ABSA Cape Epic.. continued

Stage 3

Elgin to Worcester

128km 2300m ascent

It was sad to leave Oak Valley with its smooth single track knowing that we were heading into real Epic territory in Worcester.  Leaving the start at 7am pretty soon we were up the day’s biggest climbing The Tierkop, where we climbed fast and was well positioned.  Nizaam had a brief bad patch where we finally slowed down and lost a few groups.  Neither of us expected it to be that difficult terrain and I went to 83km with just one big and one small bottle and completely ran out of food.  We almost both switched to ‘limp home mode’ when the feed station came into view and I shoved so much fruit cake in my pocket it kept me going the rest of the ride.  Another mixed team caught us and we sat on his wheel for the last section across a windy dam and through a few sandy patches.  We were both pleased for the tow as we were both pretty shattered by then and I didn’t make a move to sprint past them at the end.  I’m not actually sure my legs could have sprinted anyway without going into cramp.  We came in 3^rd mixed team, 70^th overall. 

Stage 4

Worcester - Worcester

120km 2000m climbing

Everyone has a bad day in the Epic and today hopefully was my only one.  The first mission was getting out of bed, even getting down the stairs was a mission and even though Zac does make the best porridge I even had to force that down.  As we started out I lost Nizaam and he got in a group ahead of me.  I was in a big group and he had to drop back for me then as we turned off the road onto the dusty duel track he crashed badly.  He was fine luckily and we carried on in a slower group.  I never really got my rhythm apart from on a few climbs and felt uncomfortable all day.  I was slightly nauseous but still managed to eat but just felt flat.  Thankfully Nizaam was on good form and though I was wishing for him to slow down I was happy he felt strong enough for me to sit slip the whole way.  Despite how I felt we had one of our best results coming in 2^nd and 65^th overall (another team were catching up but I gritted my teeth and picked up the pace).

I spent the afternoon feeling pretty rough with a sore throat and blocked nose, took a mass of Vit C thanks to Andrew heading out specially to the shops again, and hoped I’d feel better tomorrow.

 

Not sure how much slip I gave my partner!

Stage 5

Worcester – Wellington

117km 2500m ascent

Another wake up by the bagpipes around camp at 5.20am, giving me 10 minutes to lie and comprehend the day ahead.  The day looked a big one on paper, 120km with loads of climbing and steep climbs.  We rolled out along the same dusty roads though the pace was steadier in our group.  Turning up into ‘Powerlines’ climbs we were in a good position and not in a long slow queue up the hills.  It was slow going terrain and so filled up at the first water point where as usually we’d get to the 2^nd point where our own bottles were.  On paper the next section looked easy but was far from it with sandy climbs through orchards and some leg zapping single-track climbs.  Still we went well and were catching teams up.  Running out of water and food the 2^nd water point couldn’t come soon enough.  I have Nizaam well trained now in grabbing the food and going and we found ourselves first out of the feed from our group.  We couldn’t hang on to them though in the sand towards Bain’s Kloof Pass leaving us alone to pace up the flat windy valley.  I was relieved to get on the climb where it was more sheltered and meant the top was in sight along with coke time at the final water point.  So far down the pass, we turned left on to the Welvanpas trails and started to climb again, 2 big climbs left through the forest where the trees offered slight shelter from the 30 plus heat.  Considering we were around 6 hours in the descent they brought us down was very sketchy in places. Nizaam crashed and for the second time this week I had nowhere to go other then into him.  A few new bruises but no other problems and we enjoyed the rest of the single track down and into the finish.  We came in 2^nd, and moved into 2^nd on GC after.   The Asrin men had a real bad day with Craig crashing hard and breaking his back wheel.  He had to wait to get a lift out so they are now out of the race.    

