really nice and at the end yeah we might need to take the spring first thanks to Tim Sanders as well there we were working well with him oh very good job ladies and go and recover well and get ready for a big one again tomorrow thanks Jimmy he'll send Ariane lutea talking at the finish there - Robbie mature now have been able to converse with Geeta in a home language there for many years in Belgium Robbie when he was winning Sprint's as a pastime on the road bike lover to have him taking an interest in the absence he actually been fascinating you see various riders from the road scene getting more and more keen to get involved in the in the absent cope epic we've got a lot of men roadies you are ready for many years yeah a few more coming across we can't encourage some of the top women to come and ride the martyr bike kidding I think we should do that but they're just it's showing how big this race it yeah since so many roadies wants to come and do it they'd say yeah so it's not just for the mountain bikers it's big it's for everyone reowww Limpy and at least London Olympian Robin of course on the road and immediately retired took the mountain bike and said well I could rather like this and they're pretty well yes sevens bits unfortunately the signal inside the recovery zone there isn't great so we won't be able to hear Robbie cutting to Sabine but yep this is well this is the finish of the women's race no profit all fauna galangal and Kate Courtney they were celebrating well before they got to the line because they had it in hand five and a half minutes as they come in but it was that sprint for second place that was so fascinating and opportunity to perhaps have a look at that so well-written investing songo specialized and here it is this is that sprinter Jenny yeah they they planned it very well Arianna and Geeta you can see from the beginning there when they were sitting behind and watching and then they just went at the the right moment it was a very good one yeah for a moment you thought Sabine and Robin might have it but there was some very clever positioning by Ariane allow you to get past on the right hand side there and hop up and take the Sprint win with Mariska Strauss in any last losing to them yesterday and now Robin and Sabine so it's been a good couple of days for these two riders Robin f4 Geeta and Ariane and Robert and Sabine back on the podium for the stage I'll be pleased with that and that maybe they're finding their legs at the business end of the race still have another big day to come tomorrow yeah tomorrow it's actually the the toughest one I would say I've I did a race there in January they had a one-day race on the same route and I can tell you it's very tough tomorrow it was apparently a lot of epic entries being possible say obey that's right so what is gonna be tough all right let's pop back to here from seven Smith sues with the Robby McGehee spits third on the stage and never mind the rest of the stage which is oh so tough but having to sprint it out for those final positions against the other team on the line must have just been the last final kicking the guts yes definitely you had already two stages before and you can already feel that's what your body gets exhausted and yeah so I guess everybody else was pretty happy too yeah to get to the finish line and if you have to sprint when it's yeah so yeah it's like you said it's the last kicker you try to give put everything in for the father for the last 500 meters and yeah so it's I fought about it can make it longer sprint but it looks it turned out with Geeta was stronger at the end and then expected because she was a bit struggling over the last 3040 case and so yeah but anyway so we are also happy but but I performed today better than the two days before yeah and off planes to ops she was pretty good and working today and Robyn early on in the race things really lit up with that hot spot so early in the stage it seems just everything got blown completely apart was it a bit panic stations when that started to happen did get a little bit messy but drizzling and attraction was a bit difficult it had been a little bit wet so it was a little bit slippery but Sabine and I stayed calm and yeah we just kept consistent riding at our own pace and we managed to catch them again so those power surges was that very noticeable out on course with yourselves and looking at other teams the changing conditions from hot dry and really dusty to that more compact and a bit drizzle like you said different conditions yeah it definitely played a role we had some very steep climbs at the start of the stage and that was mean it was drizzling and raining and so traction was something that we had to struggle with a little bit and the judge was actually quite nice to have a cooler day today after the heat that we've had and we saw today our overall leaders and stage winners also had a bit of an accident the end they fell in the sand section did you remain unscathed today did everything go smoothly no punctures no crashes yeah we all got in a bit of wine the jockey it was and I was getting pretty crowded out there on course did you notice any hiccups trying to get past people in certain sections no we didn't really struggle MSA now that they've made a cure it's a race track yeah thanks to all the guys that do move over know sometimes we're racing and we get a little bit rude and shouting everybody suddenly limits really pushing hard so I think sometimes they think we're being rude but no just thanks to everyone for just moving over for us okay best of luck for tomorrow thanks thanks so much to Robin and to Robbie you never rude out there Jenny your former partner come on probably say things that you regret but you try as good as you can to always be friendly well we did see an incident today with the leaders running into the backup guys it stopped on that sandy section now just to to tell you what the situation is regarding the general classification in the women's race it looks like this that Donegal unfollowed Kate Courtney have a lead of 12 minutes and ten seconds over RN luteum GDB hills of team spur and then in third place now Straus and last silverback MCR 24 minutes down so they're 12 minutes behind blue tnb kills but the big gainers today our team ascenders help Robin acquit and Sabine spits on now 31 minutes down on the leaders but they're made up almost eight minutes on Strauss and last because they are six minutes behind there Strauss and LA so that little battle for third place is going to get very very interesting as this race said goes on it's open third but it's all about him and every day there nip and tuck and if we're I every team at some stage is gonna have a difficulty is you Illustrated earlier on chatting about last year when you thought your whole race was over and the next thing you're on the tops of its difficulty but valdivieso your mind it goes through a huge amount of emotions doesn't it yeah definitely and I mean mountain biking anything can happen and use you can think you have a big lead but yeah I can be over in a second and I actually think last year I've never ever been so nervous for a state or a race as the last day when we had a lead of 35 minutes and everyone started to say that it's it was in the bag and it was done and it was still a four hour race - to get through and yeah anything can