![\"ccs-2-0-50740700-1396019135.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-50740700-1396019135.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nRoel Paulissen and Riccardo Chiarini of Torpado Factory celebrate as they cross the line to win the 5th stage during stage 5 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from The Oak Estate in Greyton to Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 28 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n The stage was won by Roel Paulissen of Belgium and Italian partner Riccardo Chiarini (Torpado) in a thrilling finish, but they have virtually no chance of getting into the yellow jersey by the finish on Sunday and a lot of the focus was on the overall battle behind them.<\/p>\n Disaster struck for overall leaders Robert Mennen of Germany and Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic (Topeak-Ergon) about 40km into the 115km stage when the latter simultaneously punctured both his front and back tyres.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know whether it was a sharp rock or piece of glass, but I got a double flat on a section of singletrack,\u201d said Hynek.<\/p>\n The Centurian Vaude Team assist the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team after the got a flat tyre during stage 5 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from The Oak Estate in Greyton to Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 28 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n They had been following directly behind Germans Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess (Centurion Vaude), who were out of the race for the yellow jersey after Tuesday\u2019s stage two when Kaufmann\u2019s frame broke.<\/p>\n \u201cI screamed at them to help,\u201d said Hynek. The Germans, friends of Mennen, stopped and fortunately Kaufmann\u2019s wheels and gearing were compatible with Hynek\u2019s bike and he took them off his bike handed them over.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was an amazing sporting gesture and I owe them big time now,\u201d said Hynek.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, second-placed overall team Christoph Sauser, of Switzerland, and Czech Frantizek Rabon (Meerendal Songo Specialized) surged ahead and began to make inroads into the Topeak-Ergon team\u2019s nearly 12-minute overall cushion.<\/p>\n The lead bunch rides into the sunrise during stage 5 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from The Oak Estate in Greyton to Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 28 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n They passed through the first water point at 44km more than four minutes ahead of Hynek and Mennen, but then Sauser\u2019s run of bad luck this year struck again. Riding down a grassy section of downhill he slashed his tyre on a hidden rock.<\/p>\n The cut in Sauser\u2019s tubeless tyre was too big for sealant to stop the leaking and he had to put a tube into it.<\/p>\n By the time they finished third in the 115km stage from Greyton to Elgin, Sauser and Rabon were only two minutes ahead of Hynek and Mennen – the latter finishing fifth but still enjoying an overall lead of nine minutes and 48 seconds, which might prove decisive with only two more days of racing left.<\/p>\n Kristian Hynek of team Topeak-Ergon Racing summits a climb during stage 5 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from The Oak Estate in Greyton to Oak Valley Wine Estate in Elgin, South Africa on the 28 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Greg Beadle\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Hynek felt that with only two stages left their lead should be enough to secure the win if they did not have mechanical issues, punctures or crashes: \u201cBut many things can happen \u2026 10 minutes may not be enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Sauser said later that he has had three punctures and a crash this year – more than in the past three years in spite of using the same frame, rims and tyres as last year. He still believed a win was possible: \u201cIf you think you will lose then you will lose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are still two days to go and anything can happen,\u201d said Rabon.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Former overall winner Paulissen was celebrating after winning the stage with Chiarini.<\/p>\n Philip Buys and cross country world champion Nino Schurter (Scott-Odlo) finished only six seconds behind them after a dramatic chase into the overnight stop at Elgin.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n