Grape Escape Cancelled. Your thoughts

[GLuvsMtb]

http://www.bicycling.co.za/race-news/grape-escape-stage-race-cancelled/

 

Here are my thoughts.

 

1. The route is always king (to quote Farmer Glen). This race route never lived up the the hype.

2. You set yourself up to fail when riders start branding your event as preparation for another event (in this case, the Epic).

3. As an event orginiser you simply cannot ride on the back of another event (the Argus).

4. An established format seems to work best (tented accommodation as per other stage races). This is where friendships are cemented after the ride.

5. Is our calendar oversubscribed with events and is this the start of a culling process to rid ourselves of events where there is little value add?

6. Sponsors will soon start to be more selective once the honeymoon is over wrt exposure at these events. Event orginisers should remember that its not what the sponsor can do for them, but what they can do for the sponsor.

7. Are we seeing the secondary effects of a tough economy now filtering down to the smaller events. Warning lights should then start flashing to the top tier events as it would be inevitable that they will be affected within 12 months.

[Skubarra]

Saw on Twitter last night and here's the confirmation. Seems like the sponsors pulled out

 

http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2014-grape-escape-cancelled/

 

Pity, was on my to-do list for 2014 :-(

[Skubarra]

Eish, a minute too late - duplicate thread - how do you delete a thread?

Edited November 13, 2013 by Skubarra

[Dubber]

pity - was a tough, testing ride.

 

I guess manicured smooth trails are all the rage nowadays.

[ibruegge]

gee, I think I was the second last person to finish last year and keen to give it a try again. pity... beautiful but tough ride it was.

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

and i was gearing up for my first stage event, very dissappointed now

[ScottCM]

Never did it but i totally agree with your points 1 - 4, not saying that the rest aren't valid too

[Dubber]

gee, I think I was the second last person to finish last year and keen to give it a try again. pity... beautiful but tough ride it was.

 

Don't beat your self up about that. Last year the amount of climbing per kilometer was more* than any of the other stage races (apart from 'Hell and Back').

 

The race met all the pre-req's for me: fairly cheap, local, able to sleep at home (family time) and a tough testing route. There was also plenty single track.

 

Disappointed

 

*based on advertised figures

[Skubarra]

Agree with all except maybe point 2 and 3. Piggybacking on the back of the road version seems to work perfectly well for a mediocre event like the mtb Argus.

 

Still disappointed they couldn't get this event properly off the ground, but looking at the massive money & effort that goes into making an event like W2W and S2C successful - I'm not surprised that not everybody gets it right everytime.

[shade]

damn.. this just sad

[S Ribic]

Was going to be my first next year. Bleak

[Stevief]

Personally i think the timing of the race was wrong. Ii was jammed right in the middle of the Argus/ Epic period and in the Heat of march in CT. I recall when i did it last year or 2 years ago its was 47 degrees. If the event was held during the quieter mths of say May - Aug it would of worked as a solid stand alone event without much competition. It could then develop its own character and vibe. As the Op stated it just did not have any identity. Then the weather is way more conducive to an event like this which is tough with lots of climbing.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Stevief

[Sworks20]

Im not suprised and upset at the same time. The 1st year it was held it was a brilliant event and then it just went downhill from there in all aspects from route, organisation etc.

[BrandonF_]

Maybe the Hub can be the main sponsor,...c'mon we know you make millions with all the paid advertising! haha! Let's call it "The Hub Escape"

Edited November 13, 2013 by BrandonF

[rock]

one less mtb stage race.......won't do the industry any harm.......*flame suit on*

[Jewbacca]

They did mention this year that it could be the last time they ran it.

 

I think it isnt luxurious and its HOT! Dusty and rocky. I love the riding in Baines and Welvanpas.

 

Big pity. I like the event and with it being a solo ride I dont need to find a partner who wants to ride sonder gears, which is always a challenge for me on these stage races.

 

The 2400zar I payed this year is reasonable for a stage race that provides shuttles, food, massages and good ablutions. Hot showers and a swimming pool for the afternoon. I dont know hey..... Luxury lounges and wi-fi were missing, but then Im doing a mountain bike stage race. A bit of vasbyt is expected.

 

I propose those who think it was shoddy or without necessities to do something like expedition Africa or the Freedom Challenge to see what constitutes as necessary or enough.

 

But all in all it was a good 1st time stage race and it is a biog pity it has been scratched off the register