In 62-63 hours, 560 kms ridden, and +13,174 metres cumulative climbing up until Chesneywold, by Dreyer and Harris (Author: John Loos)

Alex Harris arrived at Chesneywold support station to rest and sleep shortly after Martin Dreyer. So for the 3rd day it was Martin that arrived ahead of Alex, showing himself to probably be the faster of the 2 riders, assuming he isn't pushing harder than Harris. Unlike stage races, however, arriving ahead of the other at the same support station doesn't count for anything if you both stay the night in the same place. In the morning you're "all square". The rider arriving later does get less rest. But what we don't know is which rider can get by with less sleep - Dreyer the adventure racer or Harris the Everest climber. Both have serious "lack of sleep credentials".

The official estimate if distance ridden to Chesneywold by the 2 riders is 560km in about 62 -63 hours. The total climbing over this part of the race has been +13,174 metres and the cumulative descent -11,968 metres according to my calculations based on the race route profile charts. Sitting in my lounge in Jozi getting tired thinking about it.

As a matter of interest. During last year's Race Across South Africa, we found an article published on the web regarding distances and cumulative ascent of the Tour de France, Epic and Freedom Challenge. Makes for interesting reading:

Riding 2300k’s in 26 days sounds quite achievable to your average road cyclist but to ride / hike-a-bike, this distance on footpaths, tracks and trails in the middle of winter whilst climbing a cumulative altitude of 47000 metres is a remarkable accomplishment and one realized by the 28 riders who competed in the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race across South Africa. Only 16 finished!

	Freedom Challenge	Tour de France	Cape Epic
Distance	2300km	3600km	650-1000km
Vertical Ascent	47km	25km*	14-18km
Tar	<100km	3600km	?
Gates	>100	0	0

*Only includes all the category climbs