The Race 2017
My bike was my Yeti with SRAM Eagle 1×10/50. I started the first and second day with 34 tooth on the front but changed this to 32 tooth. Since the Epic I have had the routine of training on 34 and stage racing (more than 1 day) on 32. It just takes that pressure off the legs a little. Front tyres Bontraeger 2.25 and Rear Maxi 2.25 (Mainly to fit in the Yeti frame). Also fitted with impact foam ring. Nutrition. I was using Hammer Head and some Hammer gels and Hammer bars. The rest what was available at the tables.
Andy: After the prologue I told the mechanics, only wash and lube as the bike setup was perfect, mentally puts you into a good space.
Prologue: 26 km 750m climbing 19 March, 2017.
The Prologue route includes spectacular views of some world-famous landmarks – across Table Bay to the iconic Table Mountain, with Robben Island nestled in the sparkling sea in the foreground. But riders will not be afforded much opportunity to enjoy them: the best viewing point follows a lung-busting climb up Meerendal’s notorious Stairway to Heaven to the top of the Dorstberg. All that hard work takes place in the opening sequences of the Prologue and is followed by some testing ups and downs on Hoogekraal’s highly regarded trails before turning back to Meerendal via some steep vineyards, dairy fields and a burst of singletrack.
Andy and I planned to ride conservatively and not burn out. With all the excitement there is the tendency to go too strong. We finished well within ourselves and had a safe ride. It was amazing that there were even serious accidents on the first day – Joel Stransky doing a complete face-plant taking him out of the race.
Pen dropped us off in Hermanus where we were really disappointed that the race village wasn’t ready for us and only really opened up that evening for supper.
Stats Prologue:1h43, 25.6km, 716m, 1057cal.
Stage 1 Hermanus – Hermanus: 101 km, 2300m 20 March, 2017.
Hermanus is traditionally associated with whales and wine, but it is increasingly becoming a place where mountain bikers can enjoy their sport on the ever-growing local trail network. The 2017 Absa Cape Epic’s opening stage will give riders a sample of all that is best about the beautiful seaside town and its surrounds. Soon after the start the route heads up Rotary Way and along the spine of the mountain before dipping down into the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Then it is up the Nine One One Climb and some ups and downs along the flanks and stunning wine farms of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Once they have reached Tesselaarsdal they will confront the rugged climb and descent known as the Haarkappers Roete – named after the barber who regularly walked over the Klein River Mountains in the 1950s to cut hair in Stanford. From the bottom of the tricky descent the route turns back towards Hermanus and riders will finish the day with a fun spin along the town’s urban assault mountain biking section.
This took us out of Hermanus and through the Hemel and Aarde valley. It was a hot day with a gentle breeze. It is always tough going but we have ridden these routes before.
The climb out of the valley at Haarkappers was extreme. It was basically a walking path where I think only the top riders actually rode this route. For everyone else it was a push. It was also getting extremely hot. Going down on the other side towards Stanford was crazy steep, loose rocks, hanging over the back of the saddle and just praying not to fall. Even in conditions Iike this there were riders crazy enough to belt it down without fear.
At the bottom it was like an oven with extreme heat and powdery dust. Any wind that there was, was going in the same direction as we were. The water stop was a while away and at one point it was so hot that I asked Andy to stop in the shade for a while to try and cool down. I was still wearing my compression vest that I have been for wearing for years. It is supposed to keep you cool when hot and warm when cold – I will talk about this again.
At the water stop we doused ourselves in water. Andy was a star to make sure that I cooled down properly. We drank enough to make sure that we hydrated. In this extreme heat the tables didn’t even have ice!
Andy: To be honest I was worried, Scip looked drained, the heat was taking toll, drenching him repeatedly over the next 20 km was the correct option.
We carried on in the extreme heat cooling ourselves down in farmers sprinklers and also good souls with hose pipes. At this stage we had cooled down because we were properly wet and we actually gained in strength towards the finish in Hermanus. Along the way was absolute chaos with riders sheltering under any shade that they could find.
