GoLefty!!

GC contenders will want to push each other as hard as possible. If Sauser and Rabon were fast enough they would go with Schurter or hang with Topeak?

generally where there's millions of dollars at stake its understandable that competitors will slit each others throats at will. The ACE is not a million dollar prize money event, there is more pride at stake for anyone other than the top 3 Men and women teams. One would expect that camaraderie and sportsmanship would count for more. If it were me, and I saw a competitor cut the track like Kevin did I'd watch the situation more carefully and if it happened again I'd consider it cheating. Doesn't make what Kevin did correct, but I am always one to consider intent before walking around self righteously with the rule book close to my heart. That sort of attitude usually gets you burnt under the big turning wheel later. I'd have gone up to Kevin after the stage and had a discussion about the incident and told him if he does it again then I'd take action. Scott's action F**ked the race for the fans and to me thats more disappointing than a 50m piece of trail that was circumvented to get back to your team mate. But as usual the hubblinkers are firmly focused on damnation

I reckon if the race was 10 days instead of 8 that Schurter and Buys will make big inroads into the GC, like maybe 2nd or 1st.

Oh dear plenty of penalties to be handed out today, Rules are rules

They pretty much gave up yesterday so it won't reveal anything.

That remains to be seen. Sauser lives to win the Epic. The rest do not take it quite as seriously as it is a long event that requires a longer recovery and the XC season always starts almost immediately after. If the Epic was timed to start maybe three weeks before the first XC World Cup events then we may see the XC guys taking it more seriously. Also I don't subscribe to the idea that Schurter only raced the shorter technical stages. The strategy they appear to have followed is a similar one that many ACE riders have used in the past and that is to take the first few days easy to allow your legs to adapt. The limiter in Scott Racing Odlo team was Philip Buys. He needed more time to adapt and find his pace for this events. But of course there will those who believe wheel size dictated their tactics........can't help those people, they're lost.

Pauls imperfections made the commentary entertaining. Mike the Mike bungling through English made it even more so. Gerald De Kok moonlights as a hypnotist

Absalon but he rides for BMC

If I recall correctly, Burry got a whole bike..not just the wheel. It started with a gesture for a wheel but it did not fit Burry's bike so they swapped bikes there and then. The 2004 Epic, the bikes an wheels were marked with your race number. You had to finish on those parts.

the issue is in those incidents no one lodged a protest because the gesture were viewed as sportsmanship. I recall shortcuts or "trimming" of switchbacks in previous events as well, no one ever made a big deal about these incidents because everyone was doing it at one point or another. No one lodged a protest last year when Mennen went deer hunting with an unlicensed MTB. But as has been argued many times rules are rules. Forget sportsmanship, its just a hippy ideal that the history of the event is built on. That's not important anymore, Winning at all costs is the new Epic. The transformation to corporate culture is now complete. Enjoy!

I will get a 650b next year. there will be more choice and I feel its going to be the standard wheel size in future due to better strength and reliability. For now my 26er is just great and climbs like a scalded cat

I tend to just tap the back wheel with my front and then move past either by telling them I'm coming past or if they chose to ignore me, just push past in the brush. Higher puncture risk for sure. However there class of mTB'er we have in SA tend to become very stroppy when being passed and resort to name calling. I can understand Kevin's frustration at wanting to get back to his team mate, especially when other teams are tactically trying to prevent you from doing so. Its a frustrating part of what the make up of 2man MTB racing. He cut out at least 50m which s not a big deal in the grand scheme of the event. I also understand the commissaires decision now in that the team's time is taken at the 2nd rider. Kevin being behind Max meant that the team's time resided on Kevin's shoulders which is probably a little fact of the rules he likely forgot and just got caught up in the moment of needing to get back to his team mate. At the end of the day, the material difference to the race distance covered in lost in the measurement accuracy of the measuring devices therefore I still think the penalty is harsh, but the fact is he did cut out a chunk of track and was observed doing so. I just get the feeling that the race commissaires are looking to make examples of people. From back makers having trance amounts of dope to silly little infringements

Not buying into that. There is a technology called drones. I can fly one of those things. I have pals who are making a living out of filming anf taking pictures with drones and at a fraction of the cost of a heli. where there is a will there is a way. Commentary is pretty crap. Bring back Paul Valstar and Mike the Mike

Ok you buy into that train of thought and I'll stick to the fact that the wheel size has FA to do with how fast you or a pro rider is. Its all about power output, and a lack of weight. there is zero advantage to 29inch wheels, zero unless you buy into BS

On theEvans issue, after watching the video's I have to ask, "WTF was he thinking!!!!?????"

Come on topeak Ergon! still in yellow. letz go for it boys!!!

Maybe Scott Factory Racing can learn a thing or two about sportmansship from ze germans

Probably not, SA is 29er country after all.

I'm sure the race commissaire will pull out a rule tonight that will penalise the two teams and make more money for themselves. Its probably a <DrEvil voice on> Euro 1,000,000 fine

Wishing Scott FR the "best" possible luck today....

Because Songo are the Gods of the Event and can do no wrong

6h30 am SSHD6 advertised as Stage 4, displayed Stage 3 Epic Fail DSTV!!

look, at least they didn't take a wrong turn again...

If Evans says Scott racing launched the appeal then he would know better than a .....person on the internet since he would have been informed who lodged the protest. Can't see why a back marker would care as they would have nothing to gain and would'nt be up here anyway. Only someone with something to gain would lodge a protest that gains them an advantage and that would be appear to the 2nd placed team

seems like you too have a grudge.