Bub Marley

Vingegaard averaged 6.9w/kg on stage 5 up the last climb. Yesterday he did 6.8w/kg for the last section of the Tourmalet which is at much higher altitude. Clearly shows that Jonas level was exactly the same, just that Pogi had much better legs yesterday. Gonna be interesting to see how it plays out.

Amazing race. Pogi really impressing me again with his maturity. Yesterday, he just continued to tempo instead of trying to jump everytime. And today he waited for Jonas to take the initiative and then pounced. In previous years, he thought he could just do what he wanted but he’s clearly learnt from this which bodes well for the race.

Well looks like Vinge going for more time again. And Pogacar teammates all missing again. Today looks like it could be pivotal.

I actually don’t think Pog will attack. What’s been proven over the last 2 years I think, is that Jonas is better on longer climbs whereas Pogi thrives on those shorter and sharper kicks that’s why he does so well in the classics. Today’s climbs are pretty long so I feel that if Pogi does attack, Jonas will stick to him like glue and wear him out and then nab him at the end. Pogi will need to isolate Jonas if hes gonna beat him and Im not sure his team is smart enough to figure out how, but we’ll see. I actually think there’s more chance of Jonas attacking again today to test out Pogi and really put some time between them. That’s what I would do. Knock him hard while he’s down. It could backfire though.

Road surface on Bains is immaculate. Honestly cannot believe how smooth that surface is. I’ve done that climb 3 times now since January and again I will reiterate, the descent especially the worcester side with the bends is just chef’s kiss. There is also hardly any cars on that road so you can essentially go balls to the walls. Now we just need them to redo Du Toitskloof as well.

Honestly, what a fantastic stage and so early also. I have a few thoughts so bare with me: 1. Vingegaard is stronger than last year and just seems so much more confident now that he’s won a grand tour. 2. Pogacar’s comments at the end of the stage were quite interesting. He said it wasn’t a hard stage and he stills feels quite strong. Vingegaard was just too fast for him up that last climb. What was different this year though, was Pogi just continued to ride tempo after Jonas went, whereas last year he would have gone with Jonas and then probably try to attack him like the Galibier/Telegraf last year. So i do think he’s learnt from this. 3. UAE are such a strong team but just erratic and dysfunctional. There doesn’t seem to be a clear plan at all and for me that stems from the top. Compared to Jumbo who are so calm and collected and in control. It’s a pretty significant gap already to Pogi and let’s be honest, yesterday was hard but there are way harder stages to come so it doesn’t bode well if Pogi already can hold Jonas wheel. The last climb also suited Pogi better and he still got dropped. Jonas could really do damage on the longer climbs to come. UAE need to figure out how to hurt Jumbo and isolate Jonas. Pogi cannot do it himself and it’s clear he’s going to need his team this year more than ever. Shoutout to Hindley also. Will be interesting to see how he recovers but we kinda need him to do well just for Jumbo to have another distraction.

These 2 days have been brutal though. Honestly feel like the longer climbs might be better for the sprinters because most of the time the GC riders will pace it better until the final one where they go crazy. These shorter and sharper climbs are just brutal. Accelerations from everywhere all the time.

Yip wasn’t a complaint. Just merely advising people to not go there. In terms of the state of the trails. I did Upper Bloemendal and Hillcrest today and some of the traverse and corridor trails. Bar the one section of Hillcrest, everything else in terms of singletrack trails is rideable. The corridors however have a taken more of a beating. I think mainly because they’re not really manicures. Still lots of mud patches here and there. So yeah, if anyone wants to ride. I would say avoid the corridors linking the trails. They definitely need more time to dry. Most of the other stuff though is definitely rideable.

They also shat all over the trail. First part of the trail was actually great. It’s only after the split at Wild Olive that’s destroyed. Ditches all over the trail and horse **** everywhere.

