If we were to ask the runners to sum up today’s stage in one word you’d likely be the recipient of a lot of expletives. Tell them to sum it up in one word without swearing, then most would likely say mud, some would say ‘hills’ and the rest would go back to swearing anyway. Press them for a while though and they’ll all tell you how beautiful the stage is.
We know it is. That’s why we pit them against it knowing that the near vertical muddy slopes and boiling humidity are all worth it. Just.
It’s a short stage, that’s why call it The Lull. Look at the numbers and you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s the easiest stage. In fact, we’d rate it as one of the hardest on any of our races. It is a relentless repetition of climb and descent through chockingly hot and fiendishly technical terrain.
This year the rains earlier in the week churned it into an even tougher affair and the runners suffered accordingly. All bore it with a smile though and emerged from the melee in good spirits, buoyed by the stunning scenery and the knowledge that they have only one stage remaining.
Despite the ordeal the course claimed only one more scalp today. Ben North was escorted out of the race by the medics. His condition isn’t serious, he’s up and about and helping out the other runners, his legs just couldn’t be convinced to carry him anymore.
Only 24 of the runners beat the cut-off at CP3 allowing them to take on the full course with it’s King of the Hill stage.
All other runners now count as ‘short course finishers’ and will receive the medal they deserve for their efforts.
Jamie Bromfield put in another huge effort today and left it all on the course. He’s opened up a big lead now over Pete Liggins and Sean Budden. Simon Dicks had a storming day and took second, seemingly loving the rough terrain. Mark Collins also had his stage of the race so far.
Carolin Botterill remains in the lead in the women’s race by over 15 minutes and may well round off her 4th trip through the jungle with a win.
Tomorrow is the Long one. The runners will be up at not long after 3am local time to prepare. They’re nearly there. But they’ve got a long way to go.
| Name | Stage One | Stage Two | Stage Three | Stage Four | Stage Five | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Kimble | 04:28:31 | 04:54:31 | 04:19:00 | 02:00:00 | 09:25:00 | 25:07:02 |
| Kristina Madsen | 06:02:10 | 06:22:00 | 05:39:00 | 02:44:00 | 13:05:00 | 33:52:10 |
| Joffy Bastard | 06:55:41 | 06:41:00 | 05:46:00 | 02:59:00 | 13:39:00 | 36:00:41 |
| Kevin Mayo | 06:23:00 | 06:57:00 | 06:10:00 | 03:31:00 | 14:24:00 | 37:25:00 |
| Archi Stewart | 08:11:30 | 07:25:30 | 06:24:00 | 03:32:00 | 14:40:00 | 40:13:00 |
| Wolfgang Schonegger | 06:51:10 | 07:40:10 | 07:08:00 | 04:09:00 | 16:10:00 | 41:58:20 |
| Michelle Hincks | 07:57:08 | 08:09:13 | 07:35:00 | 03:34:00 | 15:20:00 | 42:35:21 |
| Olivier Le Bras | 08:21:51 | 08:45:21 | 07:25:00 | 03:44:00 | 17:00:00 | 45:16:12 |
| Emmanuelle Le Loarer | 08:21:51 | 08:45:21 | 07:25:00 | 03:44:00 | 17:00:00 | 45:16:12 |
| Bakiye Duran | 08:49:30 | 08:53:51 | 07:45:00 | 04:00:00 | 16:22:39 | 45:51:00 |
| Aaron Trindall | 09:21:46 | 09:31:10 | 08:42:00 | 04:35:00 | 20:15:00 | 52:24:56 |
| Emma Zadrozny | 08:32:41 | 09:29:43 | 09:25:00 | 04:58:00 | 21:30:00 | 53:55:24 |
| Victoria Saker | 09:32:14 | 10:04:10 | 09:12:00 | 04:37:00 | 21:30:00 | 54:55:24 |
| Karl Riegl * | 07:07:30 | 08:35:23 | 06:25:00 | 04:22:00 | 18:13:00 | 57:42:53 * |
| Mark Hamber | 10:28:36 | 11:08:00 | 10:43:00 | 05:13:00 | SHORT | 37:32:36 |
| Isabelle Kursava | 10:42:40 | 11:58:03 | 10:41:00 | 05:19:00 | SHORT | 38:40:43 |
| Nikki Love | 10:59:34 | 12:45:10 | DNF | 05:14:00 | DNF | DNF |
| Simon Davies | 10:11:22 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNF |
| Jacob Ottosen | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNF |
