James Priest was a non-starter in Thursday evening's traditional Icart Loop cliff path run, having injured his hamstring in the previous night's sprint elimination race, and his misfortune has opened the Division One crown to those previously battling for second spot.
Ben Langlois used his cliff-running prowess to instead win the challenging five-miler in 35min. 58sec., claiming his second consecutive stage victory.
Langlois had gone out sensibly and only taken the lead within the final half-mile of a race contested in near-25C temperatures.
He had picked off a tiring Andrew Zabiela on the infamous Saints steps, leaving the veteran settling for second in a personal best of 36-06.
He had caught Mickey Haimes on the previous major climb, the Moulin Huet steps, before the esteemed local singer-songwriter came home third in his own PB of 36-32.
Shay Goddard had also been ahead of the winner earlier on and just held onto fourth in 36-52, having been temporarily caught on the final steps by Jamie Ingrouille, who claimed fifth in a PB time another 4sec. down.
'Shame "Priesty" is not here, because he would have cleaned up,' the surprise winner said.
'It's a really big surprise. I wasn't expecting any wins, actually, because I was quite solid in fourth and I had Shay chasing me – fourth spot was my plan at the start of this.
'The sprints were good for me, and I didn't expect to win but got it, and today I know this is my best one.
'Herm I'm not so good at, hills might be all right, so I had to do something big – and I did it.'
The stage finished with Zabiela topping the general classification in 1-33-41, just 14sec. clear of Haimes and 21sec. ahead of Langlois, ahead of the closing Le Val des Terres hill climb and Herm cross-country stages.
Competitors had been set off in divisions, 2min. between each, and leading woman Katie Birch continued to justify her top-flight inclusion by making the top 10 of the group.
And despite the apparent misfortune of sprinting to the line in exactly 40-00, it is a result that puts her eighth on the women's all-time list for the course.
Several surprises came from further afield, with Vest-ed Interests team runner Danny Fooks running a 37-25 as the overall sixth-quickest competitor, and Ambrose Netherton posting 38-35 as one of three Division Two runners to crack 40min.
Other divisional winners were Clement Le Pelley (43-11), Dara Hubert (48-05), Herbert Settimba (50-13) and Jennifer Mennim (53-56).
One of the week's most significant rivalries resumed in Division Three, where Liz Chalmers has been duelling for second overall woman against Lucy Garner.
Chalmers' run of 47-27 was enough to get the edge, albeit by only 10sec., while Isabel Power – who has not contested every stage – followed closely in 47-57.
The wife of Olympian Cam Chalmers is running the ATC for the second time, having debuted last year, and is rather enjoying the 'great little community'.
'It's great to have such a close competition, especially when it's such a huge thing and we're all cheering each other on,' she said.
'It's great to have a good group of girls all fighting for it and going for it every day.
'It's amazing to have a woman in Division One representing all of us girls. We're all cheering her on – as well as all the guys, but it's pretty cool to have a girl in there.'
Chalmers, who had edged women's honours on this course last year, considers the Icart Loop a highlight of the week.
'Last night was brutal, the sprints down at the track, but Icart is one of my favourites because when the weather is like it is today and it will be all week, it's just brilliant getting out on the cliffs and seeing Guernsey in all its beauty,' she added.
The basketballer and netballer admitted she had gone into the week with limited run training.
But, regardless of what position she finishes after the Herm finale, her week already appears to have been a success.
'My thought this year was to have fun and get to know some new people, and I just enjoy running, and it's really great for doing that.'
