Riding the 2015 Cape Epic? Team Bicycling’s Mark Murphy got the chance to ride a few stages as he preps for the big race. Read on for a taste of what you’re in for.
By Mark Murphy
Day 1 – Introduction to Stages 5 & 6
Our morning started with a 5:15am alarm bell at the Oude Wellington guest house accommodation. We got ready to meet 11-time Epic finisher Shan Wilson. I’d heard about this 48-year-old podium rider who was our guide… and as we call it in cycling “a machine!”
He was running late and arrived at 6:15am. His reason was forgivable though as he had just ridden 78km to meet us. That’s right, he woke at 2:30am, hit the road at 3:30am from Moorreesburg (wherever that is?!) and did a 78km warmup before taking Team Bicycling (me, Mark Murphy and Gavin Klerck) on a recce for stages five and six of the ABSA Cape Epic. He is one crazy machine… I love it!
The clouds were hanging low and we couldn’t have asked for better riding conditions in a notoriously hot Wellington. So to my fellow Cape Epic competitors…. make sure you get some single track climbing into your regime because the terrain is relentless. If you haven’t paced yourself correctly, this could be the part of the race where you burn all the matches and put yourself in the hurt locker. Welvanpas and Bainskloof mountains are not for sissies, so be prepared for hours in granny gear turning over a comfortable tempo up the sharp rocky sections. There are many switchback climbs that take quite a bit out of your legs each corner and going too hard too early could be costly.
A great tip that was shared with us from our guide; On the last water point of each stage, take stock of where both riders are at. Make sure you are both on the same page. Have a board meeting and take your time to understand each other completely. The reason: To make sure you finish in the best condition possible, because we need to rise the next morning and do it all over again with a smile on our face.
We looked forward to day two: a five hour mission in these magnificent mountains and the unbelievable single-track that has been cut for the greatest mountain bike race in the world!
Day 2 – Climbing and Climbing
A respectable 7am start was decided upon for day two. The tin roof of our accommodation informed us that rain jackets will be required for today’s ride. That didn’t dampen our spirits as we knew we were in for some of the best riding tracks that South Africa has to offer. A fourth rider, Lucas, drove through to meet us and bizarrely, closed the car door with the key in the ignition and it managed to lock with all his bike gear in the car. A big metal fire hose came to the rescue as the small back window was smashed to retrieve it all. A good start!
I can inform all you Cape Epic riders out there that Day 5 and 6 is going to be brutal on the legs. The riding is magnificent but be prepared to work for every kilometre to get you over the line. I do think the profiles that are up on the website show you that the stages are a challenge, but they can’t prepare you for the terrain that you need to ride. Expect rocky, steep climbs that go on and on and on. You will need to keep your legs as fresh as possible for the last 20km of each day. The climbs hit the legs hard and will require a lot of effort to see you over the top. The sense of achievement at the summit is wonderful, but then you have to keep sharp and alert because you are then descending through Cool Running’s and Cool Running’s Too on the black loop of Welvanpas. This is one of the most enjoyable single track downhill’s that you can ever experience. It’s a great test of skill and guile (note that your hands and arms are in for a real workout on this descent.)
The rain turned the clay soil into a treacherous riding patch which saw 3 out of the 4 take a light tumble. Luckily mine was close to the farm house as I broke the ratchet buckle on my shoe. Thankfully Mrs Retief was able to wrap a large sellotape roll around my foot which saw me conquer the black route without any issues. Baie dankie Tannie. (tip: pack duct tape)
To close off, the riding today was as good as it gets in the sport of mountain biking. If you are fortunate enough to drive out to Wellington to ride your bike, hurry up and get here because you will leave with a smile on your dial for many an hour after.
Day 3 – Kanonkop
Two more gents joined the group on Saturday evening and there was cause for a few more bottles of red at dinner! Sunday morning gave us perfect riding weather and the fact that we were a group of five now gave us a chance to give it some gas on the jeep track roads towards Paarl from our Wellington abode.
Our big challenge today was the tough Kanonkop climb. Yesterday’s strenuous climbs took a toll on all our legs and this morning’s start reminded us of what we achieved yesterday. The legs didn’t have much time to shake the lactic acid before our first test of the day. Short, sharp climbs in the first 20-minutes get the legs burning after leaving Wellington town and you know you are in for a big day. The discussions were all about the big Kanonkop climb that we could see in the distance.
A good pace was set in the first 20km of jeep track and some tar roads to get through before we arrived at the beautiful wine farms in Paarl. It was time to ascend this exquisite mountain. I have to say that the first two thirds of the climb were unbelievable. The road was a hard smooth jeep track that winded up and up into a shady pine forest. I was having fun and found a smooth tempo to climb at. This wasn’t so tough. And yes, I was a bit hasty because the last kilometre is one hell of a test. It’s a steep gradient and it is incredibly technical with the rocks and loose gravel making the climb a test of note. You have to block your ears as your legs are screaming at you and you need to concentrate at keeping the front wheel from popping up.
A fast trip back via the jeep tracks and tar for the next 20km saw us finish a great day’s riding. We completed 83km with 1700m of ascending. What a fantastic place to ride a bicycle. People of Wellington and Paarl, make the most of your surroundings because in my humble opinion, you have probably got the best riding the country has to offer.
I’ve had a very successful training camp and a wonderful time with great mates. Gavin and I feel that we have come out of a tough weekend a lot more prepared both physically and mentally for stages five and six of the 2015 Cape Epic. Thanks to Shan for a brilliant experience and thank you for all the little nuggets of knowledge you have passed onto two newbies of this daunting event.
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