Having completed the Argus in less than 3 hours clearly making me a ‘real cyclist’ in the eyes of many South Africans all that was now to complete was the Epic. 8 days 781km, 16300m climbing and 1200 riders is plastered on every billboard around Cape Town so it was hard to forget the challenge ahead that me and Yolandi faced.
Our ‘journey’ started with an interesting pre race ride in a private nature reserve. Not sure if we were really supposed to be in there but the gate was unlocked and I was on hand with the ‘I’m a foreigner and a bit lost’ at the ready.
The Race Begins….
27km Prologue
Joining the crowds down at Meerendal Wine Estate we rode off after a live interview at 10.30am. The course gave us a clue as to what lay ahead with a ‘climb every mountain’ (at least twice) approach and after 900m of ascent we finished at the top. I found it quite technical especially the uphill switchbacks which were so full of spectators I couldn’t do my usual scoot round and so had to ride them, which I did with little style!! We finished 6th woman, 101st overall
Stage One: Robertson 115km, 2700m ascent
Our first ‘home’ was a little red tent in a field in Robertson. Privacy and personal space you can forget about at the Epic as tents back onto each other in long lines so everything can be heard, you learn when your neighbors ring tone, what time they get up, whether they use the ‘snooze’ button, and whether they had too much fiber the night before! It was hot in Robertson and though I slept well I felt pretty dehydrated by the morning after a night in my ‘English Winter’ sleeping bag!
We started the stage in B group with a fast start but soon slowed with two long climbs that we had to walk as they were steep with loose rocks and we were in a long line of riders. Yolandi was suffering a from dehydration the day before but we finished without any major issues in 8th woman, 123rd overall,
Stage Two: Robertson 119km, 1650m ascent
The day started with some great single track that was a little spoilt as everyone was in one long slow line. Once it lined out I hit a rock and got a sidewall puncture. I’d like to say I fixed it quickly with a new tube in but to tell the truth a ‘future friend’ from Slovenia who had lost his partner the day before did most of it while I stood and watched. We then rode together back up to Yolandi who was waiting at the timing mats. At the feed I then collected another tube with sludge in as I was convinced I wouldn’t get through the rest of the rocks. A 29er tube with sludge in does not fit in your back pocket without sticking out like a twisted snake and I was glad I didn’t understand the Afrikaans comments been made! I then rode ahead on the climbs and gingerly came down the descents and somehow got to the finish without further problems. 7th woman, 172nd overall
Stage Three: Robertson – Caledon 141km, 2700m ascent
With my folks braving the early dark start they got to see one of the spectacles of the Epic, the baggage people. Warming up with Rolf Harris blasting away they run out to us weak armed scrawny cyclists grabbing our heavy bags as if they were empty, running back and flinging them into the lorries. Once it was light we rode away from Robertson towards our next camp, a long way away! The race started fast with a long road section where we both moved up together to start the climbs in a descent position. Despite that it was still a long slow walk up a loose sandy climb but with everyone in the same boat you have to make the most of those bits and enjoy the scenery for a change. We both felt strong and, keeping the pace steady moved through the field with groups of guys sitting on my wheel on the open road… shame on them!! We caught and dropped the German girls and in my keenness to stay away I rode 100% down the last road to then face a long 10km up and down steep, sandy forest tracks. I knew it was bad when I had to focus on each red marker to the next but at least it made the Woolies ‘Extra Top Up’ wrap all the more welcoming!
4th Woman 77th overall
Stage Four: Caledon 105km, 2600m ascent
The race split on the descent out of the camp site before we even had chance to move up but it didn’t really matter as we were soon off the road and into the hills. ????? We came down one of the toughest descents yet; steep, big loose rocks and guys falling all over. For the first time ever I made myself enjoy it, chanted ‘Momentum is my friend’ and just got on with it coming out at the bottom on such a high Yolandi must have thought I was loosing it completely!
