Some edited highlights from Stage 2 – Thanks to TDA Advertising and Design
If you look at the course map for the Absa Cape Epic, you will see that today is essentially a transition day. We would travel from Tulbagh to Worcester, over a route that was 125km with 1900m climbing. However that does not do the stage justice.
This morning was always going to be a little bit more hectic, as we were leaving the amazing Saronsberg Winery, which had been our race village for three evenings. As such, our bags needed to be packed up and moved to transport trucks. Nothing too difficult, except that it does mean you need to carry a large bag in cycling shoes in the dark. Beyond this, I was feeling rough. Will seemed to be ok, thankfully.
Under slightly cloudy skies we took off out of the starting pens. There was a lot of road, both sealed and dirt, in the opening kilometres. The speed was high, and the bunch was thankfully not overly nervous. The past two days I have been thinking about the shift towards 2 x 10 drivetrains and the gearing differences. Sure, it’s not much. But losing 2 or 4 teeth from your big chainring seems to have slowed the start pace a little. That, and I feel like I’ve been duped by being left with a 28 x 36 to climb with!
Will and I were well enough placed as we came into the first climb. It was double-track, but loose. Everyone had the same challenge, but those of us with less talent were certainly unclipping to shuffle up more frequently. Although the front group may not always be in sight, you can tell how far it’s moving away by how distant the helicopters sound. When they are no longer flying next to you, you know you have been pumped.
The descent was as rough as the climb, and lead into more deep sand double-track through the valley. We had a reasonable group together here, but Frischi and his team mate eventually caught us and showed their class, floating away over the deep sand. The terrain took its toll, as plenty of riders tumbled off track, bouncing off the toaster sized rocks or getting caught in the deep ruts. We mostly stayed upright, save for some dabs and getting caught on the wrong line.
Our pace was slow as we struggled with the terrain, by water point 1 we were being caught by jerseys we didn’t recognise. Perhaps now we are being caught by the riders who aim to start their stage race slowly, and finish strongly?
The next section is a bit hazy. Somewhere about the 50km mark, I was toast. Whether it’s a carry on from suspected heat stroke from yesterday, or just a general lack of fitness – I was done. I’d put 4 bidons of fluid down, plus a couple of cups of coke, but I was as dry as the valley we were in. My head flopped around as I lacked the strength or mental stamina to maintain focus on…. anything.
Once again Will came to the fore, and somewhat happily sat up to make sure I was surviving. I really wasn’t sure I would make it. There was a constant stream of small groups catching us, then pumping us. Good old Catch and Pump. I normally prefer to be the one catching, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.
Will dragged me along through the farms. I didn’t even take in what was being grown. We had a few more loose climbs, and then tried to get a small group going again with about 10km to go. We did get it going, but once it really got going I was out the hoop again.
We crossed the line in a little over 6.5hrs. This placed us 53rd in the mens category, and has us sliding out of Starting Block A pretty rapidly. Checking the live results, some of the people we were riding with early on finished in the mid 20’s. That really highlights how much I sucked today.
But enough self pity, I’m back, showered, fed, and have a supremely patient team mate. We have a time trial tomorrow. Normally, I dread these things. I have a habit of starting but not finishing them. But for tomorrow, it means a sleep in and a shorter day!
Overheard in the past few days:
“She’s been complaining about diarrhea, but it’s stage racing – everyone gets it.”
“Does that hurt too much when I push there?”
“I thought I’d broken my other collarbone. The doctor has asked me to have a shower before he’ll look at it.”
“We had a really fast 90km, then not so fast from there.”
“Hatto flatted as we were trying to hoop the BMC boys. We caught them again on the descent though.”
Make sure you read Will’s account of the day on the MarathonMTB.com Race Team website