Absa Cape Epic 2018

[MphatiPyga]

had a quick look at the results on Cape Epic website,goes back to 2006, wonder why they don't care about the first 3 editions!

 

just normalised for SA riders (so mannie heymans is in the mix too i guess)

 

 

epicSaffas.png

orange is saffa with overseas rider, red is 2 saffas.

As you can see, the only time we really did well was during the 2008=>2012 era where burry/ evans&george were in the mix. A lot of the time, our good riders have been riding backup for overseas teams - it would be interesting to see what someone like Erik Kleinhans could do if he had actually gone for it, he has always been backup/riding mixed.

 

 

This will be the first time we have no one in the Top10 however.

Good point about being support riders for the big overseas guns in the past!

[GLuvsMtb]

I tend to agree with you, it is actually sad not seeing more Saffas racing for gold in their own back yard. I would like to be cheering them on, but how do you cheer for 15th place? at least our pros beat the weekend warriors in the local races. I do hope they step up next year.

 

I think that is very optimistic to expect major changes in a year. At one stage we actually had good sponsors backing our top riders, but due to a combination of over-selling the benefits of sponsorship, tough economic conditions, pro's behaving poorly at events (particularly the wife / girlfriend-swopping, boozing it up and getting agro with fellow racers as a result), a few positive tests and more internationals coming out to take the limelight in our other big races we have seen our pro mountain bikers all but disappear.  

 

Sponsorship problems are a mere manifestation of the root cause of our lack of competitiveness. The issue is a bigger one in that we don't have a functional national cycling body. This means that we don't have a functional national championship for any of our mtb, road or track disciplines. We also don't have functional provincial / club structures where riders can compete against like for like week in and week out. We cannot think that by sending a token contingent to Worlds every year is going to do anything for our local racers that remain in SA.

 

The only success we had as a result are guys that take up road racing in Europe. At the time when these guys and girls go over, they are not head and shoulders above the rest that choose not to go. In Europe they grind it out for the first few seasons, racing almost every weekend to make a living, and hopefully get noticed and pick up sponsors as a result.

 

There are other ways to up competition for the local racers than relying on CSA to get their act together. The US has a very competitive College racing calendar and it keeps them competitive to a degree with Europe (they do the same with swimming, golf and athletics and it works well). The bulk of the mtb racing is XCO races. This is clearly the best way to get your riders to be competitive internationally opposed to XCM racing. Looking at the Epic top 10, I would venture a guess that all these internationals are very good XCO racers in their own right (top 20 at least). It is also a good platform to promote development in the sport.

 

We have a decent schools league (I would like to see at least 15 races a season though), but somehow we are not converting these bright stars into international superstars. Burry was an anomaly. He rocked the races on his GT, and did his first Epic on a GT. I remember him pulling out due to ITB in 2008. I was at the water point when it happened. It was most likely there that Sauser did the deal on behalf of Specialized to sign him. The difference here was that it was a proper sponsorship from Specialized themselves, not a one-man-band agent in SA giving him a bike and kit, and considering it a sponsorship.  

 

For us to get competitive we need to look at our racing structures and how we maintain a wider spread of racing pro's. Something like possibly the FNB Varsity Cup for Rugby / Netball / Cricket / Hockey? This offers sponsors a "safety net" to ensure some ROI. Perhaps we need to get a Francois Pienaar involved with this to package it.

 

All of this is a bit off-topic (sorry guys and girls), but lets not kid ourselves to think that we'll magically have a healthy cycling scene 12 months from now.

[Benjamin]

We have the talent, but no sponsors and they just disappear. You'll probably have to compete in Europe on a regular basis to get close and the young guys don't have those opportunities. James Reid was what Alan Hatherly is now, winning XC and Marathon and he is not even racing anymore. I think one of the main reason by Burry set such a amazing example, apart from being super talented, was that he had the backing of Specialized. With that came the international opportunities and the mentorship from someone like a Christof Sauser. Just look at Grotts, he's not the best MTB'er in the world, but yet he is leading the Epic purely because of Kulhavy, being his partner, and Sauser giving advice in the background.

