Germans win back top spot
Like a boxer determined to beat the count each time he goes down, the German Bulls Team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm are back in the leaders' jersey for Saturday's final stage of the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race.
Over the past week Platt and Sahm wore the leaders' yellow jersey on Stage 2, lost it to Team Cannondale's Roel Paulissen and Jakob Fugelsang for three days, reclaimed it for stage 6 before the Belgian and Dane grabbed it back for yesterday's 116km stage from Villiersdorp to this seaside town.
At Friday's start all they had was a paper-thin 11 sec lead.
And on Friday the two tough European teams slugged it out toe-to-toe, with Paulissen and Fugelsang opening a four-minute gap on the Germans pushing the 18km to the summit of the 900m Groenlandberg.
Earlier, just 15km outside Villiersdorp, Bart Brentjens and Rudi van Houts (Team Dolphin) shot off like two Dutchmen possessed and never lost the lead to win the stage in 4hr 49sec.
Their moment of glory was, however, overshadowed by the drama - and spot of controversy - just behind them.
During the climb up Groenlandberg, Sahm broke a pedal and had visions of their assault on the yellow jersey fading.
"I asked everyone, anyone, if they could help David George stopped, took his pedal off and gave it to me," said Sahm. "Maybe it was against the rules, maybe we would get a penalty, I didn't care, we had to go, they were opening the lead."
George lost his original partner and has been riding with world No 2 biker Christoph Sauser, whose partner also abandoned.
The pair are not being recognised for results and were told by organisers not to influence the race in any way.
The fact that George assisted Sahm upset Paulissen who complained handing over a pedal did have an influence on the stage's outcome.
"Lots of people stopped, trying to help," said George, "but none of them had a similar pedal."
Among those offering assistance was world No 6 Jose Hermida of Spain, who offered both pedals and his shoes, custom made to fit.
"I would do it for anyone who needed help," said Hermida, "and I would expect help if I was in trouble."
Besides the complaints, Good Samaritan George's day went downhill after the pedal incident.
For the next 30km he had only one pedal and as a consequence went sprawling on the descent of Groenlandberg ending with a bloodied back and arm.
No more blood was spilled as Platt and Sahm hunted down the yellow jersey. Paulissen and Fugelsang took advantage of the Germans' mishap, opening a 4min gap on the way off the Groenlandberg.
The gap stopped there and gradually shrunk as the chasers put in a hard-morning in the saddle.
At 75km on top of the Highlands Estate overlooking Arabella Estate, Platt and Sahm were breathing down Paulissen and Fugelsang's back, 14sec adrift.
Within a kilometre it was 5sec and for the next 20km the two teams matched each other punch for punch.
Then, to Paulissen's horror, his partner blew.
"I had nothing left," said Fugelsang, "my legs were gone, my head was gone.
"Right now I don't want to think about tomorrow, no I'm looking for an easy day tomorrow," said the 22-year-old Dane.
Likely to be just the opposite thoughts of Platt, 29, and 30-year-old Sahm who have that extra bit of experience and ability to dig deep when lung and legs are burning.
"We pushed the whole day, I haven't worked so hard and that last stretch was the longest five kilometres in my life," said Platt.
"This race is unbelievable the way the yellow jersey has been changing.
"And I'm really surprised we've done so well with so many good teams here.
"This shows, without bragging, that I am one of the best mountain bikers in the world," said the German.
"There is a big difference between a race like the Epic and cross-country or marathons."
Platt probably has a point after their stage win on day one followed by six seconds on the trot, and his teammate summed it up perfectly after they secured a 1min 45sec lead on Paulissen and Fugelsang.
"Our mission today was to stay with the leaders' jersey. But the gap is still small just one puncture or one broken pedal and we could lose the lead."
South Africans Anke Moore and Yolande de Villiers increased their lead to just under four hours in the women's section, and barring disaster, will wrap it up today.
"We took it a little easier today, no more silly chances," said De Villiers who took a tumble on stage six, but was quick to point out they came in 28th overall for their 7th stage win.
"We'll probably take it a bit slower tomorrow as well, we don't want to do anything stupid like break a collarbone."
Today's final stage is a 75km "doddle" from Kleinmond to Lourensford with a sting in the tail.
The field is to go over Sir Lowry's Pass then portage their bikes for a kilometre over slippery rocks down the Gamtou Pass.