epic women's race not up to scratch - Gunn-Rita

[Andrew Steer]

What's so funny about it, what makes you thinks it's a personal gripe ?

Her little blog post here comes across as a moan, should we just smile and wave at everything ?

 

 

 

Most of her post is extremely positive about the Epic and it's competitors... (see below)

She just want's the ladies race to be on a par with the mens - something many of us probably agree on having had it brought to our attention. I'm not sure she fancies ever taking on Annika and Ariane, but somebody might want too? It's about an equal footing, that is all 

 

Therefore, I am without a completed Cape Epic on my list, and that in itself is a good enough reason to send me back again, some beautiful day.

Adventure On Two Wheels

This adventure has been so wonderful to take part in, on many different levels. Whoever manages to complete this race is seriously tough in my mind – no matter what results they achieve. It's simply extremely difficult, both physically and mentally. One has to be in top physical condition, and one has to be a good technical rider too, as the tracks are very demanding both upwards and downwards. One also has to be able to deal with extreme pains, which one hardly knew were possible to experience in such large doses, on each of the stages.

Lactic acid in one's legs for one hour is bearable and understandable for most people. When the acid is pumping in both arms and legs, one's back is aching after all the bumps and beatings, hour after hour, one has blisters in the palms of one's hands, one's bottom is agony and one has cramps in all one's muscles – that's when one's mind has to be strong in order to stand it.

A total of 739 kilometres, a good 16.000 vertical metres, most of it on gravel roads and single-track, in addition to the extreme heat practically every day, for 8 consecutive days, is not for wusses. Just the amount of dust we're exposed to during this week, is a tough experience for the body. One thing is one's lungs, but then there's the added stress of not actually being able to see the rider directly ahead of you, or the ground on some of the descents.

True Joy And Passion

One of the most inspiring things I experienced in the camp this week, was meeting the cyclists who used close to 10 hours on each stage, and maybe more, right after crossing the finish line. Many of them looked seriously worn out, but still wore big smiles. By then the rest of us had showered, eaten lunch, rested up, had massages, and started to look forward to dinner. These warriors were really tough. I felt that I met many like-minded people, who really love mountain biking, during these days out in the bush outside of Cape Town. A huge inspiration and motivation for a "grown woman" like me.

The organization and everybody behind Absa Cape Epic, all volunteers who do a fantastic job to make this adventure happen, all deserve a huge thanks and great honour. I thank everybody for a powerful experience and hope I can return some day to finish the race. I would also like to direct a personal thanks to Sasol, one of the main sponsors for the race, who has made an unparalleled effort for increased press coverage, also for the women.

I hope and believe that already next year, there will be a separate starting group for the elite women and a separate class for Master women… as it should be, like the men have. It will lead to more excitement and direct competition on each stage of the race with a fair and identical start, women's team against women's team. It will also make it more exciting for the spectators. It might even inspire more women to take part!

Congratulations to everyone who has completed Absa Cape Epic 2015 – an achievement which really deserves a place of honour.

[nathrix]

It's so unfair

 

http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/touch.gif

[Escapee..]

I think a lot of what and how she said it was lost in the translation.

 

Why not have a bitch about it? To me it does seem unfair.

 

 

Start them all together, I am sure Annika and Ariane wouldnt mind seeing some other ladies in the first 30km

[Dicky DQ]

My take is that you have Group 0 which is top x pros then group A with top qualifying women this is probably 100 to 200 strong

Then Group B etc.

 

Her Gripe is that they have to start in the bunch based on the overall GC and I see her perceived problem. If they are not in Group 0 or A, they will not get an opportunity to warm up on rollers etc, to be ready to race. Because if they do that they will be at the back of the bunch with another 10 to 200 pax in front of them.  I get it and it is worth considering especially if there is a mechanical or something.

 

However my comments are:

1. there is a prologue to get the seeding sorted, so if you are that far out of the seeding following the prologue you either are not good enough, or you had a mechanical.

2. Following Day 1 if you are not in the same batch as the front ladies you are not in contention, unless you had a mechanical.

3. Considering the time penalty that the leading ladies got, did it move them back to a lower start group. If not, it means they were so competitive that it made no difference. If it did mean they were moved back it means that everything above mean naught; then everyone else should go and drink a cup of cement.

 

 

That being said; it would be nice, seeing as the purse is the same, I think the top 10 ladies should start with the top 10 men. Those that can stick will stick and those that can't wont. And due to the low numbers they won't be an issue to the following bunches. Remember there are only 10 teams, so 20 pax. 

[Escapee..]

