Catherine Williamson: Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 14th

Riding in the Bridge/Bizhub kit for this year’s event thanks to a free entry from the main sponsor, Bridge, I again teamed up with Ischen and made my way to the start line via plane, van and finally bus. Having traveled home from the World Championships in France, I flew out to Johannesburg and the next day started traveling down with mechanic Conrad in the van. 4 hours past Bloemfontein and the van broke down, 5 hours by the roadside we were eventually towed back up to Bloem where the van was fixed. I caught the overnight bus down to George eventually jumped out at Oudtshoorn and grabbed a lift to the race start with one of the organizers. Having not had a real meal in days I made full use of the all you can eat buffet breakfast at the beautiful setting in Buffeldrift Game Lodge. Meeting Ishen, Pete and his partner for the race Tony we rode the prologue course, along the way seeing elephant, bok and apparently a hippo. Despite days of traveling I was suddenly in this gorgeous place and the last few days were soon forgotten!

The promise of a more ridable, enjoyable course started true to word with an opening 15km prologue in Buffelsdrift Game Lodge just outside Oudtshoorn. With a 2pm start the sandy single track was very loose from the riders off earlier and with Ischen crashing once and me riding straight into a fynbos after staring at it too long we backed off and took it conservatively through the reserve. The traveling took its toll and I battled to stay on Ischen’s wheel and had to sprint hard at the finish to catch her. It was worth it as we took the lead by 3 seconds to the Klein Karoo Chicks, it was going to be a tough week!

Stage One took us from Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp. The 103km of racing started badly when I suddenly felt like I was dragging a dead ostrich behind me. Stopping to make sure I wasn’t I found the chain not sitting on the jockey wheel. Loosing the bunch I kept stopping but it kept coming off and on a few descents the whole chain came out of the cage and tangled itself up. In the end I rode with it as it was and as the cage widened it felt easier. We were so surprised to catch the lead ladies with and then leave them to take the stage win.

Stage Two’ s 85km was without incident, a near perfect race with both of us feeling strong as we raced from Calitzdorp to the summit of the Swartberg Mountain Pass. We managed to get in fast moving groups after some jeep tracks and with no mechanical issues we rode up the pass and took the QOM stage win. Only 85km but with 2760m of ascent the day wasn’t easy but was one of the most enjoyable racing days we’d both had. The ride was a lot more comfortable than that of Carel from Merrill who rode the pass in a G String, enduring a lot of stares and comments along the way in order to win a set of wheels at the top!! The camp was down in George so for once we could enjoy the descent down taking a few photos along the way but hitting a major sugar low near town!!

Stage Three to De Rust, 109km away started with a 15km flat open road with one big bunch moving along. Narrowly avoiding two pile-ups we turned south into the Karoo bossie veld. With Ischen suffering a little we lost the Karoo Chicks and made our way over the mountain alone. The weather turned and soon we were riding in a huge storm. With hail and strong winds the roads turned to rivers and it soon became freezing cold. I have to say I’m a huge wimp once the cold creeps in and I made some odd animal noises as we struggled along. Nearly stopping to borrow a jacket from the Bridge spectators I told myself to just toughen up and instead rode head down hard along the road to the finish and to luckily some hot indoor showers for a change. We came in 2^nd now with a narrow lead on GC.

Stage Four was another battle for Ischen who had picked up a virus not helped by the wet conditions and damp tents. A lot of riders had picked up a bug and dropped out so I was just happy to still have a partner though knew we would probably loose the lead especially as Yolandi De Villers was getting stronger every day and Yolande Speedy is just a classy riders be it in XC or the marathon events. We started strong but then slowed down as the race went gradually uphill for the first 20km. The scenery was amazing and everyone felt privileged to ride through the desolate Kammanassie Mountains especially in the sunshine! My cleat came loose resulting in a few stationary falls on the climb before I realised the problem and tightened it back up. The decent down was rocky and very steep but we both came out unscathed passing numerous riders with slashed tires along the way. Someone behind told me a descended like a demon which is the best comment anyone has ever made and one I will not forget!! 2^nd again we were now holding onto 1^st on GC with the skin of our teeth!

Stage Five was postponed for an hour with the first loop abandoned after heavy rain From hugging hot coffee under the tent in the rain the layers soon came off as the sun came out and the race went straight up the ‘Devil’s Pass’. We saw the first glimpse of the sea and towards the end rode round the familiar single track at George’s Dam finishing a long day with Ischen’s husband, Pete and his partner Tony and also riding with team mate Yolandi and her partner, Dirk. Unable to get past the layers in my pocket to food I had to stop for a bit of ostrich at the final stop, it had looked good all week but in ‘racing mode’ I hadn’t had any till now. Trying to chew and ride wasn’t easy but worth it!! We were 2^nd and now 1 minute down on GC and with a short ‘roadie’ stage to Oudtshoorn with Ischen still recovering from her bug we needed a miracle to win.

Stage Six’s final 84km started well, we fought hard to stay with the other girls and got to the Montagu Pass together. Over the top in the rain we were only 1 minute down but with the other girls in a group with some strong men and two mixed teams they soon got away to win by a long margin. It was a relief to loose by a big margin to the stronger team. Had we only lost by 1 minute I would have blamed the first days problems, a longer than necessary stop to lube or eat, or a section that we walked and not ran but as it was the best team won with a good consistent week so we took 2^nd place with team Wilde 2 coming in 3^rd.

The race lived exceeded expectations with such a friendly, close-knit atmosphere, entertaining evenings and plenty of ostrich meat and even feathers this year! Unlike last years route its not a race to tick off and do once, but rather do year after year and I’m pretty sure it will have twice as many riders next year, hopefully me included!