The Crazy German

This explains the tour the France car that I passed on the climb up to my shack yesterday. Seems there is a stage start down in the valley about halfway though.

Been there done it long ago as a kid can confirm its a nasty little surprise

There recovery is sometimes à bit weird I was quoted 6 hours after à 360k ride in Corsica so we did the remaining 250K after a short sleep, Garmin said I was fine but I felt quite broken myself

I am 1m84 80kg and for castelli bib size up two sizes from L to XXL recently got some winter bibs cos they where cheap in XXXL and they even aren't too big.

That was 90% the motorbike's fault, left way to late and blocked the view of the corner, then hampered his line choice stopping and likely brroke his consetration also. That cut all his rythem though the corner. Motorbike Driver should be banned for rest of the event.

Voeckler was definitely not a nowhere cyclist he was quite (very) good. Lacking just this little bit compared to the very best. He was just very good at playing the underdog and faking suffering when the camera was near(an then still be there an hour later when the group was only a quarter its size). Although I respect his quality as a cyclist I dislike the fake personage.

I can do you three in thirtu seconds Geert Van Bondt Jeroen Blijlevens and Pete van Petegem thats 100% sure

Make that 3

Jasper know's he just bought a nex car apparently

It can be very lonely if you are relatively fast as well and start early. Back in the days long ago I rode it one it took us about 10 k's thats about 15 minutes to roe up the 10 teams that started before us. At least it was out nd back so we crossed some teams on the way back later on. At least we had the beer tent and pool just for us at ht efinish for quite a whie

I thought of you and that one recently whilst climbing a mountain in Corsica. Saw a nice waterfall going from 1400m till 2100m and told a guy about you and Ivor taking a bike up such stuff. His response it should be doable on foot there is some tracks on the bottom part and I have climbed the top part before. So I hiked up the normal way and came down the waterfall including a lake/pool swim. No leopard though just some dead mountain goat bones. Brought back some lovely Freedom memories, didn't take a bike though i was dead scary already on foot.

Yep I had recced mordor and JT was told this by the race office and encouraged to catch me instead of takling it alone. He had already caught me days earlier but made such a mess off Struishoek that he was again a half day behind. I laughed my ass of about halfway through Mordor I had packed my maps a tthe first campsite and rode on memory and feeling. About halway through I can't really spot the track quickly so JT asks and gets his map out and asks where are we? I said no clue. How many river crossings have we done, again I say no clue you are the co-pilot. And the map he says? We don't need Maps Marnitz said no maps just have a recce and think like a Kudu. We found some Kudu tracks and bent reed and found the track quickly after that. Think JT started to grew some grey hair that day. He did wrote me anice thank you note left on my mapboard as he figured I could'nt get bothered to get up early (no gate times back then). Nice chap wa had a lovely ride to Prince Albert in the next two days with lots of laughter before I had to see some medical attention in P-A before continuing my lesurly ride with the old toppies to Wellington. After he asked me at Bucklands to let him tag along he called his wife. Don't worry I just asked some kid called the Crazy German and he's gonna take me along if I can keep up with him. Not sure if that really inspired confidence to his wife. Good memories those days on the trail and the time I spend out there with Johann Komander Rissik who sadly left us earlier this year. (Johan did get a drawn Mordor map with lots of tips in ice cream box and I made one the next year for JT aswell. They apparently laughed their ass off with my notes, left at the fallen three, right at the dead Kudu...

So 2 3 and 4 went into Mordor at night and will soon make it out, but not soon enough to catch the morning convoy. Still proud an jealous of you JT. Still remember JT asking me nicely over dinner(after having ridden himself to bits to catch me near Kleinpoort) if I could take him on a guided tour through Mordor on his and my first Freedom Challenge. His nav and trails skills have cought up in the mean time with his already strong engine. Go boy clap it

He's been stuck at the first river crossing for two hours since last light. Looks like he is sleeping there crossing that place at night is a dream but its a privilivege for few to pull it off.

She know's she can I have ridden with her makes, you eyeballs bleed uphill !

I would namechange to Pierre Oosthuizen to like this post. Apparently Derrick has form for this so should have looked for a reliable wheel to follow as many others have done before.

Think he might go a bit more defensive this time as he payed for that under two days into Rhodes with a bit of hard struggle the days after. Unless he wants to redo the Trigger Alex to chase to blow him to bits early again. But then this year there are a few Alex harris clones running spare around

Totally get that one I once klapped a huge tigerline attack to get To Malekholonyane to stop for the day at 1 pm. First in I claimed the double bed and private rooom for myself and left the crowd sleeping all together somewhere else

Someone who has enjoyed Chesneywold hospitality and food would understand immediately

For those dot watchers wondering who is gonna push to Rhodes today. Axel is gonna be fine IMO I see Pieter Henry and Carlo trying but IMO they left Malek a bit too late, and have so complicated their mission 2017 Axel and Daniel left Vuvu at 2PM and got to do (most of) Lehana's in day light. Myself left Vuvu at 14h30 not keen on gettin stuck on Lehana in the dark(had never been there) went for the detour hammered it and got to the abandoned farm at the top of the exit road in last light. Good luck Axel, and don't lock the container as a tip for the other three wanderers. A bit of an Add we all left Malek that year around 5h30. Myself go to Tinana at 10h30 Axel and Daniel beiing a lot lighter had already dropped me by quite a bit on the climbs those three are really in for a night wonder up Lehana's

Not sure I think mike's time from two years ago is the second fastest when he came in around midday so say 54 -55 hours. Then its either mike again or axel and daniel in a bit over 60 hours also two year ago. Obviously some have goone faster then that during Rasa

Its impossible to do so even fr Mike. Axel(is Daniel with him) off his normal pace think the night owl hunting in Ntsikeni got to hem. Three batch one guys doing well got a bit lost on the sidetrack climbing to Ntsikeni plateau during the night. Not sure why they back tracked as they where near some track and you should be able to cut across to rejoin route. They left Ntsikeni near Axel Daniel and my time from two years ago. But thats where they started to fade having pushed to hard on day one. Did they learn from their mistakes? And it seems the new third man is actually the strong one. Sub three days still possible for them, actually aven for Axel but unlikely

I rate my Scott BOA trail highly for hike a bike done freedom challende and snow hikes with them.

Its definitely gonna be in the shade of the main race, but surprised with RTR batching where Poser Oto are starting in the one but last batch while they both have a personal record of well under 3 days, something not many can say?

He did wind tunel test for real with and without, result was no need to shave it of Victor happy.