My take is that you have Group 0 which is top x pros then group A with top qualifying women this is probably 100 to 200 strong

Then Group B etc.

 

Her Gripe is that they have to start in the bunch based on the overall GC and I see her perceived problem. If they are not in Group 0 or A, they will not get an opportunity to warm up on rollers etc, to be ready to race. Because if they do that they will be at the back of the bunch with another 10 to 200 pax in front of them.  I get it and it is worth considering especially if there is a mechanical or something.

 

However my comments are:

1. there is a prologue to get the seeding sorted, so if you are that far out of the seeding following the prologue you either are not good enough, or you had a mechanical.

2. Following Day 1 if you are not in the same batch as the front ladies you are not in contention, unless you had a mechanical.

3. Considering the time penalty that the leading ladies got, did it move them back to a lower start group. If not, it means they were so competitive that it made no difference. If it did mean they were moved back it means that everything above mean naught; then everyone else should go and drink a cup of cement.

 

 

That being said; it would be nice, seeing as the purse is the same, I think the top 10 ladies should start with the top 10 men. Those that can stick will stick and those that can't wont. And due to the low numbers they won't be an issue to the following bunches. Remember there are only 10 teams, so 20 pax. 

 

[Wyatt Earp]

 

 

That being said; it would be nice, seeing as the purse is the same, I think the top 10 ladies should start with the top 10 men. Those that can stick will stick and those that can't wont. And due to the low numbers they won't be an issue to the following bunches. Remember there are only 10 teams, so 20 pax. 

This is a great idea and will be excellent provided they downy throw any single track too early in to the mix .

[Brian Fantana]

My take is that you have Group 0 which is top x pros then group A with top qualifying women this is probably 100 to 200 strong

Then Group B etc.

 

Her Gripe is that they have to start in the bunch based on the overall GC and I see her perceived problem. If they are not in Group 0 or A, they will not get an opportunity to warm up on rollers etc, to be ready to race. Because if they do that they will be at the back of the bunch with another 10 to 200 pax in front of them.  I get it and it is worth considering especially if there is a mechanical or something.

 

However my comments are:

1. there is a prologue to get the seeding sorted, so if you are that far out of the seeding following the prologue you either are not good enough, or you had a mechanical.

2. Following Day 1 if you are not in the same batch as the front ladies you are not in contention, unless you had a mechanical.

3. Considering the time penalty that the leading ladies got, did it move them back to a lower start group. If not, it means they were so competitive that it made no difference. If it did mean they were moved back it means that everything above mean naught; then everyone else should go and drink a cup of cement.

 

 

That being said; it would be nice, seeing as the purse is the same, I think the top 10 ladies should start with the top 10 men. Those that can stick will stick and those that can't wont. And due to the low numbers they won't be an issue to the following bunches. Remember there are only 10 teams, so 20 pax. 

 

 

I agree with you.  Just regarding the part in bold, one has to remember that some teams arrive at the Epic knowing that they will not be in contention for GC, but they would still like to get a stage win for their sponsors.  That is where I think your UCI points should perhaps have an influence on where you start.

 

Having said that, Sally Bigham rode one of the long and tough stages as an outcast and started in group C.  She rode 5 minutes faster than Annika and Ariane on that day, which shows that even from group B or C riders can still ride a competitive time. 

[Spinnekop]

Seems we have to clean up the thread because of Andrew and Wyatt throwing water balloons around.  Really guys?  This is the interwebs.  There is no right or wrong person here.  Lots of porn on the webs but I have never found a person who is RIGHT.  Not one.  There are ALWAYS more clever people out there. 

SO just pleaseeeeee move on?

 

Question to the informed......

Why start the ladies in the front bunch AT ALL?  Why not just seed them with the seeded race like the rest of the guys.  Why preferential treatment to top ladies? 

Surely if they are seeded A batch or B or whatever, the guys around them will have the same ability based on EARNED seeding via the prologue and daily racing?

 

Will sort out a lot of who gets to race where.

[Tubehunter]

Cape Epic ladies category will clearly become a hotly contested race in itself within the next few years.

 

- Equal prizemoney? Check

- Better coverage and airtime? Improving

- Most RESPECTED (by everyone other than Wyatt) female rider in the history of the sport experience the event and have her commentary and input. Check

- Equal racing opportunities? Not so much at this time. 2 back to back days with any issues mechanical or otherwise and you're relegated to racing with the midpack.

 

Let them sort out these issues and the strength and depth of the field can only improve which will sort out the coverage for them too, as then there will be more racing to actually show too!

