![\"ccs-2-0-32115900-1395774412.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-32115900-1395774412.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nRobert Mennen and Kristian Hynek of Topeak-Ergon Racing celebrate after winning stage 2 during stage 2 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Arabella Wines in Robertson, South Africa on the 25 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Mennen and his Czech partner Kristian Hynek (Team Topeak-Ergon) took stage two in 4h12m17s, but four-times Absa Cape Epic winner Karl Platt of Germany and his Swiss teammate Urs Huber (Team Bulls) overcame a crash and the weather to snatch the yellow leaders\u2019 jersey by finishing second.<\/p>\n Karl Platt and Urs Huber of Team Bulls finish in second place during stage 2 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Arabella Wines in Robertson, South Africa on the 25 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Shaun Roy\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Platt\u2019s great rival Christoph Sauser, also bidding for a fifth win and riding this year with Czech partner Frantisek Rabon, fell back by nearly 12 minutes on the day after a broken part in his brakes started binding on the rear wheel.<\/p>\n But the biggest losers on the stage were overnight yellow jersey holders Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess (Centurion Vaude), both of Germany, when the latter\u2019s frame broke. They had to make running repairs using a spare tube and cable ties, eventually finishing 1h50m behind the winners in 112th position – and out of contention for the podium when the race finishes at Lourensford wine estate on Sunday.<\/p>\n Christoph Sauser of Meerendal Songo Specialized trying to fix a mechanical during stage 2 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Arabella Wines in Robertson, South Africa on the 25 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Nick Muzik\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Riders awoke Tuesday morning to a heavy downpour and rode for about half of the 103km stage – a loop which started and ended in Robertson – in rain. The thick and gritty mud ground into chains and brake pads, giving rise to several mechanical problems.<\/p>\n Riders finished the stage coated in mud and with red-rimmed eyes: \u201cThere was so much mud you had to take your glasses off after 10km,\u201d said Hynek.<\/p>\n Platt and Huber finished a little more than two minutes behind Mennen and Hynek, enough to give the Bulls a lead of one minute and nine seconds in the general classification over the Topeak-Ergon pairing.<\/p>\n Platt said he had a \u201cstupid crash\u201d soon after the start. \u201cIt was very slippery out there,\u201d said Platt. \u201cI missed the line (on some single track) and the front wheel went.\u201d He hit the ground hard and was stunned for a while: \u201cMy motivation went a little bit and I was hurting everywhere \u2026 but we are fighters and started to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n Mennen said conditions had been exceptionally tough and the stage boiled down to \u201cthe survival of the fittest\u2019. \u201cLuckily we had good legs and no mechanicals \u2026 it was our luck today,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Third home and five minutes behind the stage winners were Germans Tim Boehme and Simon Stiebjahn of Teams Bulls 2. They are also lying third in the general classification.<\/p>\n Swiss Sauser\u2019s brake pads wore down in the mud and a broken part periodically jammed his back wheel until it worked loose near the end. He and Rabon are now lying sixth overall.<\/p>\n Also still in contention for the overall win are the fourth-placed combination of Swiss Kenny Looser and German Hannes Genze (Meerendal Centurion Wheeler), and fifth-placed Swiss pairing Lukas Fluckiger and Martin Fanger (BMC).<\/p>\n Ariane Kleinhans and Annike Langvad during stage 2 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race from Arabella Wines in Robertson, South Africa on the 25 March 2014<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Karin Schermbrucker\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/p>\n Women\u2019s favourites Ariane Kleinhans of Switzerland and Annike Langvad of Denmark (RECM2) recovered brilliantly from a disastrous stage one to take back nearly nine minutes of the 24 they lost to Meerendal\u2019s Esther Suss (Swiss) and Sally Bigham (English).<\/p>\n Kleinhans and Langvad won Tuesday\u2019s stage in 4h53m07,5s. Their recovery suggests that they take more time back in the stages to come, setting up a thrilling women\u2019s category battle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important to not get into any trouble but still be awake to take an opportunity if there was one. Towards the end we gave our all,\u201d said Kleinhans.<\/p>\n Third place in the women\u2019s category went to Swede Jennie Stenerhag and South African Theresa Ralph (Cape Brewing Company), who are now 19 minutes back on the leaders.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n