SAM BENEDICT: Morning.
ERIC SCHUDA: How'd you sleep?
SAM BENEDICT: Good.
I got a pair of ear plugs.
Those are really helpful.
I'm not sure if my legs are going to move yet.
You actually have to check to make
sure there's nothing in there, because there's
these crickets here, that wherever there's space,
they like to go.
I'm stiff.
Actually, I'm sore, but it's not too bad.
I think I'll be OK for today.
ERIC SCHUDA: I'd say the first 10 to 15 minutes
in the morning is the worst.
SAM BENEDICT: Here we go.
ERIC SCHUDA: Oh, my fly's open.
Don't get that on
SAM BENEDICT: Get some muesli here.
Thank you.
Like an apricot-looking thing there.
Ey,ey, ey, dat, oop.
Beat it.
Get out of here.
BENNO WILLETT: After the mess from yesterday,
we had to go through a lot of things on the bikes.
We strip them, we go through everything,
and I think we went to bed at like 1:30.
Right?
So I went to bed quite late, got up at 5 o'clock this morning
again, and just checking everything through.
So today is the king stage-- 134km.
Not too much climbing, so it will be a long and fast race
today.
But we also need to take everything down, move
to the next place, and so it's a good challenge for us, as well.
Get there in time-- make sure that we're there
before the riders, and have it all ready
when they get to the finish.
DYLAN VAN DER MERWE: We just got to Oaks Estate in Greyton.
Getting set up and ready for the boys to come in.
Today is the longest stage of the race,
and I think with the better conditions
and the distance will suit Franti much better.
And yeah, according to the latest report we've just got,
the boys are up front.
There's a group of four, and the chase pack is about 4:15
behind.
So exciting stuff to see them up front.
ANNOUNCER: Now ladies and gentlemen, it's Christoph
Sauser and Frantisek Rabon now in front.
[WHISTLING AND CHEERING]
And this stage win to Meerendal-Songo.info,
your four-time winner of the ABSA Cape Epic with his new
partner-- it's Christoph Sauser and Frantisek Rabon--
that elusive stage when they get it today.
Second over the line there-- Markus Kaufmann and Jochen
Kaess for Centurion Vaude.
And third is Kristian Hynek--
FRANTISEK RABON: You know what was again a lot of pressure
on my shoulders today, because of course, riding
with Christoph-- but plus you know
everybody said this stage will excuse me as a road rider.
So it was extra pressure.
So I'm so happy that I proved I can do it.
Perfect.
CHRISTOPH SAUSER: Still more than halfway to go.
I think it's going to be epic battle.
We have to still keep on going harder,
and it's quite a big cup, too, for us.
I mean, we came in here to win this race.
And we have two such strong back-up teams,
and that can make a big, big role.
ERIC SCHUDA: You get up in the morning, you get ready,
you shatter yourself all morning into the afternoon,
you rebuild after the race-- you get the pieces back together.
And just when you've finally got it together, you get up
and you shatter yourself again.
SAM BENEDICT: I'm just happy to be across the finish line.
That was over 80 miles on a mountain bike.
That's a long way to ride after you've already done a few days.
Well, I keep looking down at my legs and I go,
I don't know who's pushing-- it's not me.
And they just keep going.
So I think we got a shot to make it.
No guarantees.
We're going to take them one at a time.
But we made it this far, I don't want to stop now.