the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[dev null]

1 minute ago, Bro Derek said:

I'd guess that if people have died, they will need to be very careful how they release information.

There is also the case of 'My only Story' in terms of Image control and what can be covered up and denied in order to protect the product image.

With people dying at more than one IronMan event in the last 24 months and now this, one needs to ask some questions of the qualifying criteria for those taking part as well as the race organisers. 

There is zero control over who enters these races other than willing payer. Maybe that also needs to be looked at going into what is supposed to be the ultimate test in human endeavour. 

The 'self check' approach to overall competency may not be as effective as it used to be as we as humans evolve further and further towards a scene from Wall-E 

I think they are already stuffed as they cannot control info coming from riders and that it is already well known that they did not prepare well for today given the weather predictions. Running out of water is not excusable for such a high profile event, and they can expect a case against them at least from the family of the rider that passed away, if not more. Just asking people to sign waivers aint going to cut it when they could have implemented mitigation against casualties.

[Bro Derek]

2 minutes ago, dev null said:

I think they are already stuffed as they cannot control info coming from riders and that it is already well known that they did not prepare well for today given the weather predictions. Running out of water is not excusable for such a high profile event, and they can expect a case against them at least from the family of the rider that passed away, if not more. Just asking people to sign waivers aint going to cut it when they could have implemented mitigation against casualties.

For sure.

But an official statement comes with weight and as people have died, there are legal obligations.

I'm not excusing anyone or anything, but suggesting that there is a way things get done here in SA and sharing information without first covering ones backside isn't it. 

If you're unfamiliar with 'My only Story' check it out. The lengths institutions will go to protect their image is disturbing.

Pretty sure they are trying to find a suitably immeasurable way to blame the lack of water on something/someone that no one can confirm nor deny etc 

 

[NGM]

19 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

For sure.

But an official statement comes with weight and as people have died, there are legal obligations.

 

 

Do we know this for sure?

It may well turn out to be true, but at this stage all I've seen is a post by @varkie2 a few pages back saying "There are reports that a rider has passed away".

Edited March 19 by NGM
extra info

[MongooseMan]

Newly updated front page

[Bro Derek]

8 minutes ago, NGM said:

Do we know this for sure?

It may well turn out to be true, but at this stage all I've seen is a post by @varkie2 a few pages back saying "There are reports that a rider has passed away".

The 'leak' from those on the ground is that it may be more than one.

I'm alluding to the fact that the official statement may not be forthcoming if that is the case. The longer the statement takes, the more likely it is that the news isn't good. 

Patience isn't a common virtue in todays social media natterings, but it may be best to sit tight for a while, turn it off and wait for the official news.

This was eerily predicted by multiple armchair meteorologist part time cyclists on this website, so the fact that there has been a big whoopsy despite the obvious forwarnings isn't a great look.

But in my original post it suggests that as there is no qualifying criteria other than having money to pay, the organisers have absolutely no idea who is making up the field and what sort of conditions the lowest level of competitor is capable of. IronMan had swimming deaths, cycling deaths and medical deaths in conditions not 'very' out of the ordinary. 

Having a baseline would make managing expectations a lot easier but would likely need a business idea shift across the board, which is likely a discussion for another time

[dev null]

1 minute ago, Bro Derek said:

The 'leak' from those on the ground is that it may be more than one.

I'm alluding to the fact that the official statement may not be forthcoming if that is the case. The longer the statement takes, the more likely it is that the news isn't good. 

Patience isn't a common virtue in todays social media natterings, but it may be best to sit tight for a while, turn it off and wait for the official news.

This was eerily predicted by multiple armchair meteorologist part time cyclists on this website, so the fact that there has been a big whoopsy despite the obvious forwarnings isn't a great look.

But in my original post it suggests that as there is no qualifying criteria other than having money to pay, the organisers have absolutely no idea who is making up the field and what sort of conditions the lowest level of competitor is capable of. IronMan had swimming deaths, cycling deaths and medical deaths in conditions not 'very' out of the ordinary. 

Having a baseline would make managing expectations a lot easier but would likely need a business idea shift across the board, which is likely a discussion for another time

I would like to add that this armchair meteorologist and part time cyclist with no claims of ever being able to become an Amabubesi, have just being MTBing in the Western Cape for long enough to "know" that shyte was about to hit the fan.

[varkie2]

70 people sent to hospital aparently  and 3 fatalities. Not confirmed though.

[love2fly]

9 hours ago, babse said:

Anika walking down a trail... 

Why did she bother entering 🤷

 

That's a bit harsh, she got blocked/baulked by something.

[openmind]

11 minutes ago, varkie2 said:

70 people sent to hospital aparently  and 3 fatalities. Not confirmed though.

Not a great idea to post second-hand unconfirmed information. Let's wait for the facts. 

[Jbr]

I see 709 teams finished stage 1 with 28 individuals that finished alone, so that's roughly 1500 participants every day. Slower riders starting last (can't work around this), they should probably consider doing like W2W with a week for the faster guys and a week for the slower guys so that they can start early and not cook in the sun. The fact that this event gets that kind of attendance at the price that it costs and for what you get blows my mind, especially with a title sponsor like absa. Surely they could make it work for everyone to enjoy their passion without some peope having to go home after two days, or worse, never go home again

[JacquesJ]

4 minutes ago, love2fly said:

That's a bit harsh, she got blocked/baulked by something.

I suspect this comment was just a tongue in cheek reference to ssome of the posts after the prologue

[mecheng89]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

Circulating on whatsapp groups

 

!URGENT!

We are implementing a STAGE CANCELLATION AT WATER POINT 3 due to the extreme heat and will be assisting riders being removed from the route.  Riders on route already through Water Point 3 can continue to finish.  Riders between Water Point 2 to Water Point 3 will be removed from route – vehicles are being deployed to accessible  points on the route to evacuate riders.  

If you are able to assist with transporting riders from route to race village, please report at the VOC (behind Race Hospital) and we will deploy you.

Please do not make any statements to press or media.

Oops..

[mecheng89]

20 minutes ago, varkie2 said:

70 people sent to hospital aparently  and 3 fatalities. Not confirmed though.

Source?

[mecheng89]

1 hour ago, Bro Derek said:

For sure.

But an official statement comes with weight and as people have died, there are legal obligations.

I'm not excusing anyone or anything, but suggesting that there is a way things get done here in SA and sharing information without first covering ones backside isn't it. 

If you're unfamiliar with 'My only Story' check it out. The lengths institutions will go to protect their image is disturbing.

Pretty sure they are trying to find a suitably immeasurable way to blame the lack of water on something/someone that no one can confirm nor deny etc 

 

TANGENT:

Is this the one that made it to air as "School Ties"?

[love2fly]

12 minutes ago, JacquesJ said:

I suspect this comment was just a tongue in cheek reference to ssome of the posts after the prologue

Ah ok, my bad. Must be my German sense of humour.

[Bro Derek]

Just now, mecheng89 said:

TANGENT:

Is this the one that made it to air as "School Ties"?

'School Ties' was a part of the 'My Only Story' series. 

Deon Wiggett went pretty deep across a number of destinations and situations