Epic Insider: Cape Wineland and single track spectacle on Stage 6

Today was a truly spectacular day on a bike. The shortest stage of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic at just 71km, though still featuring over 30km of single track and 2000m of climbing. While the day started off a bit wet and gloomy, when the clouds lifted riders were treated to some unbeatable Wineland vistas and magical mountain bike trails.

Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Photo by Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Photo by Dominic Barnardt/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

After the queues of riders we had encountered on parts of the stage 5 single track we made an effort to get to our start chute early. With some rain in the air we stood exposed in the damp pen eagerly waiting to get going. We’ve both been feeling better each day and were keen to get a clear run on as much of the 31km of single track as possible. Due to the nature of the course the start batches were well spread out to prevent congestion. With the group ahead going off 15 minutes prior we knew there would be open road for a good while.

The first named track we encountered was the “Roller Coaster”. My sensible side said “take it easy, we’re just one day away”, but the empty, hard packed, flowy trail just called for play time. Smiling ear-to-ear and sharing in fellow riders’ glee with an almost automatic “WOHOO!!” as we exited the trail. What a blast! Can we do it again?

This was just a little taste of what the day would offer up. Single tracks winding up and down, at times even willing the longer ones to end to give fatigued hands and forearms some relief. There’s something about single track riding though. It allows you to ignore the intensity of efforts to a degree. Often today downhills led into steep uphills and flatter sections which I attacked like a cross country racer. Only to realise the extent of the efforts expended when the trails ended.

Photo by Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Photo by Sophie Smith/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Photo by Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

The time and distance flew by. Mentally I think the shorter stage allowed us to push that little bit harder today. Also knowing that we’re at the tail end of the Epic with legs that seem to be improving day by day.

The final climb took as up Bains Kloof and into the now familiar Welvan Pas forest – we could smell home. Unfortunately by this stage we’d caught up to the middle pack of the earlier start group. Tired legs, bodies and minds made for some slow and tentative descending ahead of us. A few gaps gave us another taster, but these trails here are ones I’ll undoubtedly be revisiting on a “normal” day. Unspoilt pine forest perfection!

From there it was largely downhill and flat to the finish. Mirroring the day prior we opened the taps from the five kilometer marker. Cruising in as if Sauser and Kulhavy were on our tail, we weren’t going for any big wins, but the small victory of pushing yourself that little bit harder.