Absa Cape Epic 2018

[Eldron]

epic lite.

 

Below average distance, nearly shortest, below average ascent, probably least ever.  Hard track?  Doesn't seem particularly so.

 

Data 2004 - 2018

 

 

Unfit folk finishing with time to spare.  A challenge?  I don't think so.

 

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

[JAVSA02]

Be wary of being an uninformed armchair critic, because you run the risk of looking like the uninformed father screaming at the ref at a primary school rugby game.

 

Love this response to a really shallow pov. Cant it just be about the riding or close competition? What impact better equipment, training, coaching and and and on making it look easier to what was?

[HDW]

According to Instagram Nino will be pulling out after today's stage.

[Shebeen]

nice to see the tracking working today.

 

they have changed the url so there must have been some behind the scenes late nights

http://cape-epic.co.za/

 

BUUUT it's a real amateur* move to have it load on satellite as default - much quicker to have it on terrain - and obviously more users can be handled.

 

 

 

 

*or people with shedloads of bandwidth to burn on their servers.

[Shebeen]

According to Instagram Nino will be pulling out after today's stage.

Expect a lot of wheelies for the helicopter today, then.

 

 

thought about it this morning.

 

I know they lost time yesterday, but for stirneman to pull out 18 hours before the start of stage 2 seemed a bit premature....the body can recover amazingly sometimes. Defending champs could have at least waited until km 30 today before pulling the plug.

 

 

{but what do i know}

[davetapson]

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

The proof will be what transpires over the next few days, for sure.

 

"We all know that you don’t start the Cape Epic for fun. Not if you’re committed to finishing the event. No matter how conditioned you are, the annual mountain bike race in the Western Cape will always be a challenge. It will challenge you during the months of preparation and it will challenge you during the eight racing days. It will dare you, it will humble you and it will undoubtedly change your life. The Cape Epic is one of the most significant challenges its finishers will ever conquer.

That’s part of the attraction for over 1200 mountain bikers each year. You always finish a Cape Epic richer than when you started. Not richer financially, obviously, but richer personally. It’s inevitable. It’s why humans make great sacrifices and take on great physical challenges like the Cape Epic. It’s a voluntary commitment to finishing something difficult. It’s predominantly a physical event, but it requires mental and emotional strength. Yes, the Cape Epic is a pretty solid allround test of your character. 

And it’s a privilege. Most entrants appreciate that it’s a privilege. A privilege having an entry. A privilege to be healthy enough to tackle something this daunting. A privilege to have the appropriate equipment. A privilege to be able to be a part a world class event in our own country."

 

That's exactly the point.

 

It is supposed to be hard.  If it is not, you are trivializing the commitment and effort, and expectations, of the riders.

 

Would you rather be known as a finisher of an Epic (and there have been a few) Epic, or  an 'easy' Epic?

 

As soon as 'anybody' can complete any endeavor, that en endeavor loses what it had to offer originally.  A bit like adding the Vic Clapham medal to Comrades.  That hour makes a difference, and as such takes away some of the challenge.

 

It seems to me, (and you are welcome to call me uninformed on this point) that the format of the race has changed from being a string of marathons, to a string of X-country races.  To prevail in the past, you had to be a hard man/woman - it was HARD.  Now you just need to be fast. It's not the same. 

[nathrix]

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

 

Maybe it's because the majority of riders these days have deep pockets/celebs?

Don't get me wrong, the epic is a hell of a tough stage race day in and day out.

 

I'm not convinced the current format is tougher compared to the previous years. All of them were tough. Also if you look at the huge improvements in bikes, equipment, nutrition and better training programs, you should not have an excuse not to finish unless you get sick or crashed out.

 

Just my 2c, armchair critic (cum laude).

[Shebeen]

My pic for MASTERS winner 2019

 

hermida and purito (will be eligible next year)

[CogitoErgoSum]

When the Epic started, it was Epic.

 

When those guys got to the finish line, you know they'd worked for it. You know it was an achievement.

 

I spoke to one of the Polar guys, who back in the day were the only HR monitoring story in town and used to assist at the Epic, and he said that one thing a cyclist should do is get to the finish line of an Epic stage, because the human emotion was just another level and needed to be experienced.

 

Now? Oh gosh, I'm a bit tired, but I got in with 40 mins to spare.

 

In your eyes, that's Epic?

Ja ja.... and back in the day you used steel wool for toilet paper and sheepskin for a condom....

 

Now that is epic

 

[emoji106]

 

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[Eldron]

 

It seems to me, (and you are welcome to call me uninformed on this point) that the format of the race has changed from being a string of marathons, to a string of X-country races.  To prevail in the past, you had to be a hard man/woman - it was HARD.  Now you just need to be fast. It's not the same. 

 

You keep saying that it's getting easier but the high DNF rate of the last 2 years contradicts your theory directly - or people are just getting softer and that's why the DNF rate has been so high in 2016 & 2017.

 

I did a quick calc and the DNF rate for the first 6 years was 21.7% - DNF rate for the next 6 years was 20.9%. You could use that to claim that it has got a little easier but 0.8% difference is hardly enough to claim it's "easy".

[Matt]

According to Instagram Nino will be pulling out after today's stage.

Seems he's already out. 

[Eldron]

Maybe it's because the majority of riders these days have deep pockets/celebs?

Don't get me wrong, the epic is a hell of a tough stage race day in and day out.

 

I'm not convinced the current format is tougher compared to the previous years. All of them were tough. Also if you look at the huge improvements in bikes, equipment, nutrition and better training programs, you should not have an excuse not to finish unless you get sick or crashed out.

 

Just my 2c, armchair critic (cum laude).

 

I did cover the "softer" issue is my next post. I think it's got legs - in general I think people have gotten a little softer and that probably has an effect on the DNF rate.

 

I still have mixed opinions on how hard the Epic is - there is so much "easy" district road and so much "hard" rough rocky stony sandy climbing that I'm still conflicted.

 

Either way - it's not easy!

[OneLove]

750_2551.jpg

The moment you realise that you came into the descent way to fast.

[davetapson]

Ja ja.... and back in the day you used steel wool for toilet paper and sheepskin for a condom....

 

Now that is epic

 

[emoji106]

 

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Google ad hominem.

[Chingy182]

The epic is so tough/easy even Nino now has a DNF  

[davetapson]

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

This could have been due to the weather too? There were some tough days.