Rocky Mountain GR300 23/2/13 – 25/2/13

The GR300 this year served a few purposes, a first get together as a full team, a chance to meet the guys behind providing us with our Rocky Mountain bikes and a chance to ride in a great place with our team mates.  I was with Nikki while Yolandi and Leana were paired up.  Having spent a few days there with my husband beforehand we had already made a load of friends from the Coaches Corner Cycling Club and rode some of the route with them on their Wednesday night ‘pint’ ride.

Day One

No one felt 100% waking up, Leana had been up all night and I wasn’t too well either and upon getting to the race we heard more reports about a stomach bug going round. Nikki and myself got away to a descent start.  I felt unwell the middle section and had to stop a few times then Nikki started with bad cramps and we eased back.  Despite that though the course was amazing.  We rode the whole Harkerville red route this year and I will never tire of the part you ride out of the forest and appear on the cliff side.  After that there were some long climbs and varied trails and tracks.  We had passed the leading ladies, Ischen Stopforth and Yolandi de Villiars when they had a puncture but they soon passed us back and we finished 2^nd place while our teammates came in 4^th, Leana battling a lot with the illness.

Day Two

The start was pretty ‘hectic’ this morning.  After a long neutralized zone out of town we turned sharply up into single track.  We weren’t that well positioned and were stood around a fair bit but in that case you’ve just got to relax and save energy and not get stressed about losing time.  We rode through a poor area but the support was the best I have heard from locals.  They were out cheering us on, one was holding a sign saying 1km to go and at the top was a reggae band of all things!!  Nikki was struggling with the bug still and feeling pretty whacked.  I seemed to have got off lightly and felt fine so we rode a steady pace and met a few friendly riders on route which always helps on such a long day if your not 100%.  My work was cut out at the end though, a long flat head wind stretch back to Knysna with no one in sight followed by a technical new single-track descent right down the side of Phantom Pass.  We finished in 2^nd again to Ischen and Yolandi

Day Three

As soon as we set off up Phantom Pass this morning I knew we were in for a hard day.  Nikki, despite not feeling 100% at the start was riding really strongly and I soon sensed we were up for the race today.  We had set off in the 2^nd batch so had our work cut out after the backlog over the bridge but we did catch the leading ladies on the open road at the top and rode in the same group for a while.  Today was another varied route with plenty of single track, jeep track and lots of climbing through the forest.  We rode our won pace occasionally passing other teams and were both working hard enough that when we passed Conrad in the last feed we both were very grateful for the coke he had for us.  I had one scare when my chain came off on a descent and wrapped itself all over the place but I managed to untangle it without getting into a flap myself!  One of the best things about the race in Kysna is that you can rely on the last 5 or 6km to be mostly downhill and as we dropped down past the golf course for the last time we knew we had the stage win and came in top 20 only 16 minutes behind the winners.  The other girls still held on to their overall win but it was nice to have a day where we both felt strong and didn’t have any issues, unlike our team mates…Leana had battled with the bug for 2 days and today was Yolanda’s turn and she couldn’t finish feeling dizzy and faint so had to pull out.  

Thanks to Rocky Mountain for making a 29er fit even a shorty like me, Squirt for a chain stick free race and clean bikes, Ballistic Bike Trading for our accurate Brytons, to 32Gi for the best tasting energy drink (the raspberry one definitely the best!!)  To ASG for our flashy kit, shiny helmets and comfy shoes and of course to Bizhub for giving me a pretty good job!!

Isuzu Ride The Rock Stage Race

8 – 10^th February 2013

Having never been to the Cederberg I was looking forward to the first stage race of the year though when we arrived on this dry corrugated road in plus 40 degrees and warned anyone on a hardtail was going to suffer I was wondering maybe this wasn’t going to be my kind of race

