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Day 5: Barrydale to Montagu
104km 1560m ascent
 This was our best day by far,
the riding was awesome and we felt great. It was just one of
those great days to be on a bike. A short tar start lead us
through orchards and farm tracks and scenic mountain roads.
We held back a bit at the start anticipating two rather
large climbs and a technical finish again. The climb up to
Op De Tradouw was on single track used by a local quad
adventure company. It was tricky and steep at the start ,
but became very rideable towards the end and the views were
brilliant. At the top we rode on some jeep track for a long
way before descending onto some secondary roads. The second
climb of the day, Wolfieskop pass was close to the finish
and was steep and just rideable. We felt really good at this
stage and powered up the climb comfortably and then rode
hard to the finish along the technical jeep and single
track. We passed many teams who had gone out hard in the
morning and were now looking for some extra energy. The
finish at Montagu was on the tar after a long downhill which
made for some exciting sprint finishes. At Montagu we took
some timeout and joined Candice and Belinda at their guest
house next to the river in Montagu. We had another good rest
and an afternoon nap. That evening after our massage we went
out for Pizza and spent some time with the ladies who were
doing such a brilliant job of keeping us motivated and
happy. We went to bed well fed, rejuvenated and ready for
the final 3 days.
Day 6: Montagu to
Villiersdorp 111km 1540m ascent
 This route was very familiar
to us having done the exact same one in 2005. We remembered
a fast tar section followed by a seriously technical climb
that required walking and a sting in the tail just before
the finish. As usual there was a quick tar start out of
town, but soon we were onto some rocky jeep tracks. We were
cautious in the first half of the day wanting to save some
for the end knowing that a blast down the tar could cost us
at the finish. The rocky climb did not seem as bad as last
time, with a short walk at the start and then a little bit
more towards the top. We had passed Christoph Sauser earlier
with some flats again. But he caught us on the climb, and
pedaled past as we struggled to walk over the rocks. This
was the Cape Epic, out in the middle of nowhere watching a
world champ biker thread through walkers across unbelievable
technical tracks, a pleasure to watch.
After eventually reaching the
top we had the fastest descent of the epic with some guys
hitting 80km downhill on sketchy tar and dirt sections. A
couple of riders miscalculated some of the tar dirt
transitions and had some bad falls. The rolling hills to the
end sapped our energy and we had just enough left for the
final climb. It was about 5km long up to the mast above
Villiersdorp and it was over a hard bumpy surface thanks to
churned up ground from many cow hooves. Then a speedy decent
into town along the water canals was exhilarating as we
bolted for home. We rode in under 5hrs again so we were
happy to be able to have an afternoon of rest to recover.
Our time this year was 40mins
better than in 2005, yet our position in the field was
exactly the same. This was a clear testament to the
increased competition and level of the riders since the 2005
epic. Every year the pace and level in this race has
increased. Our afternoon spot was on someone’s pavement,
were we watched the goings on of the race village as riders,
crew, supporters and passersby kept us amused. The local
slap chips shop did a roaring business and we were there
helping them along.
By now the legs were starting
to feel better and the hammering of the first 3 days seemed
to be something of the past. Massage, dinner and sleep saw
us ready for another big day.
Day 7: Villiersdorp to
Kleinmond 109km 1745m ascent
 This was going to be a tough
day, long hard and a bit unpredictable. With a beach finish
we had something to look forward to, but we had to work hard
to get it. It was a blistering tar start again, followed by
rolling hills were we settled in and rested a bit. But
Groenlandberg came sooner than later so we had to start
digging to get the climbing legs going again. We climbed up
Groelandberg and turned off before any of the really ugly
stuff started as we took a jeep track towards Lebanon. It
was tough going on this rocky undulating section, but we did
well and moved up a bit.
The long descent took us to
the second water point after which we crossed under the N2
and headed into the Lebanon forests. Another casualty lay on
the ground just after the water point with a broken collar
bone, concentration was critical all the time otherwise you
could go down. The climb in Lebanon was undulating and we
found ourselves on another tar climb, which should be easy
but somehow proved to be sapping on the legs. At water point
3 we had reached the top and then it was down again into
Koegelberg Reserve on a rocky jeep track that would take us
along the Palmiet river and into Kleinmond. The cool breeze
had disappeared in this little valley and it was hot and
slow going. The undulating track was very rocky with short
sharp climbs that require power and balance, a rare luxury
after 100km of riding. We thought we would never get out of
the valley but then the a little house appeared and the road
surface changed to gravel jeep track and then just gravel,
then we popped out onto the tar and now it was just 5km to
go. We rode as fast as we could. The last kilometre was
singletrack on the beach, stay on your bike was hard work,
then across bridge and onto the finish line. We did it again
another good day, 5:24. Turns out we did better than
expected and got our highest finish of the week with a 66
overall and 45 in the mens, we felt great. Falling asleep
with the sound of the sea was a great way to end the day.
