Epic Insider: Slow and Soggy on Stage 1

No matter how comfortable the pace, spending over eight hours on a bike is seldom a comfortable affair. Aches and pains seep into the contact points: hands, bum and feet. Your neck, back and shoulders fatigue. And that’s assuming your legs aren’t already stealing the show.

It was always part of the plan to take things slow today, ease into the the week ahead and our first Epic. But 8h37 in the saddle was well more than we bargained for.

Photo by Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Awakened by the suffering wails of bagpipes belting out something that resembled a national anthem – stage 1 was upon us. Clear skies greeted us ahead of the much hyped stage and start of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic in earnest. Based on our prologue performance we were sitting 399th overall placing us in the “F” batch.

After a brief delay at the start due to a crash we set off shortly after 7h20. The first 7 kms were on tar and went by quickly. Although I’d usually scoff at the thought of tar in a mountain bike race, with the distance that lay ahead I was happy for some “free miles”.

On the small climbs leading up towards Groenlandberg we cruised comfortably. Based on the progress over the first 25km I started pinning hopes on a revised stage time… perhaps we were looking good for under 7 hours?

Photo by Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Once on the berg though I quickly reverted those revisions. Front rower John Smit passing us casually up a steep section of the climb was the first sign of the day that awaited us. Dane’s legs and body were still feeling the after effects of a bit of (man) flu two weeks earlier. He has an uncanny knack of getting sick around the same time before an event. Either just nerves or a sneaky ploy to take the first day or so easier. But, to give him credit, his form usually also comes into its own by day 3 or so.

At around 35km a welcomed gentle mist cooled us off. That soon turned into rain. Not hard rain or big drops, but the sort of rain that leaves you in a constant state of sogginess. And that state didn’t change until about 90km when the rain cleared and thankfully we dried up.

The climbs aside, the course today was tough. Rocky, rutted and generally bumpy Terrain which left little room to relax meant the mind was always working.

Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Although I was feeling strong physically, the time and concentration takes its toll. After 90 odd kilometers and more than 7 hours just watching the trail ahead became an effort. Thankfully some fun and less jarring single track over the last 20km revived and relived the senses a bit.

Over the finish line our first stage was complete. Longer than expected, a test of patience, endurance and sense of humour. We’d passed and it didn’t matter by how much.

Heading into stage 2 we’re both feeling more confident. Much of the course traverses familiar trails. The terrain will be far kinder on the body and the fun factor helps to somewhat effortlessly put distance behind us.