Epic bru

twisty switchback


So you might have heard of this little ride called the Cape Epic. Take your mountain bike to Knysna, and book 9 days off work. 966km later you’ll emerge at Lourensford in Somerset West a little bit tired but satisfied.

Not that simple, fellows. If you ride bikes, people ask you if you’ve done the Argus. That’s a joke of a race, something we call a fun ride. But if you ride a mountain bike, people will enquire about how many Epics you’ve done. Totally different scenario. The Epic is a large undertaking, the middle of the bell curve do about 5000km of training and spend about R20k in the 4 months leading up to the event. Stories of sleeping on the couch with the bike, avoiding friends, quitting jobs, partners (romantic) getting suspicious due to time spent with partners (racing) all abound. Some people even get tattoos.

Gav on the run

Of course the pros whizz around and it can be exciting following the drama. For once the saffers are actually able to keep up with all the top overseas hotshots (5 of the top 10 rated dudes are here, lots of funny sounding surnames). With only two straightforward stages to go, we should see the MTN team in third.
Kev and George charging in for the prologue win
Yesterday the race leaders (Fugelsang/Paulissen – I warned about the funny names) had to ride the last 18km without a back wheel. Too many punctures and no way to fix them. They only lost 8 minutes of their 18 minute cushion on second place. Legendary stuff for a team that were pipped into second last year.
Who needs rubber?

But the bigger human story comes further down the field, where total amateurs have put their lives on hold for the race. Many race against the cut-offs just to stay in the race. There’s heartbreak whenever the medical team have to remove injured riders from the field. 90% seems to be ITB or saddle sores, there’s no way to really train the body for 8+ hours continual punishment for a week straight when you still have a nine to five. Ride of the week has to go to the 115kg Robbie Kempson, who you might remember as a Springbok prop, crazy what people will do in the name of charity.

thanks honey

We’ll be there at the finish (after a little 55km burn round the vineyards to warm up) to see them in on Saturday. Watch this space