@SeanScalpel by detailed feedback you mean how many beers were consumed?? 😉
Yoh i dont know where to start! Everything was amazing!!! I took the feedback form @lukelockie and @Kylie in consideration when i entered and opted for the entry level boat option with transfers to and from Zagreb before and after the race, and was pleasantly surprised by the experience! Everything worked like clockwork and are VERY well organized.
I had a Cape and Swiss Epic under the belt. I LOVED the Swiss Epic and really wanted to go back, but decided to do a 3rd series event. Like i said before, i was pleasantly surprised. But as Luke alluded too, do not underestimate the terrain. The slogan 'Conquer the rocks' are spot on.
NOT A RACE REPORT, but rather a sharing of my experience
My partner and i flown out the Thursday before the event and decided to spent the weekend in Zagreb. On the flight there we met Sergeij, who was flying home. He gave a lot of info and even met up with on Saturday for a few beers and a tour. And we went hiking with him on Sunday morning. The people of Croatia is amazing! On Monday we got on the transfer and arriving at the race Hotel there was a huge (more like moerse!) storm on the island. Wind over 60km/h and a lotta rain, i really thought we were not be able to ride. hahaaa. Registration was seamless and the Hotel was buzzing as everyone was hiding from the storm and worrying about the start
The Prologue on Tuesday was scheduled for a small remote island and was cancelled as the boats couldnt leave the harbour. The Prologue then started right at the Race Hotel. Low and behold it at least stopped raining, but the wind was still pumping. I had a rude awaking form the off, as the adrenalin was pumping, i made a rookie error and cut a wet tarmac corner. Front wheel slid out and i was doing a slide which would make a 10 year old birthday party slide look amateurish. With my race flashing by me just 1km into the race, i got up relatively unscathed. Confidence now 0 i continued soldiering on in the cold and not 5km further the rocks conquered my tire! With a sore wrist, cold and wet hands and endless bombs i eventually broke the valve 1.5km to go and had to ride to the finish on a flat tire.
After the prologue we boarded our boat. The poor Slovenian team on our boat didnt know what hit them, as the rest of the occupants were all Saffas. And man, did we all had a jol the entire week, including the Slovenians!!!
Unfortunately the boats could not sail due to the weather and we were bussed of to the start of Stage 1 and 2, with my bad luck surely out of the way after the prologue, the rest of the Stages went well. My partner met his bad luck with the rocks somewhere is stage 3 i think, but we got through that as well! Its hard to compare the routes to anything ive ever done. The views are amazing, the terrain tough, but rewarding. Even the downhills were technical and they took us up climbs i never thought id do! (We went up one cobble climb, i prayed all the way up. It was steep, cobbled all the way and long. At one stage i tought is Cape Epic is TDF of MTBing, this must be the Paris-Roubaix of MTBing)
Its probably not Cape Epic tough, but it also aint no W2W.
Will i do it again, a million time yes.
But i digress, @SeanScalpel, you are more than welcome to send me a PM if you want more detail or have questions.
