After getting a time penalty for failing to observe race markers on Tuesday, Annika Langvad and Ariane Kleinhans spectacularly recaptured the lead in the women's race on the third stage of the Cape Epic yesterday.
The Danish-Swiss pair started the day in fourth position but turned the 128km stage from Elgin to Worcester into a personal time trial, finishing 29½ minutes ahead of the second team and ending up with a 9min 18sec overall lead.
Kleinhans, who collapsed in a heap in the sweltering heat at the finish line, took a while to get to her feet.
She said: "It was really, really hard. Annika was absolutely incredible. She is unbelievably strong. The men who were riding with us could hardly stay with her."
At the front of the men's field the only potential spanner in the works for Christophe Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy was when the latter had to replace a wheel at the second water point.
A slow puncture meant they couldn't go at full tilt.
The race leaders regrouped and soon caught up with their nearest rivals and won the stage in 5hr 1min 17sec. The Swiss-Czech pair's lead in the general classification now spans 7min 21sec.
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