Kleinhans and Kritzinger win second stage

But for the crushing 40 degree (Celsius) heat on the seemingly endless Swartberg Pass, there were only a few surprises - or changes in the results - on day two of the race.

Probably due to the heat, top times were relatively slower than expected on what was meant to be a relatively easy and short, 90km stage from Calitzdorp to Prince Albert.

With the exception of the mountain giant near the end, the route had looked quietly do-able. Many of the riders who had (maybe naively) turned up the heat on Day 1 and had threatened to ride into form, today, were themselves good and truly cooked by the merciless elements.

The heat attack stretched the efficient and faultlessly caring logistic organisation of the event to the limit. The abandonment meter rose with the thermometer.

GT stalwart Erik Kleinhans and Johnny Kritzinger (Memory Foundation/New Heights) clocked 4:03:22 while super master Lieb Loots and his ebullient partner Cornelius Muller (Squirt), although closer behind than yesterday, finished in 4:06:03, unable to match the speed of the MF express.

And once again, mixed team Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cyclelab Mixed breathed down the necks of the hotshots, taking fourth place overall and beating a bunch of riders including the Specialized - Songo internationals Christoph Sauser and Bobby Behan.

Behan had reported sorted out cramping problems and looked good after water point 1. Nonetheless, Sauser, who said he on holiday, reported that he took even more photos today than yesterday.

The potent duo of Donovan Jackson and Roan Exelby more-or-less took the lead soon after water point 1 and held it to the start of the pass (although it must be said that the three top teams sensibly worked together until then). At the start of the massive climb, Kritzinger and Kleinhans again took control and the valiant Tread team was dropped as the hoik progressed.

In the mixed category, Peter and Ischen Stopforths (Marsilo Projects) were displaced from second place by Petrus Malherbe and Jannette Leask (Schwinn).

The veterans seemed a bit slow today: Gus Klohn and Marc Wiederkeh of Infradev Dunkeld Cycles nudged out Temlett Hockey and Anthony de Jager by five minutes when they clocked 4:53:56. But, in spite of a serious tyre tear, masters Brian Strauss and Linus van Onselen had more than five minutes on their "younger" opposition.

The open women's pair of Fienie Barnard and Esher Lategan (Wom Landmark) clocked an impressive 4:48:20.

Stage 3 will run from Prince Albert to De Rust over 105km.