Stage 3: Pailles to Médine (83.3km)
Stage 3 was a climbing stage, going over Chamarel (3.2km @8.5%). This was where the major contenders would become apparent, even though the climb was too far from the finish to be decisive.
With only Andrew high up on the GC, the team plan was to make sure that we had representation in every move that went before the climb. Racing was again very fast with the wind being a big factor. Having ridden the climb a couple of days before, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to match the front guys, so my plan was to just ride steady just above threshold. When the climb came, the bunch disintegrated and it was clear who the main guys in the race were. A small group containing Andrew Mclean, Sylvain Georges, Yannick Lincoln, David Kinjah, Melt Swanepoel went over first, with riders like Jaco Ferreira, Michael van Staden, Thomas Desvaux going over in ones and twos. I just kept it steady, knowing there would be about 30km to the finish.
I went over the top with Philip Fourie (TCS) and had a hairy descent. My brake blocks were grabbing and locking up my back wheel. At the bottom of the descent, another Mauritian rider from Fit For Life joined us, and we started the lonely timetrial to the finish.
Once again, Andrew Mclean more than held his own, taking third on the stage, and lying second on GC.
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