This must have been the toughest race I have done in a very long time. Started in C batch which wasnt that big around 30-35 riders and started off pretty gently until we turned right onto Fisantekraal heading towards R44. I knew that the crosswinds was gonna hurt so I stayed in the top 10 the whole way with 4-5 USN A boys pulling hard on the front. I didnt look back once until we turned left onto the R44 when I was hoping for a rest but alas we had formed a break of around 10-12 guys. Pace didnt drop at all but rather ramped higher as we hit the rollers before we turned left at voor paardeberg. I must say the guys in the break rode excellently forming proper echelons and doing proper turns on the front then falling back into line. We caught the B batch and picked up some straggling A/B and VA/VB riders along the way. On the Klipheuwel rd it was really tough but again those USN boys did most of the work and crosswinds causing lots of weaving coz of the gusts but you had to be very alert. On the Philadelphia rd it was really hard to keep the echelon working properly as the 2 routes merged with lots of half distance riders riding 2 or 3 abreast and in the middle of the road. We took some big risks riding in the opp lane in order not to get dropped and this is where I burned a few to many matches. After we turned left on adderly rd heading back to Durbanville we were still 20 - 25 guys but not long after that we were down to around 8 guys and me hanging on for dear life. We caught the A bunch with around 5kms to go and I decided to sit up as my legs were fried but the USN boys carried on past. I then got a dead wheel whilst sitting in A and just couldn't reel them in again and cruised to the finish line and managed 2h32 finishing 5th in C. Thanks to the USN boys that put on the hurt and took me to a very dark place Really awesome bunch of guys as we managed to chat a bit out on route and caught up with them again after the race. PS - You dont need big climbs to make a hard race
