Stefan Sahm and Karl Platt celebrate (Image credit: Sportzpics)
Team Bulls' Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm have claimed the Cape Epic race lead after Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander (Songo.info) dropped significant amounts of time on stage four. The Bulls riders had earlier declared they were riding for second place, following Sauser and Stander's four consecutive stage wins.
Platt and Sahm's ride wasn't without trouble, however, as Sahm was forced to take up the role of Platt's physiotherapist in the stage's closing two kilometres. Platt's shoulder popped out for the second time during this year's event, with Sahm reducing the dislocation before riding to the finish together.
"I actually can't show my joy so much right now," said Platt after the stage. "My shoulder hurts a lot and I'm already thinking about tomorrow. When I dislocated my shoulder, I first couldn't pop it back in. Then Stefan helped me - he had secretly asked our physio what to do in such a situation.
Sahm jokingly said that he is now also Platt's physiotherapist, after seeking advice on what to do after it popped out on the opening prologue. "He said Karl must relax so that I can reduce the shoulder in again," said Sahm. "I'll always do whatever's necessary. We ride together, we'll die together."
The race continue today with the 111 kilometre stage from Greyton - Oak Valley. If the duo can hold their lead through to Saturday's final stage, it will be the second time they've won the race together.
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