happen so as I said before this race is only over when it really is over over that last finish time is it a beautiful thing yeah it is beauty of this race and it keeps you coming back doesn't it - as painful as it is and as tough as it might be you you something well those paintings and things go away and you you remember the good things yeah exactly I think every year you think to yourself that this is the last one because it's so hard but then you're a week later you you starting to think about the next year and that you want to come back and do things differently or you know improve on things before Jenny goes I just want to tell you that you were voted the sweetened cyclists of the year believed licensed in quite recently yes thank you go back to Sweden and you race there don't you mean in our winter yeah definitely every year so I've got two seasons almost rice all year round Wow and you'll carry on once your injuries repaired yeah definitely definitely well we hope to see you again with us shortly thanks very much for making the effort to come across and though it's not easy there's Mariska Strauss they're just recovering not easy for Jenny she's not totally mobile with a left leg injury but the fantastic to have you come through and thanks to your parents for bringing you thank you so much and you know thanks to them for driving yeah so this is inside the Woolworths recovery zone and this is a look at stage four before you go look at this you know that you talked about it earlier about the route tomorrow is there no the thing with the tomorrow stage is that it's so much sand and if it's not saying that it's rocks so it's basically that you don't really gain anything from sitting behind anyone because it's gonna be it's so hard it's really hard on your legs so and then when you you've gotten through all that sandy and rocky pot then you have vein screws to go up so tomorrow it's gonna be really tough it's very cruel because the red sections are tires you can see that and then sand and rock screen and blue the climbs it's it's unforgiving and then yes you get to the tie and you think off top but it says months to pass yeah yeah there's nowhere to hide tomorrow it's gonna be one of those really really tough days you'd be absolutely but then again what day is not tough at the Absa Cape Epic there has never been an easy day at the Absa Cape Epic in 15 years and there never will be I'm sure they just each very very tough it said Thomas deej has done a great job in showing us how the riders of progress through today's stage so lunch for the riders as they come in fantastic Woolworths one of our great sponsors here giving the riders some food to recover that's where the recovery is so important you're not just recovering you're preparing for tomorrow eating for tomorrow it's so important and no doubt for many it will be pizza yeah I hope so at some stage outside the distant yeah this is a great service offered by the Absa Cape Epic when they say full-service stage race this is what they mean you get lunch brought to you you don't even have to go and find it as you come off the bike you walk did they pick up the packet then it's got all sorts of very healthy stuff with you that was Jeremy Thomson and Martin dryer they were in the fourth place in the Grand Master's earlier today apart from the fact that Martin draya's still coming to terms of the fact that he's a grandmaster that's a great ride by a Jeremy and Martin they were third in the prologue Jeremy Thompson was a world-class the Rugby Centre for the Sharks franchise here in South Africa Martin dryer won the toughest canoe race in the country Trump is one of the toughest in the world the duesey can American seven times and he's of course an adventurer rates that race up note and they're going really well at the Grand Master's which might see a shake-up today because Robson who no boots had all manner of problems early in the stage seems to lose a lot of time but they had a lot in hand at the start of the day that almost 16 minutes in hand so what's the desert landscape here isn't it so dry it is a pretty dry part of the world there's nevertheless but that's courtesy of let's interrupt here we go the podium nice moment for the riders this Jenny it's a very nice feeling to you get onto that podium it's a very special podium it today good place to must send us help with some relief I'm sure there are back into the mixture as Jenny's alluded to the doubts that do creep in when things go wrong and do maybe you're over but they fought back and fought hard lost out on the sprint but does that place on the stakes having been set up Robin different second again two days in a row two days away you can be fierce and Ariane Lutie of teams Ferb big effort from Geetha after yesterday she said she'd want to be dramatic like yesterday and fall over when she got to the finish line she suffered they are four in a row for invested so no specialized Kate Courtney I think Ellen well the champions today and at the moment the champions elect only because they're wearing the leaders jerseys so they've kept to second place blue team he kills his 12 minutes in ten seconds to Strauss and large to finish down the field today they're 24 minutes back and spits in to hood 31 minutes back so that battle for third place is going to be interesting six minutes at the moment between those teams flowers getting tossed to the crowd in time-honored fashion lovely to see and I've gotta be Bobby and of course the flowers there then there are my parents too by the way they are mom there's a Jenny's parents you got family at home would have seen them and maybe my brother he's also there he was standing with them lovely otherwise he's the biggest fan so fantastic [Music] staged [Music] yup my girl uncle I'm the right hey Corky the American champion another imposing performance today on the road from Robertson to Worcester 123 kilometres it turned out to be and the result as it was yesterday just an increase in the lead overall in the women's race okay and eight as they take a guess hold on the air to Cape Epic 12 minutes we've seen bigger leads be eroded by the bakeries of what is the most unpredictable [Applause] there we are well hope you enjoyed our coverage thanks again to Jenny thanks for coming out thank you so much for having me to see you here again and most important we look forward to see Jenny back on the bike depending go Absa Cape Epic campaigner won't happen this year but I'm sure it will happen - thank you so much right Jenny Tanaka who race to victory here with Arianna with the estus last year and the immense races before we say goodbye cool event gods have two minutes and 12 seconds over foolish 11 Cheney of a Cannondale Factory Racing lockitron Hynek three minutes and 14 back just three minutes and 14 seconds between the top three aerobic and ESMA off the podium at 10 minutes and 37 it's gonna be a great days racing tomorrow you know where to find us right where you are now tomorrow morning from 10 o'clock we'll bring you all the action on stage four day five of the Absa Cape Epic 2018 until then enjoy the images from today [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Epic Series

Views: 62,841

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Id: ObRkwMb8Xss

Length: 146min 7sec (8767 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 21 2018