Day 8: Kleinmond to
Lourensford 89km 1610m ascent
 A late start today which
meant a bit of a sleep in, but it also meant that we would
be out in the heat of the day. There was a bit of
nervousness the night before and at the start, as we had
realized that this was not going to be an easy cruise in
day. The leaders were still in a tussle for overall winner
and down the field everyone was having their own little
race, so it was either preserve your lead, get home in one
piece or give it horns for the last day. We had been riding
with ABSA team Ockert and Henry, Wheelthing Andre and Angus,
Nicholas & Clinton from Wiley X Eyewear Cyanosis as well as
a couple other teams like the Swiss bike brothers and the
Dunlop dudes.
We went back out along the
Palmiet river track, with fresh legs we gunned it way faster
than when we came in the day before. But with all the
climbing ahead, the fast start would turn out to be a bad
idea. The fast downhills from the day before had turned into
uphill slogs as we made our way up to the top. A quick water
stop and then there was some rest with a decent through the
forest after which we popped out onto a tar pass and headed
up again. Then some tracks through the Grabouw orchards and
another climb up towards the mountains and the N2 crossing.
It was getting hot and I was desperate for the water point.
We stopped and re-fuelled then crossed the N2 and headed for
the compulsory portage. It was some more climbing up to the
portage and it became evident that the distance and climbing
for the day was going to be just a little bit more than was
promised. An in so doing keeping the spirit of the Cape Epic
alive where you take nothing for granted and expect the
unexpected.
The portage was actually
quite welcome and a chance to rest a bit, take in the
scenery and reflect on the last day of the epic. It was also
the first sighting of the finish area and you got a distinct
sense of “ I am nearly there…” But there were still two
nasty little climbs that sapped the last bit out of the
legs, a bit like squeezing a squeezed orange, just drips
came out. The best sign board of the whole Epic, that last
5km to go sign. Suddenly a rush of power and we bolted for
the finish again.
The Lourensford finish was
spectacular, coming down the tree lined road and then onto
the long lap around the field. It felt like we were
floating, hundreds of people cheering. Finishing the epic
for the 3rd time was just as satisfying as the first, a huge
sense of achievement, suddenly you realize how difficult the
task at hand has been but seeing it as little pieces made it
achievable, but the final moment is huge. Al proudly took
his Raleigh up onto the stage, worthy of a medal itself for
carrying him all the way. We felt like heroes but meanwhile
we were just a couple of average guys out having a blast
riding our bikes.
Thanks to Subaru for
supporting us and believing in us and making this possible.
Candice and Belinda our support team were the absolute best,
they always had cool relaxing spots for us to sit and
recover and organized food and drinks for us and gave us
love and encouragement.
Absa Cape Epic 2007 the day
after
Well there is only a mild
feeling of depression after it is all over. The 2007 epic
was intense for us, with our focus on doing well we were
trying to ride hard everyday. It took its toll mentally and
physically. The pace was incredible and definitely higher
than any of our previous epic rides. So now to have some
peace and quiet afterwards is actually quite welcome.
Looking back it was a great event, the route really was
quite spectacular, varied and interesting. The amount of
technical riding was amazing and it made for very
interesting days out. Favorite sections were those killer
climbs on day 3 at Fiellie’s Folly, the start of day 4
through the orchards, that Palmiet river rocky jeep track,
the descent off Kamanassie, the descent off the top of the
climb on day 6, feeling strong at the end of day 5. Great
moments were looking up from my Ritchey stem to see Tom
Richey riding the single track in front of me, checking out
the pros bikes in the motor home park. Watching Christoph
Sauser pedal past me as I stumbled over a practically un-rideable
climb and then catching up to him for a split second at the
bottom of a decent before he and David George cruised home
after taking it easy that day. Favorite stage locations were
Uniondale, Montagu and Kleinmond.
Race comments
The Good
Route,
technical sections, less dirt roads Toilets Massage service
Finishes and starts Hot breakfast good variation Results
daily
The Bad
Amabubesi low profile No
deserts No filter coffee
Will we be
back................... probably, how can you not be part of
one of the greatest races on earth?
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