ABSA Cape Epic: The Longest Day

Stage 3: Robertson – Calendon. 143Km, 2900m Climbing

Stage racing involves a unique skill set. When doing a shorter weekend stage race, or one based out of the one town (like the Alpen Tour Trophy or ICME) you can get away with a few more things. But for the longer point to point stage races, and the brutally hard ones, you just have to have all things dialled. Organisation, recovery, nutrition, communication, routines – it is all essential.

Countless times each day you witness breakdowns in one of these areas, especially at the ABSA Cape Epic. It is very rare for a racer to turn up under prepared for this race.  The financial commitment, and the time away from work and families is too great. Everyone is fit. The bikes being used are amazing, and so many people have gone to the the trouble of having team clothing made just for the event. Custom clothing manufacturers must love the rule about team mates riding in the same jersey!

At the race though, you need to make sure you manage your time. This is where I may have slipped up yesterday. The race village offers a lot, with the riders lounge, mobile bike shops, coffee shops, about 1200 like minded people to chat to… so maybe my recovery wasn’t ideal, or my post race nutrition. Plagued by an upset stomach form th afternoon onwards, waking this morning I didn’t feel fresh at all.

Stage 3 was the Queen Stage for the 2012 ABSA Cape Epic. Some late changes dropped the distance to 143km, but kept 2900m of climbing. If you know the terrain that the Epic crosses, you will appreciate those numbers. Although there was 18km or tarmac to start, the bunch was still a bit nervous. 1200 riders starting at once resulted in people moving up on the outside, regardless of narrowing roads for bridges, oncoming traffic, or their riding ability. Many close calls ensued, but the first real crash I saw was leading mixed rider Erik Kleinhans somersaulting into a plantation as we went from a farm road to a farm track. He was back soon after, thanks to running a pretty big motor.

All this time, I felt flat, and a little nauseous. Will was about 10-20 wheels in front. Close, but out of communication range. The climbs we had next were loose, and in the rising sun. Think of ring up a steep hill on railroad easing gravel – but do so wheel to wheel on pretty much one rideable line. There was a lot of hike-a-bike, and this is where I went backwards, but pushed hard trying not to. I can’t pinpoint where, but somewhere on that slope it all imploded. Less than ideal digestive health overnight had depleted the tank, and I had blown, big time. Stomach pains prevented re-fuelling. With about 110km to go it wouldn’t be pretty. In time, Will realised how much I needed him to back off. That said, I don’t sit on very well when suffering. Like in a road handicap, if you’re hurting, keep pulling through or you get dropped.

The sun really baked, and we got back to a good group, only to have it ride away from us before the second feed. Other teams were out there suffering a similar, either vomiting or riding with bibs down. The climbs were steep and open, and plenty of times I questioned if I wanted to continue. Knowing plenty of friends, and even Subaru-MarathonMTB team mates, have said how much they would love to do the ABSA Cape Epic, I knew I would have to continue. But it did make me think whether I could recommend it for some of them. This day was up there with hard days on the mountain bike. A few Croc Trophy stages from 2011 still trump it. But I hurt more today than I did in either the Grand Raid 2010 or 2011, or any 100 miler that I have completed.

After the last feed we had a headwind straight on the nose. The course was on an open dirt road, and we had to swap off. I was hurting, but there was little choice but to be in the wind and pull turns. As a just reward, we saw the 10km to go sign as we transferred back to climbing up a baking, rutted farmers field. This last 10km should never be talked of again.

The race is taking a heavy toll on the riders. There have been many DNF’s, lots of injuries, and the amount of coloured physic tape is ever increasing. Unfortunately, British rider Claire Beaumont was taken down in a crash at about the 85km mark. People are tired, not holding their lines on descents, and ending others races. That’s racing, but it is unfortunate.

Tomorrow is another day, racing in the Calendo region. So far, it seems hot and windy. More of the same tomorrow I expect.

Full results from the stage can be seen online