| The Race
Team BBB set out on a quest for a Cape Epic Top 50
spot. This was no easy challenge with the field
improving every year and the conditions becoming
harder. The prologue turned out to be a nice warmup
and a good way to settle the nerves and check bikes,
or damage bikes as in our case. We managed to cut two
Maxxis crossmarks in the prologue, so we had some
maintenance to do in the afternoon. Some teams were
looking good after the prologue, but that would not
last long after the real riding began.
|
Day |
Dist |
Ascent |
Avg |
Time |
GC |
Cat |
|
Prologue |
15 |
360 |
20.2 |
00:44.2 |
118 |
94 |
|
1 |
123 |
3091 |
20.4 |
06:09.4 |
69 |
48 |
|
2 |
137 |
2518 |
21.2 |
06:42.6 |
66 |
48 |
|
3 |
133 |
2340 |
22.9 |
05:47.5 |
102 |
71 |
|
4 |
121 |
2620 |
19.8 |
06:04.5 |
81 |
61 |
|
5 |
146 |
1819 |
21.6 |
06:53.3 |
70 |
52 |
|
6 |
130 |
2095 |
21.7 |
05:59.5 |
50 |
40 |
|
7 |
91 |
1985 |
18.4 |
05:05.2 |
67 |
53 |
|
8 |
68 |
1760 |
16.7 |
03:55.5 |
123 |
91 |
|
|
949 |
18228 |
20.3 |
47:24:11 |
61 |
47 |
|
We started off by picking some teams to mark at the
start of the race, some guys that we had raced before
and knew would be setting a good pace. After a
blitzing day 1 we were infront of all our marked teams
and happy with a good day out and our plan was
working. It was by far our best day 1 at an epic and
layed the groundwork for a solid epic ahead. Day 2 was
really hard, with a long climb to soften you up and
then a brutally long steep hot and rough climb to
finish you off. We had another good day out and we
finished the day slightly ahead of the previous day.
We made good time on the technical decent, something
that would help us on many days.
Day 3 we went a bit backward as Alan started with a
cold and broke a front deraileur which required fixing
at the Shimano techzone. We took the opportunity to
rest a bit. Day 4 and 5 were pretty average as we
maintained our positions but found the going quite
hard, not really knowing whether or not to go for it
again. Fatique was setting in and we could see teams
dropping off and the slow starters getting stronger.
Day 6 was our best day, we had a very good start and
stuck with the front bunches. Then we got to
Salmansdam and got over the mountain quickly dropping
some other teams. Over the top we coulght up with a
fast bunch and rode all they way into Hermanus to
finish Top 50 - it was a great effort.
But it was the last bit that I really had as my cold
really took hold on day 7, I started ok but limped
home. Luckily we had cemented a good position, 56 over
all, close to our Top 50 goal. Day 8 was a nightmare
and one of the hardest days on a bike for me. It was
damage control the whole day and I was as sick as a
dog when we eventually crossed the line. Not a great
way to end the epic but I was glad to make it and
thankful to Albert for pulling me all the way in.
This epic was harder than any other I have done, after
6 days there was no easy days or chance to rest at
all, it just kept on coming. There were few if any
easy finishes, and this makes it particularly hard. At
the time it was almost too hard and un pleasant, but
afterwards it does not seem that bad. It lived up to
its reputation of being hard - harder than you think!
The Support
We could not have ridden the way we did if it were not
for Candice and Belinda. Experts in race support they
were like real dedicated professionals. Looking after
us at the end of everyday with recovery drinks, lunch,
snacks and pep talks. They really made our race and
were an inspiration to us. Everyday we looked forward
to getting to finish and seeing them. Maxxis techzone
guys helped us with some maintenance and bike cleaning
even though they didn't have to, they were superb and
also made our lives alot easier - thanks guys!
The Bikes
Our Raleigh prototypes were a secret revelation. These
full suspension bikes were perfect for the conditions
especially the many rough and bumpy tracks that we had
to negotiate at the end of stages. There were also
many very technical descents that we went down with
ease fully in control and with a fair amount of
comfort. Climbing the bikes was no problem, the active
suspension often providing much needed traction on the
loose rocky climbs. I rode with a Maxxis monorail on
the front and it made by bike stick in the corners, I
was always confident on the descents and never felt
even a little bit of slip on high speed smooth and
loose rock corners. All the BBB parts were solid in
their performance and they are still on my bike and
will be so for many kilometres.
Daily race diary
and Cape Epic 2008 photos
and Video |
