Attakwas 2017

[jcza]

Fortunate to win a entry this year and it was my 5th. After making a mess of this race four years in a row I went in with a plan. Start easy and get to KOM in 3 hours and Spur stop in 3:30. Hope the wind is not too bad and aim firstly to break 7 hours and if all goes really well aim for 6:30.

 

Start was steady although it took 17km for legs to feel good. Didn't stop at WP1 and tried to keep heart rate under control. Filled up at WP2 and headed for the hills. This is where it gets serious. Touched wheels on steep concrete climb and crashed. Or rather fell over like a noob, no damage done. Not convinced that new Shimano 11-46 cassette is the way to go. Sure you're pedaling but you either don't have enough resistance to balance against or going so slowly that you're unstable. Going back to 11-42, rather grind more and go faster or have more stability.

 

I lost time on the technical descents. Maybe taking it too easy but after crashing last year I didn't want to make the same mistake. Surface was very loose and seemed much more washed out. Got to Spur in 3:46 which was slower than I wanted but well on track. Leaving the WP I blew up on that seemingly endless grind on the district road. Right leg started cramping and I felt ill. Special word of thanks to the rider that gave me a Rennie. Wind was hurting us and I knew it will just be a fight for survival. Tried to jump onto a couple of wheels but was battling to hold on. Eventually at around 90km in I managed to find something again and made it home in 6:51. Lost loads of time between 70 - 90km, even considered pulling out and giving up riding. The dark places we visit out there.

 

Thanks to Dryland for the entry and a fantastic event. These guys know how to organize a race.

[Tiny K]

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Mr Platt and friends leaving after the race. [emoji102] [emoji41]

 

 

Big Time

 

Personally i think its a pity that our sport has come to this (arriving and leaving events in helicopters)

 

 

Its a world class event with a world class field. These guys are the AC⚡️DC of the MTB world. They come back year after year because in SA they are treated like rock stars.

 

 

Don't worry about the global stars, most of us regular folks will be flying back with Kulula tomorrow or driving back.

 

 

I must say, no matter what anyone says, Platt is a very nice, friendly guy, met him yesterday and we had a quick chat where he gave us kudos on the park and for them (all cyclists) being able to use the facility for the day.

 

 

 

I had a chat to him Friday afternoon, he got offered a flight by a his close friend and local billionaire in Franschhoek. 2 local guys flew along, nothing wrong with that.

 

He was so relaxed on Friday, eating lunch and trying some of our wines.

 

3rd time he been here since December.

 

I'm with Tim here - Karlos actually bummed a lift to the race and back to Franschhoek afterwards. Wished I had also been able to get a lift - took them 1hr30 to get to Oudtshoorn on Friday afternoon! Better than the drive!!!

 

Karl is a really cool oke - down to earth and loves to chat as much as the next guy.

[Rudi Pollard]

This was my first experience of the Atta and I will definitely be back for more next year.

 

Our racing strategy was to go out relatively easy for the first half and try to keep to sub 6h30 splits. My riding partner was struggling up the steep stuff but we were tracking perfectly on time when we reached spur.

 

I was also trying out a new nutrition strategy, and it was working perfectly. My energy levels didn't drop once and I was feeling really strong through the entire race.

 

At the start of the climb after spur my 2 mates told me to ride my own race for the second half. From there on I was basically on a solo mission. Quite a few guys sat on my wheel on the district roads, but they weren't able to assist.

 

At WP4 and WP5 I was way up on the splits I needed to be.

 

My eventual finishing time was 6h11 with a moving time of 5h58. I must say that I am ecstatic with that result, especially with this being my first Atta.

 

This race deserves all the respect it gets. Proper proper mtb race. Thanks to all involved for putting up an amazing event!!!

[Mads]

Fortunate to win a entry this year and it was my 5th. < Snip>

Thanks to Dryland for the entry and a fantastic event. These guys know how to organize a race.

 

I was the other fortunate winner.