[Tubehunter]

Seems we have to clean up the thread because of Andrew and Wyatt throwing water balloons around.  Really guys?  This is the interwebs.  There is no right or wrong person here.  Lots of porn on the webs but I have never found a person who is RIGHT.  Not one.  There are ALWAYS more clever people out there. 

SO just pleaseeeeee move on?

 

Question to the informed......

Why start the ladies in the front bunch AT ALL?  Why not just seed them with the seeded race like the rest of the guys.  Why preferential treatment to top ladies? 

Surely if they are seeded A batch or B or whatever, the guys around them will have the same ability based on EARNED seeding via the prologue and daily racing?

 

Will sort out a lot of who gets to race where.

 

Indeed spidey it's a formula that works for us men as the elite will always be at the sharp end of the field. Not so much for the ladies event. Yes, the drafting principle in off road biking is far less than on the road and even when you are not drafting, it is incredible how much you up your game when you are surrounded by faster riders! The top ladies teams have always been amongst the men groups and it would be useful to try and get their category to race amongst themselves as much as possible than race on unequal footing. Starting them together is the least that the Organisers can do!

[Tubehunter]

Just to add some context about why she is making specific mention about the start issue and how it impacts the ladies racing category.

 

I'll drag out the specific lines for those that can't be bothered to read the whole report in the news links provided below.

 

She said her lack of Absa Cape Epic experience meant she would probably not be able to compete for the overall Women’s title, “but I hope my partner and I can go for a stage win during the week”.

“It will be very hard and lots of hours of suffering … a lot can happen during each stage,” said Dahle Flesja.

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dahle-flesja-commits-to-race-2015-cape-epic

 

and

 

https://www.cape-epic.com/news/632/

[SwissVan]

Most wouldn't have read that far or would have given up because they struggled with the big words.

 

Wyatt, google cycle passion calender gunn rita.

 

Van, the point, I think, is to at least keep the herds together.

 

Yes she may have a point about the current race rules regarding elite ladies start positions.

 

BUT that does not change the fact that they cocked it up themselves and have no one else to blame. Fact is they made the mistake of not knowing the rules of the event, it's a mtb stage race not a one day XCO or XCM event, different rules apply. Furthermore they made the mistake of getting to the B start block late and then had to contend with congestion.

 

The race rules are clear about the start procedures, they (should have) would have known this long before she arrived in Cape Town.

 

Dedicating +/- 4 paragraphs to it in her blog imo is not the correct way to deal with this kind of issue.

 

Herd enough? 

[jimmycool]

.

[Tubehunter]

Yes she may have a point about the current race rules regarding elite ladies start positions.

 

BUT that does not change the fact that they cocked it up themselves and have no one else to blame. Fact is they made the mistake of not knowing the rules of the event, it's a mtb stage race not a one day XCO or XCM event, different rules apply. Furthermore they made the mistake of getting to the B start block late and then had to contend with congestion.

 

The race rules are clear about the start procedures, they (should have) would have known this long before she arrived in Cape Town.

 

Dedicating +/- 4 paragraphs to it in her blog imo is not the correct way to deal with this kind of issue.

 

Herd enough? 

 

Yes, in the current format the issue is theirs! But herein lies the rub SV. How do you expect the top ladies teams to commit to this event when they know that 2 days of issues sees them completely off the radar for anything, including stage win opportunities? Why do you think the ladies field is so thin 12 years down the line? Clearly something needs to change and make the racing in the ladies teams closer to competing with one another.

[TimW]

Personally i think she has a great point and as the most decorated women's mountain biker in the world maybe it would be wise to at least listen to her opinion.

 

In my mind it would make sense to ensure the top three or five women's teams all start together. Either in A batch or their own B batch. The argument that they will slow people down in the single track is probably not that valid because I suspect the leading women probably lose more time on the power sections rather than the technical sections (when compared to B batch riders). Having the women starting on an equal footing would give the race a second point of interest every day. 

 

And finally, to describe the way she has raised the issue as a whinge, tantrum etc is probably a little unfair. I read (the whole article) as a piece of constructive criticism. She pointed out her experience and provided a solution for what she sees as a problem -- along with a lot of very positive comments on the race.

[HOEKVLAG]

Yes, in the current format the issue is theirs! But herein lies the rub SV. How do you expect the top ladies teams to commit to this event when they know that 2 days of issues sees them completely off the radar for anything, including stage win opportunities? Why do you think the ladies field is so thin 12 years down the line? Clearly something needs to change and make the racing in the ladies teams closer to competing with one another.

Could anybody find out / confirm where the RECM ladies started after their time penalty? If they started as per the rules they took half an hour out of everybody on the stage after having started behind them - and won the stage...