Really, No Epic 2023 Thread?

[Ozzie NL]

7 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

seems like the casualty rate is lower this year, hard to see exactly as the search is too complicated for me!

 

stage 4, 588 teams finished the TT

dunno how many individuals

prologue 723 finished it.

 

dropout rate of 19% seems like lower than normal for 3 stages left

Not sure about mid race drop out but the final drop-out history is as per above graph.

The last 3 days are hard especially if riders struggle with stomach issues

[ChrisF]

5 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

AirBnB no guarantee to escape spuitpoep.....Did that last year and both partner, support oke and me got it ....... most used AirBnB loo ever

Hierdie goggas are airborne

 

We have friends riding.  Doing the B&B thing.  BUT, each day they still spend time in the great tent with the others, getting pics with Amy and Nino .....  AND getting the spuit poep ....  very nearly had very bad Tuesday !!  Couple of their friends then dropped out due to this ...

 

So it is most certainly not "restricted to the tent dwellers" .....

[babse]

11 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

seems like the casualty rate is lower this year, hard to see exactly as the search is too complicated for me!

 

stage 4, 588 teams finished the TT

dunno how many individuals

prologue 723 finished it.

 

dropout rate of 19% seems like lower than normal for 3 stages left

I recon the non extreme weather play a big role... Yes there's been wind but not much else.

Riders luck. 

[babse]

11 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

I was referring to the UCI portion. the rest is a gran fondo on the same course, which pays for the former.

is he still in it?

That was just a reference as to who can enter hahaha however, my CFO is riding and he is a half decent rider sitting in the top200

[Ozzie NL]

6 minutes ago, babse said:

That was just a reference as to who can enter hahaha however, my CFO is riding and he is a half decent rider sitting in the top200

If you're in the top 200 you're more than half descent

[ChrisF]

4 minutes ago, babse said:

I recon the non extreme weather play a big role... Yes there's been wind but not much else.

Riders luck. 

 

I am VERY surprised by the weather !!!

 

Sunday was stunning weather at Meerendal.

 

Monday we woke up to RAIN .... 15mm, with another 5mm over night.

 

I was feeling sorry for my friends knowing this weather was heading their way.  Yes, Hermanus did get the storm wind.  But seems none of the rain, at least not while they were out on course.

 

 

Right now I am looking out at a decent storm front moving over Durbanville.  Proper gusts of wind.  Short hard rain ...  Wondering if this front is going to turn the Queen stage upside down .....

 

 

 

Yes, thus far they have had decent weather.

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, Stephan said:

Totally agree.

The whole XCM vs XCO issue must play a part, but surely not the only reason? Why so many UCI men then? 

Mostly XCM teams

[Lexx]

31 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

AirBnB no guarantee to escape spuitpoep.....Did that last year and both partner, support oke and me got it ....... most used AirBnB loo ever

Hierdie goggas are airborne

Dammit, thought it would be better. 

[love2fly]

27 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

We have friends riding.  Doing the B&B thing.  BUT, each day they still spend time in the great tent with the others, getting pics with Amy and Nino .....  AND getting the spuit poep ....  very nearly had very bad Tuesday !!  Couple of their friends then dropped out due to this ...

 

So it is most certainly not "restricted to the tent dwellers" .....

I've always believed it's in the water?

I'm hoping Nino n Andri managed themselves today. From what I saw Andri wasn't getting dropped today and at a point they were holding the gap - almost. Looking very fwd to the 👑 stage tomorrow.

[J Wakefield]

1 hour ago, devvydoesdonuts said:

Not sure if Andri is able to hold the pace for much longer, Nino really just has another gear at the Epic compared to his partners. Maybe Spez and SCR spent too many matches today and Scott took the loss of time today and used it as a bit of a recovery day knowing what lies ahead Friday and Saturday? I think the mens race is going to be rather interesting.

No dude 

[Sidekick Racer]

Scott are cooked, the boys are COMING!!!  🇿🇦

[Lexx]

1 minute ago, Sidekick Racer said:

Scott are cooked, the boys are COMING!!!  🇿🇦

I wouldn't write off the Scott team just yet. 

[love2fly]

2 minutes ago, Sidekick Racer said:

Scott are cooked, the boys are COMING!!!  🇿🇦

I'm not 100% convinced of that. SCR ran out of matches and lost out big a few days ago when they went out hard and ran out of steam. They burned a lot of matches yesterday & today and so have Matt and Chris both fighting back so well and especially today....it's going to be one helluva Queen stage.

['Dale]

Rain overnight. Cooler conditions tomorrow. Stages 5, 6 and 7 - don’t blink, anything can happen. 

[ChrisF]

Weather about to turn the race upside down ....

 

 

Mechanics are now standing in water working on the bikes.

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, love2fly said:

I've always believed it's in the water?

I'm hoping Nino n Andri managed themselves today. From what I saw Andri wasn't getting dropped today and at a point they were holding the gap - almost. Looking very fwd to the 👑 stage tomorrow.

Scott did manage themselves but the pace they rode was what was needed to finish the stage at minimum time possible. 
SCR blow ups were caused by feed zone issues whe they missed their bottles. They got one off Andri who didn’t like what the team gave him (sugary drink as opposed to more balanced drink with protein)
 

two teams are going forward and that’s wheee the winner will come from. Scott is going backward. I can’t see how they can ride faster tomorrow whe they couldn’t today 

16 minutes ago, love2fly said:

I'm not 100% convinced of that. SCR ran out of matches and lost out big a few days ago when they went out hard and ran out of steam. They burned a lot of matches yesterday & today and so have Matt and Chris both fighting back so well and especially today....it's going to be one helluva Queen stage.