MongooseMan

222km stare...

Needs a caption 🤣

translation: ”Confusion to know the order of passage at the bonus point. The race commissioner asks fans if they have recorded the arrival of the cyclists. ” 😂🙈

Ok, have now watched. I'd recommend giving it watch (even in chunks, it's quite long). Benji & Patrick really know their stuff, it's really nice to watch an interview where the interviewers are that clued up and knowledgeable. Remco comes across quite open, I definitely like him more now than before. His thinking about riding & racing also comes across nicely in the long-form interview.

Posting here mainly because of the polarised opinions of Remco in this thread . disclaimer: I haven’t watched it yet, but the LRP guys are excellent, and many posts on twitter suggest that this interview has changed their preconceptions about Remco for the better.

It’s rough, but short (like 5mins of vasbyt) I think if you go do the Hermon 80k next month it does the same descent if you want to see what you’re in for

If the same as last yearBoland_Gravel_Monster_.gpx

What are you basing this on? An inside source, or a gut feel? I mean, they spent all the money you paid them. I'm not sure where they're expected to get funds to reimburse everyone? If they're feeling really generous, maybe they'll offer discounted 2024 entries, but even then I'd be surprised. Remember, CTCT didn't give anyone anything that time they cancelled on the day due to winds. Not sure why a smaller race like ATP should be held to a different standard.

Cancelled

I’m really in 2 minds here. We’re here to race, gravel is dirty, etc, etc. But looking at the rain falling, and the roads we rode today, let’s be frank, 100miles tomorrow is going to be miserable. there’s no rain forecast for tomorrow, but there is the small matter of 50km/h wind gusts. i really feel for the organisers, there’s no easy decision here.

Yup, posted from the comfort of the pizza restaurant 😃

They’ve posted provisional routes on the website now

Also worth remembering: When disaster management steps in to cancel an event like this, it's often not because the event itself is dangerous. It's because the weekend's weather has now stretched the emergency personnel so thinly (dealing with other real-life emergencies) that they cannot give the race the support it needs to be approved.

Informal rollout at 8am tomorrow? https://www.strava.com/routes/3119921543518016730 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/180504138

Ok, call made: We're gonna go through, get goodie bags, etc. Drink beer, etc Tomorrow, assuming Sunday is cancelled as well, we'll hit the gravel for a ~100k loop all on the west side of the river. We've paid for a weekend away, might as well make the most of it. https://www.strava.com/routes/3119921543518016730 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/180504138

This was not the organiser's call, I think that's very clear.

Sunday would be… interesting, given 2 days of rain. I’d be surprised if the pont was operational. Now to work out if it’s still worth the trip to swellies…

Bottom paragraph is a tad ominous…

Yup, or Malgas https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-979810/Republic of South Africa/Western Cape/Overberg District Municipality/Malgas

Yeah, that descent is sketch. I did it 120km into the Boland Gravel Monster last year, so at that stage was in "get to the finish" mode. I can imagine doing it that early in the race could lead to some interesting situations. Make sure your brakes work, would be my only suggestion...

Appears to be more pessimistic than other forecasts which, as mentioned, have rain moving later in the day 🤞

Link is wrong. Correct link: https://capetowncycletourtrust.com/old-herman-gravel-ride/ Here's the 85k route, as best I can make out: https://www.strava.com/routes/3119282664141488346 I've done 90% of that on a gravel bike, and the rest was part of the race last year, so assume it's fine too.

If you believe there will be no rain before you get to the pont, then I assume you're starting on Friday night? 😂

The difference with gravel is that the forecast doesn’t have to be as accurate as tar. Any rain in the 2 days prior to the event and we’re in for a mud fest.