Tired but still smiling

Stage 6

Wellington – Wellington

71km

2000m ascent

We woke to rain this morning.  It wasn’t cold but not that pleasant going to the start line in the dark and damp.  Wolfgang, Craig’s partner woke up with a bad stomach so didn’t start, he looked so white he must have been slightly relived he didn’t have to drag himself through the stage.  However it wasn’t cold and after the first hour it stopped and we started to appreciate what the rain had done.  I felt flat as one of Zac’s pancakes at the start and thought it was going to be a painful ride.  With a blocked nose and sore throat I thought it was that but gradually I felt better while at the same time Nizaam started to tire.  The single track was so patted down after the rain it was perfect and I started enjoying it a lot.  Out of 70km, 30km was single track.  After the second water point we had a long climb onto Bain’s Pass followed by new single track through the forest.  It was like a roller coaster with riders above and below us and I loved it.  If this stage was with fresh legs where every steep climb didn’t feel like it was going to snap your muscles it would have been a perfect race and while it suited the XC riders more than us I did enjoy it.  We came in 4^th, lost some time to 3^rd on GC but still hanging onto 2^nd.  Now the main aim is to get to tomorrow without Nizaam or myself catching the stomach bug. 

Stage 7

Wellington – Meerendal

87km 1500 ascent

With the start time as 7.45 I was excited to have an extra 45 minutes sleep but as the bagpipes came round it didn’t feel like we’d had any extra time in bed.  Usually food is forced down in the mornings but I’ve found Zac’s porridge the best pre race breakfast I’ve found, with a big dollop of honey, a cup of tea and a Rusk I’ve never felt uncomfortable at the start and yet I don’t need any race food until about 2 hours in which is a good job as its been either dusty or fast or has involved steep climbs and hands on bars at all time style racing the first few hours.   After that I’ve found trail mix in my pocket the easiest thing to grab, maybe one energy bar and the rest has been fruit cake, muffins or fruit at the feeds along with a much looked forward to coke and water mix at the last feed.  Today was an exception though as I had the feeling Nizaam was striving for a stage wins.  We sat with the two other top mixed teams, I feel off the back a couple of times lacking with acceleration round the corners and seemed to find the deep sand every time but got back on.  Eventually we were down to two teams and I had my first gel of the week.  The jersey wearers then had a jammed chain.  I asked Nizaam how he was feeling; he said he was good so I suggested we ride hard.   There are few riders faster than Nizaam on the open descents so I sat behind while he went full gas down hill.  We had a good gap by the time we turned into the final climb behind Meerendal but I hadn’t realized Nizaam didn’t know we still had a climb left.  He battled as hard as he could, dropped his chain once and all the while I could see the team getting closer but didn’t say anything.  Once at the top we had 5km to go downhill on single track.  I laughed after at our scenario afterwards but at the time it was pretty stressful as I kept loosing sight of Nizaam.  He said after he was seeing double by then and crashed three times!  With one km to go I was freewheeling and seeing the green jerseys of the next mixed team but not Nizaam.  Finally a few hundred meters to go he was there and we crossed the line 1^st on the stage, Yvonne and Peter just 8 seconds behind. 

 

This face says: 'You didn't tell me about that last hill!'

The crowds at the finish of the Epic are always huge but our Asrin supporters stood out amongst everyone.  With a huge banner and around 30 of Nizaam’s friends and family plus my folks it really did feel like we’d achieved something special.  I’d gone to the Epic with an aim of a podium finish on a stage and would never have predicted we’d come 2^nd overall.  We’d rode carefully every day avoiding any nasty crashes or mechanicals.  We’d each put each other under pressure to ride hard when it mattered like to get on a group or at the start or when we were been chased down.  We each had our comfortable moments: I relaxed on most of the climbs, Nizaam relaxed on the descents so neither were ever under stress the whole day long unlike a lot of mixed teams we saw fade away through the week.  We both had ups and downs, good and bad moments, angry bits and stomach aching laughs but who doesn’t after that long riding together. 

We’d had our bikes stripped each night, our knots massaged out and we’d been fed fresh cooked healthy food 3 times a day in order to avoid the stomach bugs flying around when the immune system gets so low.  So really we couldn’t have done any better. 

 

Best fan club in Meerendal

Thank you so much to all the Asrin team:  Casper for looking after our machines so well, Kim for the massages and for someone to talk to when I needed a girly whine, Andrew for organizing us each day and Zac for all your delicious food and recipes!  Thank you also for Deon of Cyclefunatics for my Specialized Epic 29er, to Squirt Lube and of course to Asrin for all the support for the last two years as well as my folks and Nizaam’s family and friends who have been following, supporting and motivating us along the way. 

