99er crash out

[VroomSL]

Every year the 99er has issues - big bunches, no climbs at beginning and with rain previous years it guaranteed drama.

 

This year no rain but still large bunches, small time gaps between bunches and gravel road.

 

Organizers please get this right or cancel the race altogether.

 

For the premium entry we paying we EXPECT to be on a safe route at least!

Edited February 8, 2014 by VroomSL

[Mario2]

Also agree...a recon. a few insurance company going to get massive claims Monday. ..very sad.i will also be very unset like my friend having major damage to body and bike...

[Meezo]

Just heard from my bud, there was someone actually worse off than them. He said this guy looked serious, he didn't move , and that he was barely conscious..... Heal up rider

[Tankman]

Organizers should have neutralized the racing at the gravel road with motorbikes escorting the leading bunches through. Especially since it was the first time using that section (as far as I know).

 

My 2 cents........

 

First time the 99er went over the gravel section but not the first time it was used in a race.

 

Neutralising the race at the gravel section is not practical ... not every single bunch has a leadout car or race official.

 

Neutralising the first couple ok km's to get out of town safely also never works, no one listens to that "suggestion"!

 

#HTFU ... comes to mind.

[burty]

i rode in c got dropped just before R44 turn on phisantakraal stretch, missed the crash at nelsons creek thought it was a blessing and a reason why i got dropped but then murphys law bit me and i went down in a big crash half way to silos. Helped this dude that was way worse off than me. But im eina right now. Ouks must ride lekker

[TALUS]

Man I hope my family never gets a call from hospital...

[ajbotes]

Could all the riders that has damage please post them here or tweet them to @seatpostsa.

['Dale]

 

 

First time the 99er went over the gravel section but not the first time it was used in a race.

 

Neutralising the race at the gravel section is not practical ... not every single bunch has a leadout car or race official.

 

Neutralising the first couple ok km's to get out of town safely also never works, no one listens to that "suggestion"!

 

#HTFU ... comes to mind.

 

Yip.

It's a technical section, nothing more.

 

Our own pavè here in SA.

 

 

[3wings]

Possibly dumb question but....

Was that gravel road included to keep the race distance at 99kms ?

Because I know that in previous years it has been longer....road-works etc

[dommisse]

 

 

First time the 99er went over the gravel section but not the first time it was used in a race.

 

Neutralising the race at the gravel section is not practical ... not every single bunch has a leadout car or race official.

 

Neutralising the first couple ok km's to get out of town safely also never works, no one listens to that "suggestion"!

 

#HTFU ... comes to mind.

Tank boy I'm old enough not to have to prove that I'm a big boy,by doing a gravel section in a race. Not everybody have the skills of the tdf riders (or your skills) to negotiate the gravel on a road bike. Next year I'm voting with my wallet if they include the section - and will leave it up to you to race for that elusive win in the B group

[Dicky DQ]

Tank boy I'm old enough not to have to prove that I'm a big boy,by doing a gravel section in a race. Not everybody have the skills of the tdf riders (or your skills) to negotiate the gravel on a road bike. Next year I'm voting with my wallet if they include the section - and will leave it up to you to race for that elusive win in the B group

 

Then why did you enter? I know it is a dumb question, but you knew about the gravel before you entered.

[Skubarra]

Then why did you enter? I know it is a dumb question, but you knew about the gravel before you entered.

 

Maybe because of this quote on the website "The City of Cape Town has kindly consented to re-grade and compact the Malanshoogte 2km gravel section, therefore smoothing out the road surface prior to the cycle event."

 

To be fair, the road was improved but not to the extent that it was really safe.

 

#HTFU ... comes to mind.

 

I would have loved to see you telling that into the faces of the number of riders lying bleeding in the gravel road screaming in pain! Wasn't a pretty sight.

