![\"ccs-2-0-36378900-1396161186.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-36378900-1396161186.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe podium with Scott-Odlo MTB Racing in first, Topeak Ergon Racing in second and Meerendal Songo Specialized in third during stage 6 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 29 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n \u201cAnother stage \u2026 another flat \u2026 another drama,\u201d said Czech Kristian Hynek, leading overall with German Robert Mennen (Topeak-Ergon), after they had again benefited on the day from the sportsmanship of fellow professionals.<\/p>\n Mennen and Hynek finished the 88km sixth stage in second place but more than 10 minutes aheads in the generalclassification. Barring disaster – an ever-present threat in the 2014 edition of the event – they should win for the first time when the race finishes at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West Sunday.<\/p>\n A very happy Philip Buys of SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing after winning stage 6 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 29 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They were facing a serious setback Saturday when Hynek picked up a bad cut on his wheel only five kilometres from the start. For the second day running it was fellow professionals Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess (Centurion-Vaude) – out of the race for overall honours after a bad day on Tuesday\u2019s stage two when they broke a frame – who came to their rescue by stopping and swopping a wheel. On Friday they had donated two wheels to Hynek when he \u201cdouble-flatted\u201d.<\/p>\n The rapid change of tyres Saturday meant Hynek and Mennen could chase and ultimately catch up to their general classification competitors.<\/p>\n \u201cThis time it happened on a gravel section – the tyre was cut. We got great, great help from Centurion-Vaude,\u201d said Hynek.<\/p>\n Mennen said he had no idea how to thank fellow Germans Kaufmann and Kaess. \u201cI must actually apologise because we took away their chance of a stage win,\u201d said Mennen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to do something big for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Buys and Schurter, the reigning cross country world champion, blitzed the stage – which started and finished at Oak Valley, Elgin, and went through many of the best single track sections in the Western Cape – in 3:34.51,2, finishing nearly six minutes ahead of the yellow jersey-wearers.<\/p>\n Buys said it was \u201cjust great\u201d to be on the top step of the podium for the second time in three days – they also won stage four – and paid tribute to the explosive strength of Schurter. \u201cOn the single tracks we work well together, but I suffer quite a lot on the climbs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a beautiful stage – a mountain bike stage,\u201d said Schurter. They are now lying fifth overall – but more than 20 minutes behind the leaders after some troubled opening stages – and Schurter was hoping to win the final stage Sunday and get on to the podium.<\/p>\n Pre-race favourite and four-times winner Christoph Sauser of Switzerland and his Czech partner Frantisek Rabon(Meerendal Songo Specialized) were third Saturday, giving up another 34 seconds to Hynek and Mennen. They remain in second overall but are more than 10 minutes back with only Sunday\u2019s 68km stage to come – a gap that they are unlikely to bridge unless the leading team runs into serious trouble.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n