Epic Insider: Tough climbs, fast tracks and pure elation on the final stage

Waking up on Sunday morning I realised it was the final day of the 2015 Absa Cape Epic. For a brief moment emotions ran high. We were almost there, but not quite yet. You pull back the focus and press pause on any premature celebrations. With 91 km remaining on the final stage anything can happen. Even so the mood in the breakfast tent was noticeably lighter. Smiling faces and jovial conversation were a stark contrast to the subdued and shell shocked looks of the prior mornings.

Photo by Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

After a couple of damp and windy mornings Wellington served up perfection for our final start. Crystal clear skies and not a breath of wind. After dropping off our bags for their last transfer we again arrived at our chute early. Only this time the goal was not about single track, but rather staying out of trouble near the front of the inevitable bunch that would form over the fast flat start. In the 7 days so far we’d managed to keep the rubber side down and avoided any crashes. Actually, all in all we’d had a pretty trouble free ride aside from a few minor mechanicals.

The first 30 kilometers went by quickly. Over the fast district and farm roads it felt like the front end of a road race. Riders splintering off and chasing hard to close gaps. It was a different sort of riding to what we’d been doing and the legs weren’t used to the speed. We both decided to back off with a mean climb up Paardeberg still ahead.

On the first part of the climb there was heavy traffic and we joined the queue of riders cranking our way up. The second part of the climb was unexpectedly brutal. A seemingly endless portage on a steep, loose and rocky surface. By the top most riders were dripping with sweat. Even at a slow walk it was unforgiving!

Photo by Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

After the big climb of the day we hit more fast sections on farm and district roads. Setting a good tempo we closed down on the groups ahead. Over the last few days we’d been riding in the vicinity of some Hubbers from the Darling Brew team. Their strip was certainly a good advertisement and a cruel one at that. The thought of an ice cold Slow Beer or Bone Crusher was all too tempting in the hot and dusty conditions. It seemed they were also keen to get there hands on a cold one at the finish as they set a blistering pace over this section. This left us and a few other teams hanging on by our fingernails. Eventually we decided to ease off and give the legs some reprieve.

Dane and I with around 10km to go.

Photo by Mike Coppin

Much of the day went by quickly with the speed over the fast and flat course. Before long we were just 10km away from the finish and greeted by the climb up the back of Dorst Berg. Knowing the Meerendal tracks well I’d completely underestimated the last climb. It seemed to go on forever with a searing heat radiating off the rocks and sand. At 5 km to go though we began to hear the music and announcers voice echoing over the hill. Finally we could see the fence and the top of Dorst Berg which signalled the start of the single track home.

The final climb up the back of Dorst Berg

Photo by Dominic Barnardt/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Coming down the sweeping tracks I made a few glances over to the finish line below. We were so close. Ordinarily I’d be itching to push the pace, but so close to the end I was happy to coast down gently. Further down we hit the little play park – that would be fun with some speed. And then into some pristine fresh trail with a mix of berms and fun pump sections where a just little airtime over the doubles was mandatory in my book.

Into the finish straight we were a bit like deers in headlights. Crowds of people lined the barriers cheering us on as we rolled towards the final Cape Epic arch. Looking out for friends and family I caught a few faces in the crowd as we crossed the line. Huge smiles all round with an on-bike fist bump and celebratory man-hug .

We’d done it. We’d completed the Cape Epic!

Photo by Emma Hill/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

Photo by Cheryl Herweg

What an incredible experience. The emotional and physical highs and lows. Breath taking scenery (when you did take a moment to look) and mind blowing single track. The early morning start line playlist and the “pink fat bikers” dance routines. The Woolies full cream chocolate milkshakes at the finish. The bag-pipe alarm clock. Awkward in-tent dressing routines. Portaloos. The shared stories. The strolls to “tweede kamp”. The rain, wind, heat, sand, rocks, climbs. That feeling of crossing the finish line each day. It will all retain a special place among my bike riding memories.