Nick

Haha, I'm spent. MvdP can simply solo to victory now ;-)

What a cracker!

Sad news! The trophy emoji in the title of this discussion has been causing bugs for some users. I've had to remove it until we come up with a fix. If the notification drop down does not load, when clicking the notification flag in the top right next to your username, then go to your Notification Log here and delete all the recent notifications from this topic that include the trophy emoji.

The Fantasy League follows the official event results. If and when that gets updated, we'll change the competition accordingly.

Team Flower Power summed up last year pretty well:

Haven't done this race in a few years. Does the route still leave the gravel road and go over the koppie with the jeep track?

That was lekker

That's a bit early into the race to be looking for inspiration from the supporters but I'll try to keep an eye out

If they leave any behind https://www.instagram.com/p/ButU9E_oz9p/

Yes, a similarly absurd expectation in my case Does the last group start a lot earlier this year? I'm sure I recall starting after 10 when I first started these shenanigans.

Do you have the event details? I take it from your post that they are sparse. Anyone is free to create an event in the calendar. The hope is that the organisers do it as free promotion for their events, but ya.

Tons for sale in the classifieds here: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/category/35-event-entries/ Substitutions close on Monday 25th Feb. And the entry link is still open on the CTCT homepage.

The organisers sent the following reminder that entries close on Friday and some info on the routes: "Entries close for the Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge this Friday, 22 February. This exciting event returns to the beautiful Simonsberg Conservancy on the first Saturday of March 2019, kick-starting the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Week. The Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge traditionally offers something for every skill and fitness level and 2019 will once again feature routes that tick all the boxes. The three trails – 20km, 40km and 60km – were each designed by Dirtopia’s trail-building expert, Meurant Botha, and take in the finest riding in the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy. The routes were consolidated into one day and a new venue in 2018 with great success and this format will continue in 2019. The short route offers a great mix of scenery – from sheltered forest sections to high, open vineyards – and is perfect for those still honing their MTB skills or looking for an enjoyable ride with family and friends. The two longer routes (40km or 60km) are tougher and more technical and aimed at the pros and serious enthusiasts. “Holding all the MTB challenges in one place and on one day makes for an amazing atmosphere, with mountain-bikers of all levels enjoying the thrill of the routes and the celebrations afterwards,” explains David Bellairs, Marketing, Media and Sponsorship Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust. “Whatever your abilities, you’ll have the time of your life, racing these routes. The 20km includes a stretch of jeep track, while the more challenging 40km and 60km routes offer some of the most spectacular Simonsberg single-track riding on farms like Muratie, Kanonkop, Delheim, Uitkyk. It just doesn’t get any better!”"

He has not. But I suspect the seeding is a batch task rather than set up to be automatically processed on entry. Maybe give them a call to confirm?

There's an Enter Here link on the home page. A friend entered last night. That's all I know.

Not sure on your situation but entries appear to still be open which might be an easier/ cheaper route.

"The substitute participant will be issued a new number in the start group for which he/she qualifies." https://www.capetowncycletour.com/lifecycle-week/ctct/race-entries/substitutions/

Hi Derek, It might be worthwhile placing an advert in the classifieds here: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/category/93-accommodation-tours/

I've got the glum look down. The latest results part could be the sticking point.

It would seem that even the Cyclosportif this coming weekend is a seeding event: "For cyclists, there’s still an opportunity to improve their Cape Town Cycle Tour seeding by entering the upcoming PPA Sportive on 17 February. The second in the eight-event PPA Sportive Series Sportive is being held at the Windmeul Cellar and, with just one big climb, is the perfect event to set a time that will bump riders further up the Cycle Tour starting groups." Doesn't seeding come out this week though?

I made it up with a very similar ratio 34x32. It's not ideal but I did not need to walk.

Have you tried: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/category/114-vintage-bikes-components/ But ya, Nils is the expert.

Worst case, when it's a stand-alone WP race, you can usually ride the course on the morning of the race before the sprogs and nippers kick off.

As a spectator, there was some exciting racing to watch in all the categories. Thanks for putting on a good show everyone

That's disappointing news. It is the only significant A-Line on the course. What is the chance that the elite women might come up against some congestion with the back markers from the other categories that they are sharing the course with? Maybe they should get their own race like the men? There are riders who haven't ridden the B-line and now they need race it blind. I suppose that's why you go to briefings