We handed our bikes in for the service check with GearChange. I made the decision to change from 34 to 32 on the front sprocket to give myself a little breather. We rehydrated (ice cold beer is the best), ate, had our massages and slept.
The medical tent was chaos throughout the night and morning with riders suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. In the end 80 teams pulled out after day 1. Unbelievable.
Stats Day 1: 7h37, 100km, 2333m, 3692cal. Average temp 26 deg, max 41 deg.
Stage 2: Hermanus Greyton 103km, 2350m. 21 March, 2017. My 60th birthday.
Stage 2 takes riders north to a new race village in quaint Greyton, with some fierce climbs along the way. Before long riders will get acquainted with the day’s biggest challenge: Shaw’s Pass. It is only four kilometres but gains more than 220m in altitude and on one section the gradient kicks up more than 20%. Later they will confront some other testing climbs either side of the Caledon Kloof and in the mountains looming above Greyton. There will, however, be relief during the day with some stunning singletrack sections through beautiful fynbos. And finally riders will cross the day’s last ridge and drop down to the race village at Elandskloof. Bird lovers will enjoy sightings of elegant Blue Cranes – South Africa’s national bird – along the route as it heads inland.
This took us out of Hermanus again upon the Hemel and Aarde Valley towards Caledon.
It was again a day of extreme heat. After Shaws Pass climb I was again boiling. I had to decide and took off the compression vest. It felt like I was free and so much cooler. It made a huge difference. This is a key point that I learnt. I had used a vest for years on my rides but had to analyze the problem and decide and take action. I was also able to determine later that our new type cycling shirts are now a tight fit that have the dual purpose so that a compression vest is no longer required. Hard lesson to learn but at least I found out in time and was able to take action. It made a huge difference. Andy had a problem with his gear cable which we had to fix.
At the Caledon stop we were told that they had taken the last loop out of the race because of the heat. It was just too dangerous. Pen was at the stop with birthday brownies which had melted. She then took me to the overnight camp and Andy went with Sam – the first year she was not part of Epic support team.
Andy: This was the first time I did the Epic without the ABSA intervention, which is unprecedented luxury and my daughter who was with me on my previous events made it like a family experience. The Epic does not appear to put itself out for the average rider, which I found quite disconcerting.
The camp site was in a valley and was cooking hot and there was no breeze to cool things down. We could not get close to the tents due to the heat. Pen didn’t stay as it was just unbearable with the heat. Andy and I got our Woolies lunch packs, found a small dam and plunged in clothes and all just to cool down. We stayed there until much later because the tent area was unbearably hot.
It was crazy, there was again no ice at the water points. The hospitality tents only for pros and the rest of us just had to make do.
We had our massages, bikes serviced and slept in the shade around the dam.
A real bucket list to celebrate an Epic day on my 60th birthday.
Stats day 2: 4h21, 63.1km, 1475m, 1766cal. Avg temp 25deg, max 36deg.
Stage 3: Greyton Greyton 78km 1650m
After two rugged days riders will get to enjoy a shorter stage and the mountain biking delights of Greyton. After a country meander that takes riders through nearby Bereaville and Genadendal, it is straight into a series of climbs including Mad Dog Bite, Zig Zag and the UFO – the latter so named because of the strange UFO-like building perched on the hilltop. But what goes up must go down, which means some thrilling descents and great, rugged singletrack. Be warned though: the trails are rugged and many a sharp rock lies in wait.
The start was very fast with first 10km on dirt road. This was ideal for foreign riders who preferred dirt roads. It is so easy to burn out just trying to stay with the bunch.
Andy and I rode well up the UFO climb and we both had a good day out.
Stats stage 3: 5h12, 78.48km, 1482m, 2931cal. Avg temp 26 max 36 deg.
Stage 4: Greyton Elgin 112km 2150m 22 March, 2017.
The transition between two of the Western Cape’s most sought after holiday getaways takes riders on many ups and downs, and a burst of singletrack. It is rolling hills from the moment you leave Greyton and riders will approach one particular climb with apprehension: it’s called Pumping Legs for good reason, and as you approach it seems like the road heads up straight into the sky. Later they will cut through the Klipheuwel-Dassiefontein Wind Energy Facility near Caledon, where they can marvel at the 100m high wind turbines with their 58m blades. On the way to the new race village at Oak Valley they will head up the old Houw Hoek Pass (constructed in 1904 and also known as the River Pass because it follows the course of the Jakkals River).