Next race: Joberg2c  April 24^th – 3^rd May

ABSA Cape Epic 15th - 22nd March. First 3 days

The Epic is one of those races that guarantees massive highs and huge lows, so I think every rider no matter how many they have done is apprehensive going into it.  I don’t know why the Epic offers that kind of drama, maybe its just because the days are that little bit longer, it’s a little bit more technical or that we’re all a little more hyped up and therefore take more risks.  The first challenge is to get your partner and yourself on the start line.  As it is always a big race of the year riders take extra chances improving their skills that can end in injury and they train hard which can end in sickness.  However, both Nizaam and me got to the start line in one piece and though we both laid out our excuses as you do before the start we were both ready to go. 

Prologue

Cape Town

20km 600m ascent

Rolling off the start ramp in front of such big crowds is always fun though the fun ended quickly as we started the climb up Table Mountain.  Never one for a fast start I was glad Nizaam was in the same boat and was happy enough to sit on my wheel so I could pace it.  Neither of us pushed it too hard, I even got chance to take in the magnificent views down into Cape Town and soaked up the hundreds of supporters cheers as we rode past.  Once up the scary bit started down a loose dusty single track, now very rutted out from the hundreds of riders before us.  Someone stopped in front of me so I had to hop off but once round I rode the second part and tensed so much my quad went into semi cramp.  We finished though safely, down in 7^th place but didn’t loose a lot of time. 

Stage One

Elgin to Elgin

113km 2800m ascent

Yesterday we travelled to our camp in Elgin where chef Zac prepared us a great dinner of sword fish and sweet potato and today as I came out of the camper he had a big bowl of oats hot and ready as well as the best bit - a big pot of tea.  We started in Group B, so was a long way back and with everyone wanting to move forward it wasn’t long before the first lock up of brakes and a crash.  I looked across and saw Yolande de Villiars sprawl out, it looked bad and I was relieved to see her later on in the ride.  As is normal when you set off in B, the first climb was one long queue and quite challenging to ride.  It soon spread out and we rode nicely along.  It started to rain and got chilly as we climbed higher.  Nizaam started to suffer a bit and we lost a few places but then picked up again near the end and dug deep knowing that the next mixed team was getting pretty close.  The single track near the end was very smooth and flowing, the dust having settled with the rain and we came in 3^rd place and moved up to 3^rd on GC and came in 95^th overall.  Looking at the mixed teams on paper I thought our aim of a podium finish would be hard to get so to do it on the 1^st stage we were both pretty stoked. 

Stage Two

Elgin to Elgin

92km 2300m ascent

It rained all afternoon yesterday and today we woke up to gale force winds. I’m not sure why the weather is always so extreme in the Epic, it’s as if it’s organized just to make things that bit harder.  Starting in ‘A’ made a big difference today and we were dragged along faster than yesterday.  There was a lot of riding in the gutter as the wind swung round all directions and it was a relief (for me anyway) to get on the first long climb.  We were motoring along thanks to the 3 coffees Nizaam had had this morning and saw both 1^st and 2^nd mixed teams just in front.  Again there was lots of single track and after the rain it was in perfect condition.  We dropped some places mid way but the jersey wearers who had only just passed us went off course so we were surprised to finish 2^nd, 66^th overall.  We’d had a few near misses, I watched a gust of wind blow a guy in front straight into Nizaam’s bars, how he stayed upright I’ll never know, the other guy went flying though was ok.  I also watched him fly straight into a ditch and somehow bounced back out.  Recovery the rest of the afternoon was chilling out around the camper van, sitting in the wheelie bin full of freezing water, eating Zac’s chicken wraps, and getting a massage from Kim.  We are certainly spoilt in Team Asrin!!!  

