I am just in from riding the entire hobby track for day 3. Today's route looks far harder than previous days. There were at least 3 expert level challenges. A treacherous side hill traverse, a endless downhill and then another long up hill late in the day. It was very easy to make a little mistake and let the bike get away from you. Plenty of tired riders on the stage. I think they will still be coming into the finish for many hours - Chilly

I spoke with Chis Birch just a little while ago as he was in line for his pasta. He says the foot is feeling better. The doctor fixed him up proper. He felt that today went much better, particularly because he does not have as much pain as yesterday. He badgered me a little for catching in such a flattering moment - Chilly

Actually this tank point sees lots of hobby riders at this point of todays stage. Australian pro Jacob Abeleven arrives and tells us of severe problems with the mousse of his tires. He also crashed his GPS. But the track is perfectly marked. He surely will find his way to the finish.

His technical riding helped him today, he says. For example the 1000 Meter uphill But on the fast sections Philipp Scholz lost time. "It was amazing today. But tomorrow will be the hardest day. My preparations - one beer and go to bed early." Scholz is best German rider behind Andreas Lettenbichler.

was happy to reach the finish line after a high speed crash. He lost second position overall in hobby single class. Hopefully he can start tomorrow with sore ribs.

Daryll Curtis at the Finish: "I felt terrible this morning. After It was better I pushed. But I had problems to braethe. A medical gave me a spray, it opened up my bronchial. Tomorrow i will drive easily. Because when I'm pushing I can't breathe. It will be harder tomorrow. The places? I think first place is set (Jarvis), second will be Letti. But the third is still open!"

He seemed in great spirits, said he had one it two off route moments and followed the pro track for a short while before realising and turning back to the expert track but thinks Dean his rival for first in the expert class didn't realise and may have followed the pro section. I guess the GPS will tell more about that, as if so, time penalties might be involved?

Christian & Romeo Dunca in the hobby team class finished in first or second today and are something like 4th overall. Smiling they say they want rain because they are faster in the wet than most of the others. Son Christian broke his leg last year doing this race, but at 17 is again faster than his father.

Birch says the riding was beautiful today, but Walker may have injured his shoulder in a fall near to the end. Hope its not serious and it will massage out!

Jandarmeria likes it very much!

Australian hobby single rider Craig Evans (388) on the way to the next mountain top on todays track. In about 3km they he will find the downhill passage: a demanding rocky and slippery creek bed.

At the service point near Brezoi we met Peter Nesuta (AUT). He managed "The BEAST" - downhill 20 minutes ago. He told us, something in his Austrian slang what we will not and can't translate. It sounds like "it was very very very hard!". On the track a stone damaged his helmet and GPS holder. Christine Wiesner (AUT) also crashed downhill very hard. But she is ok and continues the race after changing the broken cluch and brake lever. Good luck!

The German Hobby-Driver is injured. He is standing at the restart at the service point. "I crashed, fell down five Meters, the bike was lying on me!" Probably his finger and a rib is broken. But he's going back on the track. Take care!

Graham Jarvis passes this slippery slantingly downhill 18 minutes ahead of Andreas Lettenbichler. 3 minutes later Jonny Walker and Xavi Galindo ride past our position. Followed by Chris Birch and Melcior Faja another 3 minutes behind.

The German driver Holger Dettmann went head first down the Magazin Tango Track. But he is ok! Erich Brandauer und Veronika Dallhammer helped him to rescue his bike. Holger is back on Track.

Dean Sinclair (AUS) and Pedro Oliveira (POR) coming down the magazin.

Benny Menzel is passing a group of Experts at the magazin. Another German rider is behind: Gregor Bode.

At our first Bloggingpoint the sun looks over the mountains, the Experts are passing. Mike Morris (RSA) has problems with his Camelback. He can't drink yet.

Nuttall and the fast van den Goorbergh, and the Czech Team Cyprian and Volny passed the magazin.

You can identify Dougy Herbert (NZL) easily: he carries his orange rope at the handlebar. The blogging point is only 10 kilometer away from Voineasa

Hedgocock navigates in the downhill, looking on his display.

Bouverie and Neumayr are riding together.

The Pros like Rienk Tunistra or Curtis have no problems at the downhill. Darryl has time to say "Good Morning!" Maybe some Hobby have promlems later.

Erwin Kovacs comes out of the wood. Then Chris Birch starts the downhill. He can see Kovacs. Next is Altus de Wet.

Bloggers Joe and Ingo are going the Tago downstairs. It's an amazing and tricky path. Inbetween we rescued one bike with a rope. We also met the turkish drivers again.

Walker arrived at the magazin, followed by a fast Galindo. After the we can see Faja.

With full speed Lettenbichler arrives ath the magazin. He is fast on the track an is pushing a lot.

Englishman Tom Griffiths 362 has retired for the day, he thinks he cracked or broke his ribs on day 1, he still rode yesterday but after the first tricky stint of day 3 he is going back to thehotel tomorrow to rest ... "but I am going to try again tomorrow!" He says. True Romaniacs style!

A heavy downhill after a heavy uphill. Graham Jarvis is riding it like on a highway. The next will be Letti.

Light banter between Birch and Curtis about what ails them. Birch's foot is sore but he is going to battle through as long as he can. Curtis is suffering with his chest infection and says he is not looking forward to today as he us struggling breathing and can't ride properly because of it. Leaving before them was Walker, who was joking this morning that he was actually up on time today (a mix up yesterday meant he had to rush to the start, drive straight up to the start line and was away but only a few second late) Most of the top pros are away and rest of the field is now lining up behind them ready for the off.

109 dean nuttall first expert to take start

kiwi sean clarke has to abandon today with inured leg

Kiwi sean clarke has to abandon today due to injured leg. He started day two with the injury but was too painfull to continue.

darryl curtis still feeling bad. Doc says it is early stage pnuemonia.

riders prepare to leave their rustic setting in vioneasa for the day 3 track back to sibiu. Most will be glad to return to the relative luxury off the home base. -chilly