 

Think there's so much more to South Africans not performing than just saying, we're not as good as the other guys.

While I get your point about having an exceptional team around you is essential, to say Howie Grotts is leading the epic purely because Jaro is his partner is a bit offsides . One thing having arguably the strongest partner , but you still got to push out the watts and handle the technical at max speed and race on the limit . That doesn't just happen by osmosis from your partner .

How many other teams have had days of falling way behind cos one partner can't keep up .

 

I reckon Grotts racing like a champion

[Thor Buttox]

Seeing Joe Kuhn's wattage really makes me wish this was a singles race. Sure Annika's would be similarly impressive. (Am having serious FOMO not being able to watch the live stream due to the time issue over here...)

[dev null]

I think that is very optimistic to expect major changes in a year. At one stage we actually had good sponsors backing our top riders, but due to a combination of over-selling the benefits of sponsorship, tough economic conditions, pro's behaving poorly at events (particularly the wife / girlfriend-swopping, boozing it up and getting agro with fellow racers as a result), a few positive tests and more internationals coming out to take the limelight in our other big races we have seen our pro mountain bikers all but disappear.  

 

Sponsorship problems are a mere manifestation of the root cause of our lack of competitiveness. The issue is a bigger one in that we don't have a functional national cycling body. This means that we don't have a functional national championship for any of our mtb, road or track disciplines. We also don't have functional provincial / club structures where riders can compete against like for like week in and week out. We cannot think that by sending a token contingent to Worlds every year is going to do anything for our local racers that remain in SA.

 

The only success we had as a result are guys that take up road racing in Europe. At the time when these guys and girls go over, they are not head and shoulders above the rest that choose not to go. In Europe they grind it out for the first few seasons, racing almost every weekend to make a living, and hopefully get noticed and pick up sponsors as a result.

 

There are other ways to up competition for the local racers than relying on CSA to get their act together. The US has a very competitive College racing calendar and it keeps them competitive to a degree with Europe (they do the same with swimming, golf and athletics and it works well). The bulk of the mtb racing is XCO races. This is clearly the best way to get your riders to be competitive internationally opposed to XCM racing. Looking at the Epic top 10, I would venture a guess that all these internationals are very good XCO racers in their own right (top 20 at least). It is also a good platform to promote development in the sport.

 

We have a decent schools league (I would like to see at least 15 races a season though), but somehow we are not converting these bright stars into international superstars. Burry was an anomaly. He rocked the races on his GT, and did his first Epic on a GT. I remember him pulling out due to ITB in 2008. I was at the water point when it happened. It was most likely there that Sauser did the deal on behalf of Specialized to sign him. The difference here was that it was a proper sponsorship from Specialized themselves, not a one-man-band agent in SA giving him a bike and kit, and considering it a sponsorship.  

 

For us to get competitive we need to look at our racing structures and how we maintain a wider spread of racing pro's. Something like possibly the FNB Varsity Cup for Rugby / Netball / Cricket / Hockey? This offers sponsors a "safety net" to ensure some ROI. Perhaps we need to get a Francois Pienaar involved with this to package it.

 

All of this is a bit off-topic (sorry guys and girls), but lets not kid ourselves to think that we'll magically have a healthy cycling scene 12 months from now.

 

Exactly why I told my son to stick with XCO after he leaves school, even though he is not yet in the top 10. It is terrible to see the poor attendance at XCO races. This past weekend's XCO race at Rhebokskloof saw 10 U/23 racers and not one Elite racer. Given, most were doing the Epic, but surely there are someone that could have flown the flag for the Elite men that did not do the Epic.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Exactly why I told my son to stick with XCO, even though he is not yet in the top 10, even after school. It is terrible to see the poor attendance at XCO races. This past weekend's XCO race at Rhebokskloof saw 10 U/23 racers and not one Elite racer. Given, most were doing the Epic, but surely there are someone that could have flown the flag for the Elite men that did not do the Epic.