Garden Route 300 Stage Race 27th – 1st March

Having spent over a week either up at The Crags or down in Knysna and having joined Coaching Corner on 4 of their social rides I felt like the Gr300 was a local race and knew a lot of the trails and more of the supporters than I have ever in South Africa.  Kynsna has a vibe we have both fallen in love with and racing here for the 3^rd time I was very excited for it to get underway.  Bad luck had followed us for the whole week beforehand; a broken frame for Rob, a hospital visit from some dodgy fish and an eye infection for me so we hoped that would be it.

Stage One 

90km, 1950m ascent

Every rider I am sure had that temptation to roll over and turn the alarm off this morning when we heard the rain hammering on the roof in the dark.  No one did though I’m sure and at 7am even though it was still pouring down it wasn’t cold at all and there was an excited vibe outside amongst the 400 riders at Quay Four on Thesen Island. 

A wet start

We set off and straight away I regretted having my rain cape on as we climbed up Simola Hill.  I managed to ditch it with a friend out supporting and made a big effort with some help from my partner Nizaam to get across to the group in front consisting of mixed pair Johan and Yolande.  The effort though took its toll and once into the single track in Harkervelle Nizaam started battling.  I took a tumble on a wet bridge, I had been a little over confident having only recently been back riding my duel and as I came to turn on the bridge I knew it was going to end in a spill.  I managed not to slide out but instead seemed to go over the bars and in slow motion whacked a tree.  I managed to hit my leg right where the pin is still so when Nizaam came along having missed the whole crash complaining about his tiredness I had a few choice words of my own!!  Still, the joys of riding in pairs is you go through the good and bad bits together as long as you can still smile at the end.  Out of the forest and full of coke and muffins we both picked up and finished strong, 2^nd place and 7 minutes back but with the Queen stage to come the race wasn’t yet lost. 

Stage two

100km, 2400m ascent

Day two dawned a lot brighter with blue skies.  The race started out on the Rheenedal Road before turning up into the Outeniqua Mountains through the forest and along open indigenous forest tracks.   Once onto the smaller tracks Nizaam and myself started climbing up through the field and at Waterpoint One we caught up the lead mix pair of Yolande and Johan.  We continued at out own pace, the route either going up or down with very little flat.  One of the hardest parts of the day was the portage over the Homtini River with a steep descent, a fast flowing river to climb across, then a steep hike up these massive steps but after that we were rewarded with some nice single track descents through the forest and down the back of Phantom Pass.  We won the stage in the mixed category and very narrowly edged ahead on GC so the final result was all down to the last day.

Stage Three

85km, 1800m ascent

Today started with 6km neutral along the lagoon which was nice to spin the legs and chat to Nizaam who turned up at the start line 2 minutes before the off.  We were briefly stopped at the bottom of Phantom Pass before the gun and the race started for the Craft Attack.  The first man up would get 10,000 rand.  Nizaam got off to a flyer and I gritted my teeth to hang on his wheel. Thankfully we eased as the road went upwards but the effort paid off as we got in a nice steady moving group.  Timo Cooper won the big prize; that was great news for the big group of local supporters at the top. 

 

Craig racing up Phantom Pass

The race turned off the main road, through the Goudveld Forest, over the Knysna River, through the Gouna Forest then onto towards Simola.  The route was full of climbs with some spectacular views and we rode in good company with leading ladies Yolande de Villiers and Bianca Haw and a few other men’s teams.  Descending down off Simola was a great feeling with the sea coming up very quickly and the finish on the Island waiting for us.  We won the stage and the GC with a time of 12 hours 57 so were both very happy with our comeback.  We rode nicely together and it was all good preparation for the Epic now only 2 weeks away. 

 

Riding amongst the elephants

Our other team of Krenn Wolfgang and Craig Boyes came in 5^th overall after two podium positions on the last two days.  Not bad for someone who has come from the snow only a few days beforehand.

Thank you to Garden Route Events for a great event.  Spectacular venue on the Island, faultlessly marked routes, friendly marshals, very well stocked feed stations and overall great vibe.   

Thank you also to Cyclefunactic of Durbanville, Squirt Lube, Asrin and Nizaam for all the extra support, especially those full body massages you booked us with the hot towels on our eyes and soothing music: a little bit of luxury after long hours in the saddle!