Stage 3 is usually a war, today didn’t disappoint.

Today is just a marathon. Easy right? After two 50km days in a row, some would argue that todays 42.6km long stage should be a walk in the park.

The first 15km of the course is in the ugab river bed, the soft sand here makes this section particularly hard to traverse, it is both energy sapping and soul destroying for the runners. Fortunately, some soft cloud cover took the edge off the morning heat. This didn’t last long though as the punishing temperatures soon showed up just after midday. Our trusty local team and medics sprung into life as the runners slumped into checkpoint three.

Out at the front, frenchman Bernard Dafour put gained an early lead, only to miss a flag while in full race mode and squander it. This mistake allowed young Jack Tunney to make the most of the opportunity and stretch out a lead and take home his first ever stage win. Race leader Kristina Madsen struggled with sickness most of the day, an unfortunate way to spend her birthday. She will need to rely on her experience to maintain her healthy lead on the female course record.

At the back, Kelly Lasley faces her own battle with limited time to turn herself round for the next day. This is the part of the race where tired bodies are exposed by the heat and tomorrows stage is often the day it happens. Our team lovingly call tomorrow the “rest day”. A 22 km slog up a sandy incline, setting off at the hottest time of the day. <insert evil laugh here>

Tonights camp is the most likely spot for our runners to see the Desert adapted Elephant that inhabit the area. The runners have been lucky in the last three editions, this years runners will be hoping they keep form.

Thanks for tuning in again. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!

Todays results are below.