_David_

Through Water Point 3

No word on what happened to @Nedbank360life but they're just over 3min behind leaders @songoinfo @TeamBulls 2, Topeak & Multivan Merida Intro and Outro for riders coming through Water Point 3 Multivan Merida were 27sec behind @Nedbank360life on GC at start. Topeak & Bulls 2 were 3min down... Tight dice for 2nd on GC now!

They're in the forest tracks. @Nedbank360life haven't come through yet - must be a mechanical. Karien and Jane still in the lead going through wp2 71km #CapeEpic Biogen Britehouse, Theresa and Nina, through wp2 71km 8min behind Team MTN Qhubeka #CapeEpic Sally and Esther through wp2 71km in 3rd place 14min behind Karien and Jane #CapeEpic.

They're nearing top now. Sahm has been yoyoing off the pack, but is now unstuck. It's 360Life, 36ONE, Topeak, Merida, Bulls 2 So Stockli (6th) Verslys Craft (7th) & Centurion Vaude (10th) all well back. Three new spaces in top 10 on GC opening up #AbsaCapeEpic Ominous skies above water point 3. Another epic stage today!

An attack from @africanmtbkid, immediately Versluys + @FedGroupITEC are off. @Nedbank360life + @teambulls 2 able to respond WP2 at 72km: Blend, Versluys +20'.. Versluys stopped to sort out a collapsed rear shock, duct-tapping to help but it's not going to hold..

First 10 through wp2 71km. Adrien right there in the mix. All contenders there except Verluys team

Leaders head towards Highlands Plantation Not only riders work hard at #absacapeepic. Mechanics toil late into night to get battered bikes ready for next stage The contrasting landscapes of the #absacapeepic.

All in long line. Mennen is strong + angry about flat yesterday. 360Life, 36ONE, Topeak, Fedgroup, Bulls2, Merida, Versluys. Back a bit is @TeamBulls 2, @sahmurai hurting

On the big climb its @Nedbank360life + @36ONE in front. Topeak + @FedGroupITEC are there, but Sahm and Genze are off the pace.

Rider Pieter Calutz, deciding to just grin and bear it Portage on the sandy parts today

Team @MeridaRacing quickly fixing a flat. Massive rainstorm about to hit us! Again!

Unfortunately @wheelerwind can do nothing but feed and wait for her partner's bike to be fixed Through the wheat fields they go

Team @MTNQhubeka Nuessli and Van Jaarsveld leading the ladies Leading the mixed, @kleinhansmuesli with Robert Daniel Momsen @MomsenBikes leading Masters Biogen Britehouse in 2nd place for Ladies Wheels4Life's @wheelerwind and Bigham 2 min behind, Bigham having bike problems Bigham's bike needs a new shifter. This could be a serious blow to their lead.

In the outcast jersey @AD_Niyonshuti as he is riding alone after partner Van Rensburg pulled out

Team @FedGroupITEC take the R10 000 Telkom Business hotspot and are first through and out of the Water Point WP1 at 40km: 36One, Bulls1, 360Life, Multivan, Topeak, Versluys, Milka, Bulls2, FedGroup, Songo, RE:CM, Vredestein, Columbia, Racing29'ers

Riders descend in the vineyards towards Water Point 1

Team Stockli are off the back of the lead group even though the pace is moderate. Maybe it's illness, like @moritzmilatz

Team BMC rider @MoritzMilatz after abandoning the race.

Ladies leaders @wheelerwind and Bigham on their way to Oak Valley.

Scene at spectator point one. At the top of a hill where tasting rooms are at gabrielskloof wine estate

Sean Badenhorst | Mr_TREAD The real heroes finishing now. Full-time jobs, families & passion for riding bikes

Well done 36ONE-Songo & 360LIFE!!!!!

Sauser accelerates and stander follows but Evans and George can't match the pace. 15 sec gap. Merida follow 2 min later. Sauser is an animal

4km to go

Live finish line camera up and transmitting. http://www.livestream.com/slingshotmedia