That's terrible, dude.

[Mntboy]

While I get your point about having an exceptional team around you is essential, to say Howie Grotts is leading the epic purely because Jaro is his partner is a bit offsides . One thing having arguably the strongest partner , but you still got to push out the watts and handle the technical at max speed and race on the limit . That doesn't just happen by osmosis from your partner .

How many other teams have had days of falling way behind cos one partner can't keep up .

 

I reckon Grotts racing like a champion

I will admit to being surprised at Grotts and to a lesser extent Courtney as well. Both have handled racing at the Epic pretty well given their much stronger and better known teammates. Grotts has serious guts and good application that's for sure. Courtney was a bit more expected due to her high volume training in the lead up. Still it's good too see that she is capable of holding her own. Although I really wish that Jolanda Neff and Maja W was here to test Team Sparkle Watts.

 

Sent from my SM-J200H using Tapatalk

[Mntboy]

 

 

Exactly why I told my son to stick with XCO after he leaves school, even though he is not yet in the top 10. It is terrible to see the poor attendance at XCO races. This past weekend's XCO race at Rhebokskloof saw 10 U/23 racers and not one Elite racer. Given, most were doing the Epic, but surely there are someone that could have flown the flag for the Elite men that did not do the Epic.

That's a shame. That really is.

 

Sent from my SM-J200H using Tapatalk

[dev null]

I sure am glad that I did not endure 10 hours on the bike in the heat of today. Those riders will be feeling like raisins right now.

[scuzzy]

While I get your point about having an exceptional team around you is essential, to say Howie Grotts is leading the epic purely because Jaro is his partner is a bit offsides . One thing having arguably the strongest partner , but you still got to push out the watts and handle the technical at max speed and race on the limit . That doesn't just happen by osmosis from your partner .

How many other teams have had days of falling way behind cos one partner can't keep up .

 

I reckon Grotts racing like a champion

 

Sure, he has to ride, but I do not think het would have been in front with another partner, much like Stirneman last year with Schurter, no ways he would have won with one of the other Scott guys.

 

Point is, I think there is more to winning that just exceptional talent from a particular rider.  If one listens to the pro's and watch the behind the scenes video clips, one understands that it is so much more, in a race like the Epic, than just good legs.

 

Dare I say it, but the only all SA team that ever had close to that kind of back up support was Kevin Evans and David George, with Nedbank, but we all know how that ended..... and also there reason why we cannot get some good local sponsorships for our top riders anymore.

[Escapee..]

[Shebeen]

Exactly why I told my son to stick with XCO after he leaves school, even though he is not yet in the top 10. It is terrible to see the poor attendance at XCO races. This past weekend's XCO race at Rhebokskloof saw 10 U/23 racers and not one Elite racer. Given, most were doing the Epic, but surely there are someone that could have flown the flag for the Elite men that did not do the Epic.

Geez bru, why didn't you get in your bike and claim an elite victory?!

[Meezo]

Exactly why I told my son to stick with XCO after he leaves school, even though he is not yet in the top 10. It is terrible to see the poor attendance at XCO races. This past weekend's XCO race at Rhebokskloof saw 10 U/23 racers and not one Elite racer. Given, most were doing the Epic, but surely there are someone that could have flown the flag for the Elite men that did not do the Epic.

For the record

 

Hubber @babse raced elites , he’s not u23

[dev null]

Geez bru, why didn't you get in your bike and claim an elite victory?!

 

'Cause I am already Master or Grand Master bru. 

[dev null]

For the record

 

Hubber @babse raced elites , he’s not u23

 

He did? Don't know his name tho. I checked out the 10 blokes. I knew 3/4 of them. Rest of them looked quite young.

[The Crazy German]

The last time a French person won the Tour de France was in 1985... Imagine if they introduced a 'best French rider' jersey... it would have to be brown because, well, it's a poo poo idea

Its called the combativity price rigged like mad with an almost all french jury. De gendt got lekka robbed last year.