Howard Grotts (Specialied Racing) is one of the best climbers among mountain bikers and the US-American also proves this in Lefkara. Grotts sets a fast pace on the eight-kilometre climb, which starts at around kilometer nine, and enters the following descent with a lead of around 30 seconds. "I wanted to be first on the downhill so that I could ride at my own pace," explains Grotts. "I was expecting them to catch me again on the downhill."

At the second feed zone, he still had a 45-second gap, but Lars Forster (BMC Racing) then managed to catch up with Grotts. A short time later, around ten kilometers before the finish, Grotts slipped and crashed. Forster decides not to ride alone at the front and save his strength for the final climb. This resulted in a group of twelve to 14 riders who rode more or less together on the five-kilometer final climb. Sebastian Fini Carstensen (CST Sandd American Eagle) accelerates. "To test how the others are doing," the Dane explains later.

As a result, there were only three of them left when they entered the steepest section with three kilometers to go. Howard Grotts attacks there and sets a high pace that neither Forster nor Carstensen can follow. The Swiss and the Dane remain side by side until one kilometer before the finish, when Forster breaks away from his companion and reaches the finish just eight seconds behind Grotts, thus securing the yellow leader's jersey. "It was good to ride despite the rain," commented Howard Grotts, who will be competing in the Cape Epic in South Africa with Jaroslav Kulhavy in just under four weeks' time. "I knew I had to ride my pace from the start of the last climb."

Grotts is now in third place in the overall standings, 41 seconds behind Lars Forster and half a second behind Sebastian Fini Carstensen, who finished third on the day, losing 19 seconds. Forster admits that he lacked "the sprightliness" in the final kilometers. "But I'm very happy with my condition," says Forster and with a view to his overall lead: "I'm curious to see how it will be tomorrow, Howard is really strong. In the cross-country race on the last day, the advantage will be on my side again."

Carstensen is "very happy" about his third place on the day. "I couldn't follow Lars at the end, but compared to last year, when I crashed on this stage, it's obviously much better." Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing) finished fifth (+0:33) behind Carstensen's surprisingly strong team-mate David Nordemann from the Netherlands (+0:31), but is also only five seconds behind second place in the overall standings.

Prologue winner Thomas Litscher (jb Brunex Felt), who had already complained of a slight infection the day before, did not feel well from the start and tried to get through the stage without overexerting himself. He later decides not to start the third stage. "The World Cup in two weeks is more important," says Litscher, somewhat disappointed. The fact that he started at all on Friday had to do with the yellow jersey. "Once I've got that," he shrugs.

Ladies: Van der Breggen the strongest climber

Olympic road champion Anna Van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) confirmed the strong impression she had already made in the prologue on the second day. Van der Breggen dictates the pace on the mountain, but it is Annika Langvad (Specialized Racing) who takes the lead on the singletrail downhill. However, the Dane is once again unlucky. After her puncture in the opening time trial, she also suffers a puncture on the second day and thus loses all chances of a stage win. She was overtaken by Anna Van der Breggen, Erin Huck (Construction Zone Racing) and Sina Frei (Ghost Factory Racing). This trio is together for a short period, but then Van der Breggen is able to tear the leading group apart with her qualities on undulating terrain.

Neither Frei nor Huck are able to keep up. Van der Breggen climbs the final climb alone and gains a 2:24 minute lead over Sina Frei. The Swiss U23 world champion managed to pass Erin Huck one kilometer before the finish and secure second place, twelve seconds ahead of Huck. "I certainly wasn't as fast as the others on the descent, which is why they caught up with me. I was pretty nervous before the long singletrail," confessed Anna Van der Breggen. "To be honest, I couldn't really enjoy the mountain biking. It was pretty tough today." The Dutchwoman goes into Saturday's third stage, which starts and finishes in Lythrodontas, with a 3:43-minute cushion over Sina Frei.

Frei is satisfied with her performance. "I actually felt quite good. I've never ridden such a long bike race before," explains the 20-year-old. Erin Huck is surprised that she was able to keep up so well on the mountain. "Too bad for Annika, she was strong. I myself had problems with the chain because of the mud on the final climb and really saw stars at the end," explained the US American, who is also in third place in the overall standings (+4:11).

Last year's overall winner Githa Michiels (Versluys) finished fifth (+5:02) behind Annika Langvad (+3:07) and is now fourth overall (5:36) ahead of Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Merida), who is a further 1:05 minutes behind.

Prologue winner Linda Indergand (Focus XC) had to let go on the first climb. "That was to be expected," says Swiss national coach Edi Telser. She finishes in 22nd place.

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