Stage one, 81km

The stage was the hardest of the race on paper.  Setting off at a fast pace on the district road I hung onto the front group as long as possible then was on my own along the jeep tracks which became more and more rocky and rough.  Trying to follow another rider down faster than I was comfortable with I had my first flat.  Help was on hand from Pete a few minutes later after I failed to plug the problem.  There were two holes in the tire and we were only 15km in!  Back down in 4^th place I soon passed Hanlie sat fixing a broken chain then caught Ischen up.  We rode together until the long steep climb after Wuperthal where I rode ahead only to slightly knock my back wheel again on a rock at a bad angle and felt that dreaded ‘flat’ feel again.  At the last stop I’d managed somehow to break my pump and having used all my bombs Ischen threw one out to me. However I’d used my plug and made the mistake of bombing the wheel without having a plug at hand.  By the time I’d found one the wheel was going flat again and the plug didn’t t work anyway since the rim was completely dented.  By now Pete was coming along having also helped Hanlie with her chain.  We put a tube in and eventually I got away again and rode alone slowly reeling in a few guys but otherwise riding on my own all the way back to our race village in Sanddrif.  Though I’d finished 4^th way down I was still happy that finally my race legs have come back.  Using our new byrtongps was also a big help as it’s the first time I’ve looked at my heart rate in a race and was very pleased to see I rode above threshold for most of the day.  No wonder you get fit racing! 

Lesson on the day: more tire pressure on rugged rocks is a must

Ariane 1^st, Ischen 2^nd, Hanlie 3^rd

Stage two, 61km

After a perfect afternoon chatting and swimming with fantastic homemade food I slept solid and was looking forward to what promised to be a great day of trails ahead.  My back rim was shot with a big dent in the side and was very buckled and I was told to nurture it home.  Luckily the rocks weren’t anything like yesterdays, there was much more sand and single track with rocks dotted around.  I started hard again hanging onto leader Ariane for as long as possible but soon lost 2 minutes down the technical single track decent.  I am a cautious rider anyway but with my wheel I wasn’t taking any chances and walked through anything that might break it completely.  Hanlie had virtually caught me at the bottom so the last portage I ran like a gazelle, leapt back on and rode as hard as I could up the jeep track.  Out of sight, out of mind was my intention as well as trying to make up as much ground as possible on the easier stuff.  Turning onto a 12km roadie section I was in luck to be passed by a top rider who had broke his chain.  I jumped on his wheel and hung on until we hit some sandy patches and I dropped off along with another guy we (he) had swept up.  The pair of us took it in turns into the wind which helped mentally as much as anything; there is something quite sole destroying riding along a corrugated straight rode in a head wind alone especially in the driving rain.  Turning off the road we climbed again along sandy switchbacks where I did a fair bit of hoping on and off the bike and taking extra care over the sharp rocks.  With the thunder and lightning and huge red sandstone rock formations looming over the single tracks the place was so atmospheric.  A few km from the end I managed to loose the trail and started hiking through the bush before turning back and coming right not loosing more than a minute thankfully.  I finished happy with my legs and relived my wheel survived, I was more than lucky… my spokes on the rear damaged wheel were all loose, I don’t want to think how close it was coming to collapsing and still have one more day to survive. 

Lesson of the day: 32gi’s Accelerate tablets have a kick as good as any gel while a rusk while out of breathe whilst the easiest to grab on the single track just absorbs any moisture you have in your mouth!!

Ariane 1^st, me 2^nd, Hanlie 3^rd

Day Three 52km

I could have slept another two hours but instead got up in the dark, dressed and ate my usual weetabix, a muffin, toast and coffee before the 7am start.  Been a proud Brit I am a real tea drinker but after the last two fast starts I’ve managed I’ve put it down to a shot of caffeine and thismorning I needed the wake up!  After another good warm up I hung onto the front group on the rolling district roads for a good 20km before settling into my own pace up the long 7km pass watching Ariane ride off taking the final KOM.  The single track down the side of the pass should have been a real fun one especially as it was in full view of everyone riding up but I took it super careful aware that my back wheel was struggling on and looking very buckled. At the bottom Swen whom I also finished with yesterday caught me up and together we rode up the next 2 climbs and onto the finish.  I didn’t speak much at all apart from to point out a strange creature on the track ahead that turned out to be a rabbit!  Hallucinating with the effort I thought it was something far more wild looking!  With gravel steep climbs and open district roads there was little left to batter the wheel and I rode as hard as possible giving myself another sore throat through breathing.  It paid off though, I finished 2^nd to the flying Ariane and got enough time to move from 4^th to 2^nd on GC which means I can sleep in peace knowing the race wasn’t lost through a rock in the wrong place!! 