Conties mast climb this morning😰

https://capetowncycletourtrust.com/old-herman-gravel-ride/ EVENT DETAILS The Old Hermon gravel ride starts and finishes at the historic Welbedacht Wine Estate in Wellington. Experience some great gravel riding along some of the region’s best gravel roads, roads once ridden by Old Hermon himself. For the new riders and kids the 22-kilometre is a great way to get into the swing of things, to try a first event, or to get used to riding in a group of people. The 45-kilometre is a little harder, especially if you race it flat-out, but still easily manageable for moderately fit riders. Those looking for a challenge can take on the 85km route and push themselves a bit. The Legend of Old Hermon Old Hermon was the most popular man in town. He was also the fittest and the noisiest. That’s what made him so popular; he was the Bicycling Bugler. In a time when the train from Cape Town only went so far, the post for residents of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West was left hanging on an old olive tree between the town of Herman and the two Riebeeks. On Wednesdays, Old Hermon of Herman would be alerted to the mail delivery with a sharp blast from the train’s horn. This would stir him to action. Hermon would hop on his bicycle, bugle holstered at his side, and speed between the towns bugling away. His blaring bugle told the townsfolk that the mail was hanging in the old olive tree. ready to be collected. The mail was important letters and documents sent from the Castle of Good Hope to farmers; the mail was bitterballen and stroopwafels sent from the Netherlands. But more importantly, the mail was updates from the growing Cape Town community, sent to their country cousins, of all the latest and finest tea houses and coffee shops. When Old Hermon of Herman blew his bugle on mail Wednesdays, it caused a stampede towards the old olive tree. The wiser residents of the region had long ago copied Old Hermon and invested in bicycles, so on Wednesday mornings early-rising farmers tending to their cattle would be met with the sight of Old Hermon racing away from Riebeek Kasteel with a horde of bicyclists seemingly chasing him down. But Old Hermon was much loved and appreciated, and in a time when another local resident, Thomas Bain, was blasting open mountain passes to create shorter routes between burgeoning towns, it said much for Hermon’s popularity that he was routinely voted The Riebeeks Citizen of the Year at the annual Festival of Riebeeks. One day, though, the mail came. Yet there was no bugle to herald its arrival. It sat in the old olive tree for days. The pamphlets for coffee shops started to drift away in the breeze, the bitterballen went unbitten, and the letters of importance from the Castle of Good Hope failed to reach their final destination. Eventually, a group of townsfolk mounted their bicycles and went out in search of Old Hermon. But they found nothing. Not a bicycle trail in the dirt road, nor an abandoned bugle at the roadside, nor any signs of Old Hermon or his beloved bike at his home. The bicyclists of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West rode for hours on long gravel roads, over mountain passes, past the town of Herman and on towards Wellington and back. It was as if Old Hermon had hopped on his bike and simply pedalled away into the distance. Every Wednesday the mail still arrived at the old olive tree, and in honour of Old Herman, the same group of bicyclists would ride solemnly to the tree, to gather the mail, but also in the hope that they might catch a glimpse of Old Hermon. Some stopped at the tree and turned back, while others continued on the old dirt road to Wellington before returning home. Old Hermon, his bike, or his bugle was never seen again. In honour of his services, though, and for igniting a passion for bicycles in the region, the small hamlet of Herman was renamed Hermon, while the old dirt road to Wellington was christened Old Hermon Road. Cyclists can still be seen riding up and down the Old Hermon Road, ever hopeful that the bugle might blare one last time. Entry Fee: 85km – R450 45km – R350 22km – R250 Entries open on Monday, 26 June at 3pm, click HERE to enter. Entries close on Friday, 11 August 2023 22km Route Download HERE 45km Route Download HERE 85km Route Download HERE

The date change at least gives me another month to prepare so im not complaining. Jislaaik this winter has been kuck without an indoor trainer. No consistency at all with training.

If im you i would climb the pass from both sides. Start in Wellington and go over from that side as then you get to enjoy the descent into Worcester side. And then turn around at the end of the road and climb from the other side.

Quickly becoming one of my favorite passes. The descent into the Worcester side is honestly just exhilarating. Hardly any cars as well so you can fly down there if you’re daring.

Im curious to see how Adam Yates goes. For me he’s always underperformed given the potential he had. Maybe being a lead out guy will suit him a bit better than a team leader. I am surprised to see not one of Almeida, Ayuso or a Jay Vine included in UAE. Having another helper for Tadej would be important i feel.

Curious who the leader here is. Certain it should be Pidcock as hes by far the strongest unless Bernal has been holding back. Pidcock definitely seems more of a stage winner guy than going for overall glory but that’s never been the way of this team.

So I was mainly referring to a performance upgrade. If you wanna be flying down descents on skinny tyres. Continental GP5000 is what majority of the pros use. I’ve never used them so can’t comment. Vittoria Corsa’s are amazing and super grippy. I had Michelin Power competition and they lasted 15000km. Granted I am under 60kg which helps but they were the best tyres I’ve ever used. Only got 2 punctures for the first 14000 as well and then after that, got a few more then changed tyres. Pirelli’s are supposed to be super grippy as well. If you’re just looking to cruise and take it easy on the bike, then I’m not sure it’s gonna make a difference. Positioning on the bike is key when going down a descent as well. Coming from a mtb where you upright, on a road bike you wanna be as low as possible to cut through the wind. And if you’re going fast, you wanna be in the drops for maximum control.

Have they announced their team yet?

Just to add my 2c here. Most people actually ride on the hoods 90% of the time and brake from there as well. If you’re coming from hydraulic disks, then it’ll take a bit getting accustomed to it because rim brakes don’t have that bite like disks. In saying this, when you’re descending and braking from the drops, you have quite a lot of stopping power. It’s not instantaneous like disks but you get used to it. You’d be surprised how much grip those thin little tyres actually give you. And if I’m buying at the budget end, then the first upgrade I’m making is tyres. Bang for buck it’s by the far the best upgrade you can make to your bike.

Bain’s Kloof

I’m in for this.

Tarred sections include Bothmaskloof and Bainskloof pass. Why would you not include them? Especially Bainskloof pass and that magical descent. That’s a definite plus point of the race.

From Tygerberg Mtb Club: For those itching to get back on the trails, some good news... The Contermanskloof Trails will re-open with immediate effect as of today. Please note all corridors leading to Contermans will still be closed, so you will need to either park in the Contermans car-park or cycle into Contermans via Contermanskloof road. Have fun!

Any idea if Du Toits is open?

They also burn a shitload of calories every day and they’re obviously not consuming junk which helps with that. i was actually surprised with Van Aert the most because he doesn’t look skinny at all but yeah he is. I also think these guys dont look like that when they’re not in a 3 week grand tour.