Absa Cape Epic 2018

[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.

[davetapson]

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

Yesterday's stage was so hard it broke him? Or would that have been the prologue?

[Boerklong]

Did not see him in the pack this morning

[Gen]

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}

If they feel that it isn't worth putting his body through that then it's the right call....they have a xco season to prepare for and I suppose time spent trying to ride while your body recovers could be better spent recovering properly to focus in the next goals..

 

NINO has a xco season to fight for and it's going to be some fight...why go ride around the WC if you can't win anything as a solo/outcast rider when you can be spending that time more effectively in preparation of the rest of the xco season.

 

Sure Nino will thrill us all with some nice tailwhips today.[emoji1303]

 

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[Eldron]

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

 

For sure.

 

Slight tangent.... You could also argue that 29er wheels and dual suspended bikes have grown tremendously in the last few years so the DNF rate should have dropped accordingly. It didn't so "obviously" the race has gotten harder....

 

Either way I think you're way off the mark with your "epic lite" and "series of XC races" comment.

 

The stats suggest it's just as hard as it has always been.

[PhilipV]

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 think the deep pocket/celeb factor does contribute.

 

Having done the old format in 2006, I reckon is much rather do the current format with more trails, more rocky jeep tracks and generally harder terrain than the old long gravel road epic. Flip that was 120-140kms of boring (did add to the mental element though.)

 

But I reckon we'll see at least one or two hard days still this year that will have people saying "this year is the toughest ever" or "this was the toughest stage ever."

[Thor Buttox]

This thread needs to take a lesson from Bob Dylan in that maybe it's just that 'The times are a changing'...

 

Come gather round people whereever you moan...

 

Just enjoy the race for what it is - a gentle meander around the winelands with gyppo guts everywhere, dust everywhere, no water anywhere... Sounds like a piece of cake.

[nathrix]

I think the deep pocket/celeb factor does contribute.

 

Having done the old format in 2006, I reckon is much rather do the current format with more trails, more rocky jeep tracks and generally harder terrain than the old long gravel road epic. Flip that was 120-140kms of boring (did add to the mental element though.)

 

But I reckon we'll see at least one or two hard days still this year that will have people saying "this year is the toughest ever" or "this was the toughest stage ever."

 

On 26" alu/steel htails with rim brakes

 

Fortunately today we have gravel bikes for those long dirt roads

[PhilipV]

On 26" alu/steel htails with rim brakes

 

Fortunately today we have gravel bikes for those long dirt roads

Jip, I rode a giant XTC2. Tubeless was a game changer then.

 

Even on a gravel grinder I'll still be noted out of my mind. If it wasn't for the partner and conversation of the people around us I would have had a totally different experience.