Ariane 1^st, me 2^nd, Ischen 3^rd

GC: Ariane Kleinhans 9.27, Catherine Williamson 10.11, Ischen Stopforth 10.13, Hanlie Booyens 10.24

The race was fantastic.  It is only small, around 130 riders so everyone greets each other, the organisation was perfect despite no mobile signal anywhere, the course was really well marked and took us into such pristine areas of the Cederberg and the wine is the best I’ve tasted by a long way!  Thanks to all the organizers and to my team Bizhub for entering me into another amazing event.  

EP Herald Extreme Quest, Port Elizabeth 3-4 th Feb

After Barberton last week I did what I always do when I come out to somewhere sunny, have all the free time in the world and get given a nice new bike … overtrain!  Despite Barberton knocking me for six I then did 5 hours on Sunday and so on.  Using our new brytongps at least I was able to see my heart rate on a ‘tempo’ ride not go above 140 and backed off before the weekend.

Saturday was the mountain bike event, 80km from Addo out into the mountains.  A huge amount has gone into creating some fantastic single track where this year’s XC course will be held. By then though I’d been hanging on for grim death along the gravel road yo yoing at the back.  Hitting the sharp steep hills in the single track I couldn’t muster up any power and watched the front 3 girls ride away.  I recovered a bit and started pulling back a few riders up the pass.  Riding into a water point I heard a marshal shout ‘don’t turn right’ so continued along the track.  After a while I had a de ja vu, the tracks looked very familiar and soon I was back on the XC course.  With no one around I realized I’d gone wrong and eventually came out back onto the pass.  Back tracking down the road I finally spotted some markers so went up and joined the route again.  Not overly impressed with myself for not confirming I was going right I got my head down and rode onto the finish.  I kept the pace high just to get to the end whereas in hindsight I should have just backed off and enjoyed the fantastic water points especially the last one, which even had a paddle pool!!  Finally I crossed the line, I had been lying in 4^th not too far behind Marissca but now all the girls looked liked they’d been in hours so I figured my detour had been a pretty big one! 

Sunday and we had a lie in till all of 4.30, an extra hour on yesterday!  The 6.10 am start saw just the elite ladies roll away in our own batch.  With a strong head wind the pace was really slow which for once I really appreciated.  Soon Toyota started attacking sending some youngsters up the road.  The counterattacks sped the whole race up a bit and soon Sharon Laws was away up an early climb while no one else could hold her wheel.  ‘5km climb’ came next and I surprised myself by been able to respond to Ashleigh’s attacks.  Finally the 4^th dig by her was enough to crack us and she rode off while we regrouped into a fairly small chasing group of 6 or 7.  With the men gradually coming back it was no surprise to see girls tagging back into our group though at least a number of them were disqualified at the end.  After a fast tailwind home our group sprinted for 3^rd place and I was quite content with a 7^th place.  Not the results I wanted from the weekend but I now know I must be more patient and let my legs come when they are ready!!  

Momentum 94.7 Road Race, 18th November 2012

With the mountain bike races sadly over it was time to get back on the road for the last two races of the year.  The 94.7 is the world’s 2^nd biggest timed road event in the world after the Argus so with it carries a similar prestige.  Before the race the usual café conversations go like this

Q) Are you practicing for the 94.7?

A) Well, its a little late to ‘practice’ riding now but we are racing the 94.7

Q) What time are you hoping for?

A) I have no idea

Q) Oh, you just doing it for fun?

A) Not really, we don’t really look at times, just positions

Q) Oh, well they say you must have starch and caffine before

A) Oh right, thanks for the advice!

Race day arrived and with the ‘practices’ over we woke up at 3.30 to get to the race for the crazy start time of 6.15.  Couldn’t really complain as the first poor souls set off at 5.30 and even poorer souls didn’t set off till 9 when the temperature was already in the 30s. 

