![\"ccs-2-0-27104000-1395854244.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-27104000-1395854244.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nChristoph Sauser and Frantisek Rabon of Meerendal Songo Specialized celebrate after winning Stage 3 during stage 3 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wines in Robertson to The Oaks Estate in Greyton, South Africa on the 26 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit: Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a little bit afraid \u2026 I\u2019m not sure if there\u2019s a little bit of bad luck, but hopefully we can keep it on our shoulders a bit longer (than the others have),\u201d said German Mennen, who together with Topeak-Ergon teammate Kristian Hynek took the overall lead Wednesday.<\/p>\n Three teams have worn what would normally be regarded as one of the most prized rewards in their sport in the race\u2019s three stages so far – and each has suffered a disastrous day.<\/p>\n The 134km stage from Robertson to Greyton – the longest this year – was won in a sprint by Switzerland\u2019s Christoph Sauser, aiming for his fifth win, and Czech Frantisek Rabon (Meerendal Songo Specialized).<\/p>\n Wednesday it was the turn of the other four-times winner Karl Platt to fall victim to the travails of those wearing the yellow jersey. The German and teammate Urs Huber (Bulls) began the day in yellow after a strong stage two, but it was soon evident that he was suffering from a knee damaged in a crash on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The other top teams, sensing a weakness, attacked strongly and at about 50km a grimacing Platt could no longer resist. A group of three teams pulled away from the Bulls pair on a stage characterised by open roads, rolling hills and a persistent wind – much of it directly in the riders\u2019 faces.<\/p>\n Sauser and Rabon are third overall after winning the sprint in 4:53.36,4. Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess (Centurion-Vaude) finished a split second behind Sauser and Rabon, but their disastrous stage two – when Kaufmann broke the frame of his bike while they were wearing yellow – meant the Germans are out of contention for the overall win.<\/p>\n Mennen and Hynek finished third in the sprint and their steady performances over four days – including a prologue – in which other top teams have all either battled with mechanical problems, illness or crashes have given them what might be a telling lead.<\/p>\n Nino Schurter of Scott-Odlo leads the bunch during stage 3 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wines in Robertson to The Oaks Estate in Greyton, South Africa on the 26 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Platt and Huber finished nearly 11 minutes back in sixth, but are still second overall – 15 seconds ahead of Sauser and Rabon, but nine-and-a-half minutes behind Mennen and Hynek.<\/p>\n The Topeak-Ergon pairing have impressed with their powerful riding and generally calm approach, but do not have a back-up team. Sauser and Rabon have been enjoying great support from South Africans Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell (RECM), and this could prove decisive by the time the riders reach the finish at Lourensford Wine Estate on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cSo far it is the most interesting Epic in many years,\u201d said Sauser. \u201cI thought the Bulls would still be in the lead after the stage. When I saw Karl dropping out of the back of the lead group I went to the front and said to the guys we must go for it now.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabon, who has converted to mountain biking from road riding, said: \u201cToday there was extra pressure on me because everybody said this stage would suit me. But now I can say I enjoyed a stage at the Epic. After all the bad luck and chasing the whole time, we could do some racing today.\u201d<\/p>\n Mennen entered mountain biking legend at last year\u2019s Cape Epic when he broke his collarbone after crashing into a duiker: \u201cLast year I was out of the race so early after hitting the antelope,\u201d he said Wednesday. \u201cThis year\u2019s like getting something back from last year.\u201d<\/p>\n The team in yellow after the prologue on Sunday, Spaniard Jose Hermida and Dutchman Rudi van Houts (Multivan Merida), lost the jersey when the former suffered an allergic reaction to something in his breakfast before Monday\u2019s stage one and could barely finish the ride.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n