Pumping legs was the wind farm that can be seen from Caledon. Again a lot of dirt roads at the start and very fast. The Botrivier pass to Houhoek was a good climb with still some climbing after the waterpoint.
At the finish was so tired I had to hide my tears in the cold towel at the finish. But you always seem to be able to pick yourself up. One also gets into a routine of eating, drinking, shower, massage and sleep. The meters climbed on this day are telling.
Stage 4 stats:
Stage 5: Elgin to Elgin 84km 2100m 23 March, 2017.
There’s always a fun day at the Absa Cape Epic, and barring bad weather this should be it. First there are a few climbs to negotiate, including the legendary Nuweberg from the east side. A couple more climbs and tricky descents as the course weaves across the hills above Grabouw and then riders will be in singletrack heaven. They will do most of the A-to-Z trail network above the Elgin/Grabouw Country Club and around the Eikenhof Dam and then enjoy the renowned trails on Paul Cluver Estate and Oak Valley as they head back to the race village.
Actually quite hard riding. Hot, sore feet. Sore bum.
Stats stage 5: 6h27, 86.7 km, 2008m 3642 cal, avg them 14, max 20.
Stage 6: Elgin to Elgin 103km 2750m 24 March, 2017.
Then veterans of the Absa Cape Epic were asked about the toughest climb ever in the event their response was unanimous: Groenlandberg. In 2017 the route returns to the rugged track which rises more than 600m along nine kilometres of rocky, sandy climbing – the average gradient is seven percent but one or two sections tilt up more than 20%. That confrontation with the race’s most notorious climb comes 20km into the route’s Queen Stage. Then it is more rocky trail across the back of the Groenlandberg, another tough climb, a bump or two and then under the N2. Now it is time to explore the south side of the Grabouw district. Riders will loop through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve – one of 400 unique biosphere reserves in the world – and private farmland before heading back under the N2 via Lebanon’s flowing singletrack.
There is short stretch through vineyards after the start and then the climbing starts up and over Groenlandberg. This is quite early is the stage. There were very rocky descents after Groenlandberg and Die Nek. So a lot of rocky technical riding. After the decent the riding in the Elgin valley with sort sharp ascents always making the work hard. Andy and I rode and finished well together.
Andy: Our body’s and bottoms were sore by now and with the big climbing we did a lot of talking between ourselves to pull through a successful day.
Stage 6 stats: 7h43, 101km, 2483m, 4281cal, avg temp 18 max 28.
Stage 7: Elgin to ValdeVie 85km 1350m 25 March, 2017.
Then the 2017 the Absa Cape Epic finishes for the first time at Val de Vie and its renowned polo fields – the fourth host for the Grand Finale in the race’s 14 editions. After leaving Oak Valley the finish is just 85km away and the riders have the least climbing to do on any day of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. They will, however, be well advised to keep some energy in hand for the climb up the Franschhoek Pass after about 40km. That seven kilometre haul rises nearly 400m, marking the last major climb of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. Then it is through some twists and turns around Franschhoek and finally the Grand Finale finish line – and the much sought after finisher’s shirt – awaits at Val de Vie.
Rode well for first part and the flats and it was exciting knowing this was the last stage. I had to dig deep up Franschhoek pass and just had to keep a rhythm and tapped away. Andy Was riding well and had to wait at the top for me.
The last stretch after the pass was really long winding in and out of vineyards. At one point I wiped out so quickly when my front wheel slipped on lose sand and dust. I was really sore but luckily no serious injury and nothing was going to stop me from finishing.
It really was great sense of achievement to finish together with Andy and in some way we couldn’t believe that we has actually done it.
Stage 7 stats: 4h55, 85km, 1290m, 2715 cal, avg temp 24 max 33 deg.
Total time: 45h06 position 352
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