Cape Epic-The Other Side

The 2023 Cape Epic took place last week and I was there to support two teams of close friends. Before I carry on, I need to congratulate Team “Ginger Beer” (Stu and Amri) and Team “Act Your Age” (Seamus and Kfir), for finishing the 8 stages of the Epic. Truly an admirable achievement for what is being considered to be one of the toughest Epics. How they achieved their success is another story. In this post I want to give a little insight on sitting on the other side as back-up support.

• It is hard work! I never realised how hard it is be back-up crew.
• I had serious FOMO when I saw so many riders competing who I had ridden with on Pioneer, Atta and Tankwa.
• There is a whole lot of hurry up and wait and then to jump up and get really excited when you see your riders go through for a few seconds.
• There were many coffee stops along the way.

Epic App – I was excited to download this app and have the ability to track the teams. I had the tracking all worked out so that I knew when my team was coming through and I could plan my moments to be in support. I quickly learnt, as did some other support crew, that the app was delayed by about 10min. When you thought they were a way off, suddenly they we there! So many supporters missed that critical moment thinking they had time on hand waiting for their teams. On the last day the app just didn’t work anymore. The first sign of life was them going through the 63km mark, then 70km. We had to make our time estimates when they would cross the finishing line. A bit of fun using the latest tech.

On the Tuesday I was staying in Stanford. I met Stu and Amri at the start. After a coffee then off to Stanford where I cheered both teams through on Stage 2 going out and return. It was the longest stage of 120 Km. About 2 hours after they had come through in the afternoon, with support job done, I had a precious moment of being able to go for a ride myself. I chose a route that we had ridden previously, the jeep track was also used by Epic to get back to Stanford. On my way out I politely kept my distance from Epic stragglers still riding in the opposite direction giving them words of support. I came back on the same route overtaking the riders now riding in the same direction. I don’t think there were many positive words to say to me as I passed them with my fresh legs. It was very real for me on how tough the riding was and that there were still teams coming through so late in the afternoon. They looked absolutely exhausted on only stage 2 and I am sure they never made the time cut-off.

After Stage 4, Thursday, it was pouring buckets in Oak Valley. After their massage , Stu and Amri invited me for supper at the Highway pub in Grabouw. What is better known is the beautiful Orchard Farm Stall turning direction Grabouw. Less known is the pub around the back with a discreet entrance going up wooden stairs. It reminded me of a wild west movie set. As we entered there were 6 “locals” firmly occupying the corner of the bar vocally solving the worlds problems. Behind the bar a skinny barman that obviously ruled his domain and could easily have had a shotgun behind the counter. We were unsure if we were going to be received into the pub and be served. We found a table in the otherwise empty bar. The menu was burger and chips or steak and chips. Good enough for us. In the end we did get friendly service with a good plate of food, some beers and cokes. It really was quite fun in the middle of the Epic enjoying the Wild West of Grabouw. A credit to Amri to always finding these amazing places.

It was the Friday at the end of the Queen stage and teams had arrived at a wet and muddy Lourensford. Seamus had asked me to find his pack of nutrition in his luggage which I left for him at the race office. While at the race office I overheard a race organizer arranging an Uber for this hobbling, clearly in pain, rider with his large Epic bag. Standing in the middle of a mud-patch being given directions to walk to the Lourensford entrance dragging his bag, I offered the rider a lift. He could hardly get into the Fortuna and showed me his bandaged and stitched swollen legs. I got the story of a major crash on stage 1. He managed to complete the stage. Ended up in hospital, tried to ride stage 2 before finally giving up. He was clearly a foreigner and just before dropping him off I asked where he was from. Russia! I thought how crazy is this? With all the conflict in Ukraine and here we were brought together through circumstance at the Epic. A bit of a mind bender for sure.

It has been such a pleasure to support Stu and Amri in their Epic goal. I was sitting watching the TV coverage of stage 5 after a night of heavy rain in Oak Valley. I also watched the stage 7 after coming home on the Sunday.

So many emotions went through my mind. I have ridden so many of the trails. I can relate to every moment, turn and memory. I felt I needed to be out there but at the same time I felt so privileged to have ridden the routes being covered by the Epic. I also saw partners working so well together through good, tough and emotional times. It is why Epic is a team event and wonderful to see. It was an amazing experience. I hope that maybe there is still an opportunity in the future for me to experience the Epic again.

We truly live in a beautiful part of the world that is also able to challenge us in the most extreme ways. To provide not only the venue but give us an event that brings to life the most basic values of team riding, team support, not only at race time, but months before.

It is almost the toughest exam that a team can undertake where all the odds are thrown at you. If you can survive physically and mentally you can certainly tick the box of an amazing lifetime achievement. Even in supporting and writing one is drawn into the emotion of being part of a lifetime experience. Thank you.