Stephan

🤬 Not cool! Sorry to hear. I ride in Tokai and do the Silvermine loop often. This really sucks.

Live tracking shows leading men already at the bottom of Cliffhanger but "live" visuals on YT still shows them climbing up Aap Duez??

Craig Kolesky's channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29IDPlBqTa1eV9w8dILAtg

Is there a leading motorbike uphead that would give these backmarkers a warning that the pro's are coming? They would obviously hear the helicopter as well, but this looks like a route-planning mess. The backmarkers are going to bundu-bash up that trail now because there is going to be a constant stream of riders coming down.

The 12-minute highlights of the start of Stage 2 were superb this morning. Great visuals. Starlink satellites will sort out all the signal issues. Pity it is not available in RSA.

If you don't like the commentary, mute it. If you don't like the free live feed (technical glitches and all), don't watch it. Watch the highlights reel in the evening. The constant bashing of the commentary and free live feed every year is getting old. The guys are doing their best.

Went to watch the prologue yesterday. Unbelievable to see so many Orbea Oiz bikes, as compared to a few years ago. Maybe because of SCR win on Orbea. Would love to see the results of the rider survey again. My guess is that top brands will be: Spez, Scott then Orbea.

Does anyone know when the lineup will be announced? Keen to see who is riding with who this year.

It seems like this product range has now hit the market. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/leatt-announces-new-endurance-apparel-and-helmet-collection.html I am curious to hear feedback on the MTB Endurance 4.0 helmet. I can't find a review online yet. I currently ride with a Spez S-Works Prevail II Vent, which is super light (265g) and very very well ventilated, but this new Leatt helmet looks like it may offer more protection (especially at the back of the head), so if the weight is not a whole lot more, then I think this may be my next buy.

752 people on the official entry list. 473 finished. But given the weather forecast some people decided not to ride. An hour before the 11-hour cut-off the commentator said 46% had finished. I guess DNF is between 40% and 50% of those who started.

Climbing up to KOM guys were getting readings of 52 and 53, but it felt like mid 40s, maybe because of the breeze. Riding out of Bonniedale felt far warmer, but there was no wind. Average of mid 40s feels correct.

Ross Tucker talks about the effects of heat on exercise. This podcast was recorded the week after the extreme heat Attakwas.

Any life-saving tips from seasoned professionals for us newbies doing our first one? So far my thinking is to ride at a moderate pace for the first 50km (where possible, I am told there are sections that are unridable), survive for the next 30km through the mountains, and once I get to the gravel roads at the bottom of Eight Bells, do whatever to hang on for the last 35km on gravel roads that I fortunately know quite well. Riding with two 500ml bottles, a 2L Camelback, and a stash of energy bars and gels.

Nee man Willie! Jy gaan ons jinx. 😁 Ek doen my eerste, so ek hoop die weer is goedgunstig.