![\"ccs-62657-0-05495600-1458069093.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-05495600-1458069093.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Gary Perkin\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\nOn a day where he had made up his mind to abandon the race before being talked out of it by his riding partner Sauser results and times mean little to Madolo. But if he is to recover overnight his hopes of a good general classification finish are now surely dashed as their Stage 2 time of 5 hours 46 minutes and 37 seconds was only good enough for 107th on the stage. The pairing now find themselves 65th overall. <\/p>\n
Times and positions mean nothing compared to health though and readers are sure to be able to sympathise with Madolo\u2019s plight. While beset with cramps, fatigue and worse the last thing one feels like doing is exercise. To then ride a mountain bike for 93km over some of the most technical terrain in this, arguably, the most technical Epic yet takes serious mental fortitude. <\/p>\n
It would however not have been possible without the assistance of Sauser. Madolo had been unable to hold down any food and was running out of energy when he started to contemplate withdrawing from the race. He battled on until he felt he could go no further before voicing his desire to withdraw to Sauser. One doesn\u2019t finish 10 Absa Cape Epics without battling through a fair share of adversity though. Sauser rallied Madolo\u2019s spirits and kept encouraging him throughout the remainder of the day until they crossed the finish line at Saronsberg Wine Estate. <\/p>\n<\/a>Ewald Sadie\/Cape Epic\/SPORTZPICS<\/span><\/p>\n