 

First Attakwas Extreme I did was 2 years ago, I missed cut off with 38 seconds.  I realized I totally underestimated the Atta. Vowed to go back and so I did last year. Although I cut an hour and 10 min off my previous years time, I know exactly what you mean with the dip between 70-90km.  I also questioned my entry to the race, my reason to cycle and eventually my whole existence on earth.  

 

When I won the entry I saw it as my chance and for the past year I trained specifically to improve my time but also to finish well.

 

But I had the bad luck to fall on a training ride 10 days before the Attakwas and broke my pelvic bone which meant no Attakwas . This was really very hard for me.  I was not even sad or upset ... just numb.

 

But I will be back.  I still have some unfinished business   

[shova1]

I was the other fortunate winner.

 

First Attakwas Extreme I did was 2 years ago, I missed cut off with 38 seconds.  I realized I totally underestimated the Atta. Vowed to go back and so I did last year. Although I cut an hour and 10 min off my previous years time, I know exactly what you mean with the dip between 70-90km.  I also questioned my entry to the race, my reason to cycle and eventually my whole existence on earth.  

 

When I won the entry I saw it as my chance and for the past year I trained specifically to improve my time but also to finish well.

 

But I had the bad luck to fall on a training ride 10 days before the Attakwas and broke my pelvic bone which meant no Attakwas . This was really very hard for me.  I was not even sad or upset ... just numb.

 

But I will be back.  I still have some unfinished business   

 

Yikes, doesn't sound like fun!.....hope it's not too long before you're back on the bike. Good luck for 2018 & some unfinished business... 

['Dale]

@mads

 

Sorry to hear

Love your resolve though

All the best ????????

 

@jcza

Great race story there, man ????????

['Dale]

Well done to all the finishers ????????????

Sounds Iike a special medal ????

[Slowbee]

TinyK!!! nice to know you still alive !!

 

but come guys, where are the ride reports, not all of you were racing for a helicopter finish surely ?

[New Landy new life]

I got my entry on a dare from a mate, but managed 9h17 with no long distance training at all.

 

I found the last 20 tough as I started cramping in every leg muscle possible.

 

I sweat an awful lot and probably lost too much salt - need to find something at the chemist to counteract that next time.

 

brilliant event, loved the water points and hope to cut off an hour at least next year.

[milky4130]

Yesterday's @attakwas 2017 tweets all in one video

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd7lsZOF7WI

thanks for putting this together. I also raced it or rather rode & walked it this year but always cool to catchup on the highlights. Often after races, usually the same day I would go through all the FB & twitter posts to see how it unfolded amongst the top pro's. Now you've combined it all like this which is great.

[taito]

So number 7 for me,bit undertrained but feeling good.Started in C and took it easy until water point 2 there is no need to stop at WP1.This is where the real ride starts I had to fight the urge to go to hard in this section.

I did hit a stone really hard somewhere in the middle section ,a bone shaker usually that means blow out but thank goodness ,,no flat just a bit of Stans spray.

I really enjoy downhill so I received the normal chirps on the downhill sections,but I'm used to that now,,,If u can't downhill get out the way man.

Arrived at Spur relatively ok,some snacks and ,,let's roll ,,,that hill sucks but it's a grinder so it's head down and pedal.

the forest section on top is always enjoyable with high speeds and reached the next water point feeling ok.

 

 

This is where the district roads starts and where I always battle,tried to hop onto some smal bunches but the pace is too high.

 

once you go over the tar road it's just a grind home with 2 mean hills ,a quick stop at the last water point for some watermelon and it's home time.

 

The last 20k is always a blur of pain and exhaustion but that's the Atta.

 

Mmmmmmm no 8 next year,,,,maybe.

 

BTW ,,,one rear AM classic race rim scrap.Atta 1 Taito 3k out of pocket.

[BSG]

Pictures that one of our neighbours took on the day of the Attakwas.

 

"Keep the rubber on the gravel "