Sauser, Kulhavy cut above field in Epic

IN a day of drama, Christoph Sauser yesterday laid down a significant marker in his bid to become the first person to win the Cape Epic five times. The Swiss master and his Czech teammate Jaroslav Kulhavy showed great form on the 113km first stage as they overcame a puncture to finish the day almost a minute ahead of Sauser’s great rival, Karl Platt of Germany, who is riding with Swiss strongman Urs Huber.

One of the top professionals in the field, Emil Lindgren, crashed out of the race on a descent off the flank of the Groenlandberg breaking his arm. He was riding with South African Brendon Davids, who will have to soldier on as an Outcast – professional riders who can continue to take part but not compete or influence the outcome of the race.

Bad luck struck another of the pre- race favourite teams, defending champion Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic and Austrian Alban Lakata, when they had to repair two punctures and swop a wheel at a tech zone. They managed, however, to recover and finish fourth, four minutes behind Sauser and Kulhavy.

The women’s category continued to be dominated by the Swiss/Danish combination of Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad, who already have a 20-minute gap over their closest challengers.

The day was a tough one for riders throughout the field, with some 2 800m climbing through the stage and then a steady drizzle which made surfaces slippery and treacherous.

Sauser and Kulhavy had built up a lead in the early stages but picked up a sidewall puncture. They were good enough to reel in all-comers, though.