'Dale

My spouse have fallen in love with the Karoo. We are taking more and more local trippies to SkaapLand, as I call it. Glad you made the trip, Spidey. Hope you plan the next one soon-soon.

The South Easter is pumping here and bunch riding will be inevitable. Conserving energy and staying out of the red will be key by hiding a bit behind Matt. The course is dry, dusty and rocky. It’ll be tough for the aspiring amateur, especially the wall up to the Mast, with a moerse headwind.

MONDAY MOTIVATION The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.”- Confucius

The cooler weather forecasted will really assist fatigued bodies on Stages 678, however passage to the cooler days will have to be earned with 40 degree days on Tuesday and Wednesday. Paarl, Boland is the scene for Wednesday's stage and temps at 37 degrees which will register about 43-45 on the measurement devices.

14 years of training together - priceless 💙

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow." — Mary Anne Radmacher

MONDAY MOTIVATION: You owe it to the world to deliver on what you are good and gifted at. That is your unique Gift to the world.

What incredible live footage and production value from the Tuscan hills. Demi Vollering and Anna vdB begin their promised duel that will last throughout the Women's WorldTour for the next few seasons. As her former coach, Anna is demonstrating her greatness early on after 3 years out of the sport. Unfortunately, several crashes on the dry loose gravel cost key racers like Kasia (recent gravel rainbow jersey) their chance to show off their hard work. PFP bringing in 3rd place for her Dutch-based team indicates that she is getting used to the WorldTour stage. Two weeks to Milan San-Remo, including the Women's MSR too. Can the rainbow jersey recover from his very eina high speed slide and resume his superb form. Teammate Wellens in 3rd after doing tons of domestique duty is one of the rides of the day, alongside Ineos's Connor Swift, Pidcock and the remarkable Pogaçar. As a 3 time winner, he will have a gravel segment named after him. He is the first to, I think, win in succession and he is the first rainbow jersey to win this brutal and beautiful race. Pic: Getty Sport Images

“I think just a bit more relaxed [on the gravel] than the other guys are, and able to carry a little bit more speed, but for sure going to need the legs to position well. I think the effort here is quite similar to mountain bike. It's kind of rolling hills, punchy, so I think it suits me well, and, fingers crossed I'm recovered and have a good day.” - Alan Hatherly, recovering from recent illness, hoping for the Australian-based team based to combine well.

I can sense early autumn is in the air. Klipheuwel Trailz, Durbanville Hills:

Makes me want to fill up my hydration pack and go ride loooonggggg

It takes an extraordinary amount of hard work to make it seem effortless:

MONDAY MOTIVATION: "It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. they went out and happened to things." - Leonardo da Vinci

Thank you for the tender words, Mamil. Warms my heart. I know you cover many miles to the moon and back these days - be safe out there.

It's the empty chair at the dinner table. Or the phone number that is still on one's phone. And the dull ache that comes with every birthday anniversary, lingering forever. It's those that are left behind that I think of most. My spouse still gets a nauseating feeling when my phone number rings on her screen and it's just me calling home to let her know that I am okay, sipping on my coffee somewhere with my chain gang. 💟