The last 20km was all everyone talked about at the end. The wind was howling from the left, just where we were heading. On our own I tried to be a useful wind blocker s but I’m sure Yolandi was getting battered as much as me. We didn’t see another rider until we turned back into the forest for some fun single track riding to the finish. Another 4th position and a consistent 75th overall
The wind hadn’t only damaged us riders, it also wreaked our massage tent and Venetia and the other masseurs had had to take refuge under a solid building. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and I abandoned the ice bath they had set up for a warm cup a soup instead!
Stage Five: Caledon – Oak Valley 119km, 2350m ascent
Waking in a tent in the dark in the rain knowing you have to get up is about as bad as it gets! It was stop/start and, unlike Yolandi who got caught out every time I managed to get out of the tent, into breakfast and back again without getting wet. Soon after the start the rain started again but it didn’t make much difference, as the mud flying up was enough to drench us. I put my jacket on then took it off and dumped it at the first water point as it was looking so much brighter… big mistake, riding on we noted how nice the rainbow looked then realized that meant one thing, more rain! After another drenching with only a jersey and having started with a sore throat I was getting pretty miserable and riding through the 2nd water point it got worse. Luckily an XL sodden half jacket had been left and I grabbed that before our long climb up into more constant rain and freezing temperatures. With all the mud Yolandi was having trouble shifting gears but soon that didn’t really matter, as our hands were that cold no one could change gear anyway! We had passed the Germans so knew we were having a good day in 4th again but the cold rain/sleet was making it a grim one and it got colder as we descended down. I stopped half way down at the Day Trippers Tent, and just stood there asking for a plastic bag, which was put over my head and my arms as I couldn’t do it myself, they even offered paper plates for down my jersey which I thought would have looked hilarious later pulling them out! At the next feed I got my jacket and dad gave us some hot coffee though poor Yolandi didn’t have a dry jacket and in fact never moaned about been cold the whole way. She is one tough rider and I felt a right wimp shivering away! The course was so muddy the single track was no fun and with one km to go we could only laugh as we hit such deep mud we barely moved. Woolworth’s did a fab job of cleaning us up with nice warm flannels and tea and coffee right at the finish tent. With that, a hot shower and my faithful English thermals on I felt normal again, but the mud… the whole field was deep and my feet were disgusting in flip-flops. Camping that night wasn’t too pleasant either, the bags had got damp along with our clothes and I fell asleep on a wet pillow.
4th woman, 78th overall
Stage Six: Oak Valley 85km, 2200m ascent
Waking without flu was a miracle and with clear skies and an extra 30 minutes in bed with a later start the vibe in camp was much better. Once off we were soon up into the mountains into my favorite route yet. Loads of climbing, some tricky but rideable descents and single track you couldn’t help but smile on. It was a shame Yolandi couldn’t enjoy it as much as she could barely sit on her saddle but we still had a descent result finishing round the same guys we’ve been riding with in 5th place, 85th overall with the Germans not all that far in front.
Stage Seven: Oak Valley – Lourensford 64km, 1350m ascent
The last day started at 8.30, the camp alarm still went off way before dawn but thankfully everyone did as I did and rolled back over to sleep. Climbing out of the dew covered tent and standing in the portaloos queue for the last time was ever so exciting and everyone (between fits of coughing and sneezing) was up beat on the start line especially with a bit of ACDC blasting out and an acrobatics flyover just above us. The race started flat out, straight into some tough climbs with everyone fighting for position. Luckily since our move up to A batch we hit the climbs and was able to ride them. Our only aim today was to get through in one piece as Yolandi was on some strong painkillers and we had a big gap on 6th place. The guys however were out to impress their wives at the finish and were flying. One Norwegian made me stop twice by passing and falling off and anther French guy tried to pass us and ended up in the ditch much to our amusement. The final big climb was over the wagon trail and was followed by short steep climbs through the vineyards which summed up the whole week- fast starts, big climbs then short sharp killers at the end!!
Riding into Lourensford was amazing with such big crowds and the afternoon was spent relaxing on the field with a Woolworth’s hamper with family and new friends.
Overall we finished 5th Woman’s team, 88th on GC in 43h14.29
Thanks a ton to Conrad for making sure our bikes were perfect every day and for getting our washing as clean as its ever going to get and to Venetia for 30 minutes of painful bliss every afternoon and to Bizhub FCF for getting us there in the first place!