The flat start mean’t the bunch was steady with a few attacks that didn’t go anywhere.  After 10k or so we hit the hills and the real moves started.  Toyota were always in the moves and when the pace upped and the group reduced down to 12 or so there was always around 8 of them.  I thought they’d then work at the front and when the gap was established then start firing one after the other up the road but with either a full race season in everyone’s legs no one was that keen and the group increased after each big effort.  I was pleased I was up there and amongst the action when it did split as the mountain biking does leave you with slow diesel legs!  The hills were pretty relentless, not big climbs but a lot of them and eventually Sharon Laws got away.  I was hanging on 3^rd or 4^th wheel back then had a sudden spurt of energy and started chasing.  I knew there were a few girls on my wheel but thought if I caught Sharon we would be a pretty small breakaway.  Next time I looked back more girls had tagged on and I swung over.  I definitely wasn’t planning on dragging a big group along when much bigger teams like MTN were all still there plus even if Sharon isn’t on my team I wasn’t going to help bring a fellow Brit back just to have it counterattacked by another Toyota rider. 

MTN soon grouped at the front and started working but with the headwind it soon fizzled out and we were riding along chatting amongth ourselves. Feeling good I did start a few attacks on the hills towards the finish but each time they were covered by Toyota who didn’t seem to want to get away despite the fact Sharon was just about finished by then!  The pace up the last climb was tough and I was swaying over my bike before we turned the last corner to the finish.  Down the hill I attacked to get to the roundabout first and, carrying a bit more speed than I antipated I leaned hard and thankfully came out the other side still upright.  Sprinting to the finish I was surprised no one came round and rode over the line just ahead of the fast approaching Cherise to hold onto 2^nd place.  With a 2^nd as well at the Argus despite concentrating on the mountain bike I have to say its been a pretty successful year and its now time for a well earned break back home before training for next year starts again! 

Holding on to win the bunch sprint

The presentation with Sharon and Cherise

Getting too much sun with fellow Brit, Sharon Laws

Contego Wines2Whales Stage Race 9 - 11th November 2012

This last weekend Ischen and myself were back racing at the Contego Wines2Whales 3 day event.  With a good forecast and no snow predicted this year we were both looking forward to our last big event for the year. 

Stage One started in Lourensford, straight onto a long climb.  Glad of the warm up we settled into a good pace and moved into the lead half way up.  After the first water point I hit a stump at the edge of a river and ended up swinging round a tree to avoid the water.  Unfortunately there was no tree for the guy behind who ended up breaking the bridge and ending up with his bike in the water. I did feel guilty and apologised that night on stage where I had to down a brandy and still walk off stage in a straight line!!  Incidents over we settled into a steady pace until Ischen had a sidewall.  She quickly plugged and bombed it and we were soon off, now in 2^nd place.  Chasing hard over the Gantouw Pass Ischen started to cramp and as the course got pretty technical we knew we weren’t going to win the stage.  Still, we arrived 2^nd, losing 2 minutes to Yolande Speedy and Hanlie Booyens but gaining 14 minutes on Cherise Taylor and Mariska Strauss. 

Stage two was a shorter 65km stage in a loop from our campsite at Oak Village.  The single track was so smooth unlike yesterday and after a short climb to space the field out the riding was very enjoyable.  I was pretty nervous about the infamous ‘Pofadder’ singletrack and was tempted by the chicken run but in the end managed it fine.  The race was pretty competitive to start with three woman’s teams together.  We lost them on the single track but there was only 4 minutes separating us at the finish with Contego Ladies taking the win in 2h54. 

Stage three took us down to the coast.  Ischen was struggling from the start and we knew the Contego Ladies were out to take our 2^nd place overall setting off fast on the front line. The course was pretty fast down to the first water point then there were some tough short climbs to get over.  We were riding with the Momentum girls for a while then dropped off their pace while Ischen battled on feeling the effects of a long season of racing.  At the third water point Conrad who had been spot on with our bottles told us we were 7min30 behind leaving us with only 3 minutes for the last 10km.  We battled on and the finish couldn’t come soon enough, it was a stressful day ‘in the office’ but we held onto 2^nd place overall by a mere 50 seconds after 10 hours 38 of racing.  The race was again a fantastically organized event, well marked, some great new single track and plenty of sunshine!!

1st Momentum Specialized Insurance Ladies 10hr 25

2^nd Bizhub FCF 10hr 38

3^rd Contego Ladies 10hr 39

Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 14th – 20th October 2012

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!

Jelly and Custard made the racing look easy with constant smiles!

Hero of the week, Zandilla completing her first stage race

Heads down racing hard!

I thought the Karoo translated to semi desert!!

Eventual winners the Klein Karoo Chicks

Tony and Pete, our riding buddies!