[Mylolylo]

Hi guys. So at about 17km my friend got a flat so we stopped and lucky she had slime in the wheel so all we had to do was pump the wheel. As we were about to get going a bunch came past, probably like L batch, and we just weren't ready to go when they did. So as we got up and moving in the mist we just heard brakes and yelling and then we saw through the mist emergency lights come on. As we approached I saw a Bakkie stopped and the driver moving a bike out the road. The driver had obviously not seen the bunch in the mist and hit the tail end, taking one rider down from behind. I came around the Bakker to see a guy lying face down on the floor. As I got off he tried to move his head so I knelt next to hit and started saying stuff like just stay down, don't try get up, you alive but don't try move, etc. not a great sight to see I have to say. He looked pretty battered but everything looked intact at first glance. The driver was calling the emergency number and I stayed with him till another group passed and one rider in matching kit said he knew the guy and would stay with him. At the finish I saw a group in the same kit and I informed them of the guy who went down and they said they hadn't heard about it yet. Worst part was as I was telling the, the youngest guy of the group got a call to say it was his dad!!!! If anyone knows how this guys is doing please let me know!

Edited February 9, 2014 by Lylo

[-Az-]

Hi guys. So at about 17km my friend got a flat so we stopped and lucky she had slime in the wheel so all we had to do was pump the wheel. As we were about to get going a bunch came past, probably like L batch, and we just weren't ready to go when they did. So as we got up and moving in the mist we just heard brakes and yelling and then we saw through the mist emergency lights come on. As we approached I saw a Bakkie stopped and the driver moving a bike out the road. The driver had obviously not seen the bunch in the mist and hit the tail end, taking one rider down from behind. I came around the Bakker to see a guy lying face down on the floor. As I got off he tried to move his head so I knelt next to hit and started saying stuff like just stay down, don't try get up, you alive but don't try move, etc. not a great sight to see I have to say. He looked pretty battered but everything looked intact at first glance. The driver was calling the emergency number and I stayed with him till another group passed and one rider in matching kit said he knew the guy and would stay with him. At the finish I saw a group in the same kit and I informed them of the guy who went down and they said they hadn't heard about it yet. Worst part was as I was telling the, the youngest guy of the group got a call to say it was his dad!!!! If anyone knows how this guys is doing please let me know!

This is incorrect according to the riders & the bakkie driver on the scene when I stopped. According to the group, at 17.8km there was some wheel touching and Shafiek (if I remember correctly) came off worst and actually fell hard into the center of the road, the bakkie hit the brakes in order to not drive over the fallen riders.

We asked that the bakkie was left there with it's hazards on in order to protect the downed cyclist as he was in too much pain to be moved. Two Think Bike Marshals manned the scene guiding traffic past until the ambulance arrived.

Edited February 9, 2014 by -Az-

[Rapunzel]

Maybe because of this quote on the website "The City of Cape Town has kindly consented to re-grade and compact the Malanshoogte 2km gravel section, therefore smoothing out the road surface prior to the cycle event."

 

To be fair, the road was improved but not to the extent that it was really safe.

 

 

 

I would have loved to see you telling that into the faces of the number of riders lying bleeding in the gravel road screaming in pain! Wasn't a pretty sight.

I understand that the gravel was a contentious issue and I would probably have felt different if I'd come down. Regarding the route - van schoorsdrif is the only other suitable route to the finish and that road is in such a bad state of repair that it couldn't be used (whole road surface has disintigrated over a far longer distance than the 2km gravel of malanshoogte).

Regarding the gravel - it would probably have been wise for the organisers to have briefed riders on the start line to

a: keep a suitable gap between yourselves an other riders on the gravel

b: keep your speed under control to reduce the need to brake

c: keep your weight back to reduce the risk of your front wheel getting bogged down in loose sand.

That said, we shouldn't be scared of improving our bike handling skills as it reduces the risk of crashing in a host of circumstances.

[Mylolylo]

 

This is incorrect according to the riders & the bakkie driver on the scene when I stopped. According to the group, at 17.8km there was some wheel touching and Shafiek (if I remember correctly) came off worst and actually fell hard into the center of the road, the bakkie hit the brakes in order to not drive over the fallen riders.

We asked that the bakkie was left there with it's hazards on in order to protect the downed cyclist as he was in too much pain to be moved. Two Think Bike Marshals manned the scene guiding traffic past until the ambulance arrived.

 

Hi, thanks for clearing that up! Didn't mean to place the blame on the bakkie driver. It just looked so much like he had hit him that I didn't actually bother asking what had happened. As I say I hung around for a few minutes till his friend showed up and then continued on still thinking he was hit by the bakkie. Apologies for the wrong assumption!