Stage 5 - Greyton to Elgin

Called "The Queen Stage" because of it's numerous tough climbs, Stage 5 was a monster with almost 3000m of climbing over 110km.  To top it all off, the Epic saw its hottest day yet this year, with temperatures reaching up to 82 degrees, despite a start in chilly fog.  The sun beat down on riders, and helmet strap sunburn lines are a common sight in the race village.

Thomas and Mike are one step closer to finishing their first Epic together.  Today they rode past the site of Mike's rib-breaking crash of 2011.  Today went without incident for the Kappius/Sir Richard's team, and they finished in 6th place in the Grand Masters.  They extended their overall lead on the 7th place team by 34 minutes in today's stage alone.

The Torpado Factory Team held on to the lead coming into the finish at Oak Valley Estates outside the town of Elgin, but Nino Schurter and Philip Buys of Team SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing were in pursuit and finished only six seconds back.  With only two stages to go, the Topeak-Ergon Racing team has a solid overall lead over Team Meerendal Songo Specialized of 9 minutes and 47 seconds, but last year's Cape Epic champion Christoph Sauser and his new partner Frantisek Rabon of Team Meerendal Songo Specialized will not go down without a fight.

Roel Paulissen and Riccardo Chiarini of Torpado Factory Team.

Women's team RECM 2 (Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad) made Cape Epic history today as the highest overall stage placement in 16th place today.  They are now winning the women's category by almost 16 minutes over Esther Suss and Sally Bingham of Team Meerendal.