Mud pack ready for the big night of partying!!

Race on with the other girls in the background

World Marathon Mountain Bike Championships, Ornans, France 7th October 2012.

We flew out to France early and so enjoyed the luxury of doing nothing other than recca a bit of the course a day at a time and relax with French pastries and coffee.  It was a good job, the course was that tough it took three days to get round.  To be fair we'd also rode most of the men's circuit by accident, neither me or Rob are that great with maps!  The weather had been mixed, one day riding in mud and  rain,. the others hot and sunny but the forcast for race day didn't look great so it was good to know how bad it could be.  

Should have done more gym sessions!

Keeping energy levels up mid course!

After a clear blue sky Saturday I woke early Sunday in the dark to that dreaded noise of cars going through water.  Still, it was pretty warm and the course was going to be so hard, getting cold, my biggest fear wasn't going to happen!  9.10am we started after the elite and open men.  Straight onto a wet churned up muddy track  I was caught up in two early crashes, one taking out one of the pre race favourites; Sabine Spitz.  Moving up again I then got stopped on the first climb.  I am slowly learning with mountain biking how its not all about just going as fast as you can, pacing it and leaving a descent gap in case riders stop in front is far quicker in the end.  Once climbing the gaps opened up and near the top I was surprised to catch and pass Brit Jane Nuessli. It was short lived as  we dropped through the forest, now not only steep and technical but with the added slippy deep mud covering wet rocks.  Jumping off and running bits that I'd done in practice was inevitable, it was far more impoartant to finish the race and lose a few minutes.  Jumping back on near the bottom I'd rdoe a few meters when my front wheel just slipped out and I was left tangled up.  The brake lever dug in my quad and my initial thought was that I'd broke both my leg and bike!  However, twisting the levers back to where they belonged I also knew my leg was ok, it had missed my knee and was only painful when I peddled, umm only 45km to go!!    Rob was at the feed and gave me energy drink.  Having drank nothing so far I cleaned myself and bike up a bit wishing it was water but with eyes and face so full of mud I wasn't going to complain.  While the other Nations had the luxury of team cars, mechanics, spare sun glasses and even power washes  Rob looked after half the GB team with a bike and backpack, feeding both me and Rachel Fenton.  From that feed we started climbing again.  I was unsure if the rain had stopped as the course was so muddy and wet you couldn't tell whether it was coming from the sky or the ground!  Luckily the organisers took a section out, one we'd tried and failed to ride on Thursday when it was also raining.   It looked a great single track but was on a slight camber and impossible for even the top guys to ride even then.  

The last 20km was really slow going.  At one point I was riding up a climb with the bike getting heavier each pedal stroke and was aware that two men were walking up behind as fast!  The mud we were carrying on the bike started to get worse as the rain stopped and it started drying up.  During the race I  became a bit of an expert in mud identification.. there was the almost pleasant 'Wet Flowing Mud' which gave a fine spray, then the real 'Slippy Mud' which was impossible to walk on never mind try ride, the 'Surprise Mud Flicks' which left big chunks in your eyes, then the dreaded 'Thick Stuff', impossible to ride it clung onto the bike until the back wheel could no longer be pushed round so you had to stop every few minutes to clear it!  Despite all this I still felt good: had managed to get a bar and few gels down and caught and dropped a few girls in front of me on the last climb.  Unfortunanly they passed and left me again as we descended into the forest back down to Ornans, the flowing single track covered in roots becoming a bit tricky for me, not helped by the fact my right cleat was now attached to my pedal and not my shoe!    So lucky really as it happened after the last climb but did mean I lost 2 minutes to the 2 in front in the last 4km.  

As I crossed the line the massive feeling of relief and delight at finishing in one piece and in 13th position was soon replaced by a desperate need to clear my eyes of mud while my leg made it nearly impossible to walk.  Funny how you can feel so fit one minute to feeling like a broken wreck the next!!  Luckily Rob was on hand again taking my bike to the bike wash queue while I cleaned myself and iced a leg that was starting to look like Chris Hoy's!  A few days rest will see it right which is timed quite well for a week of travelling:  home, then to Johannesburg then the long drive to George in time for the Cape Pioneer with Bizhub partner Ischen Stopforth next Sunday where I am hoping it'll be a bit drier!!   

Think I need a wash!!