Tour d’Afrique Race Update

Kenyan Mike, Chris & Raffa setting the pace in Tanzania

The 2012 TdA has reached Lilongwe Malawi which marks the end of the 5th of the tour’s 8 sections. With two days off, the riders are trying to keep their tents and clothes dry as they encounter their first real rain, in between visits to the Mabuya camp bar and pool, and forays into Malawi’s capital in search of reliable internet, hardwood handicrafts, and fine dining. Meanwhile the staff are seeing that stocks are replenished and enjoying a rare chance to sleep in.

With 6569 km of racing completed out of 7207 total km since the tour departed Cairo, Switzerland’s all rounder Christian Sailer is still the man to beat. After grace days are factored in, his lead over Germany’s Raffael Schrof is just under 3 hours. American Bryce Walsh has maintained his grip on 3rd , with young Canadian Adam Lister in 4th.  South African Miguel Teixeira and Canuck Andrew Younghusband rode their hearts out and grabbed their first stage wins in recent days.

Andrew Younghusband won the April Fool's Day Stage

Among the ladies Dutch dynamo Femke Nelissen is maintaining a substantial advantage over her friendly fellow competitors. Australian Esther Borg, Brit Jen Davenport and Irish lass Marita Reilly continue to focus more on inhaling Africa and maintaining their EFI status than winning the race.

Canuck Gizele price, Malawi Gin Section Winner

All told 25 full tour-ists are still classified as racers and being timed. Here are the standings after 62 of the Tour’s 94 stages, including cumulative and adjusted times:

TDA 2012 Race Standings		Place	Total Time	Total Time Minus Grace Days	Place (Adjusted)
Men
Christian	Sailer	1	231:54:29	205:46:29	1
Raffael	Schrof	2	241:47:47	208:42:47	2
Bryce	Walsh	3	246:24:12	219:55:12	3
Adam	Lister	4	259:22:18	229:24:18	4
Alaric	Britz	5	279:12:54	245:43:54	5
Alan	Emerton	6	304:05:33	270:42:33	7
Norbert	Christ	7	307:31:21	247:31:21	6
Jurgen	Meijer	8	322:01:47	278:08:47	8
Jonathan	Cowan	9	343:34:51	288:33:51	9
Steve	Smith	10	347:12:31	292:10:31	10
Miguel	Teixeira	11	348:03:29	304:40:29	11
Robert	Rowley	12	378:54:17	336:29:17	12
Andrew	Younghusband	13	447:24:51	387:24:51	13
Women
Femke	Nelissen	1	359:16:34	313:44:34	1
Esther	Borg	2	401:37:51	352:39:51	3
Jennifer	Davenport	3	402:30:48	351:06:48	2
Marita	Reilly	4	416:15:18	367:09:18	4
Gizele	Price	5	444:24:49	384:24:49	5
Carla	White	6	462:50:53	402:50:53	6
Gennesse	Beadman	7	489:20:17	429:20:17	7
Beverley	Coburn	8	522:23:22	462:23:22	8
Marianne	Phillips	9	572:40:10	512:40:10	9
Nola	Reynolds	10	620:19:04	560:19:04	10
Shona	Bell	11	633:42:00	573:42:00	11
Holly	Beetham	12	673:16:00	613:16:00	12

For the latest stage times and overall standings, you can always visit our race results page here.

Alaric Britz checks out at the TimePilot Station

Now the Tour turns west, on the Zambezi Zone section towards and then across Zambia. Distances will be long and conditions will be hot and humid as the race and the tour spins towards Lusaka and the wonder that is Victoria Falls. We wish all the riders happy cycling and good luck as their goal of reaching Cape Town draws a little closer every day.

Jen Davenport is lovin' Africa!