the unofficial Cape Epic thread

['Kaze Pete]

Anybody with any half real info on what is going on with Beers and the King of Gravel?

They seem consistent. Consistently slipping back..?

[MORNE]

38 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

WEL gedaan 👍

 

Daai seine op die trails is om WEG te kom van die fone ... 😛

Plus…Sein vang is maklik as als om jou plat is en jy kan 200km ver sien😅. Berge en koppies speel n rol, veral in daai paarl pizza oond.

Edited March 20, 2025 by MORNE

[Lynskey]

1 hour ago, mecheng89 said:

I'm sorry it's upset you. It's just something that came into my mind after reading about it a little while ago. 

As I said, I'm not accusing or suggesting anything. She's a respected athlete and I cannot imagine for a nanosecond she'd do something like that to gain an advantage. 

Upset me you did not. You post was to the point of where your ignorance and mindless accusations should be taken to task. Your mind is an empty vessel if that is what you are filling it with.

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, mecheng89 said:

I'm sorry it's upset you. It's just something that came into my mind after reading about it a little while ago. 

As I said, I'm not accusing or suggesting anything. She's a respected athlete and I cannot imagine for a nanosecond she'd do something like that to gain an advantage. 

Other than the disclaimer "I am not accusing or suggesting anything" your post reads exactly like you are accusing her or suggesting something. Why put it out there if you don't have the slightest of proofs?

[babse]

Okay back to the racing...

 

These spint finishes have been EPIC! Yoh red boys are flying the flag proper 

[babse]

@Jbr watching Nino's interview, keeps me inspired 👩‍🦲

[PhilipV]

1 hour ago, mecheng89 said:

I'm sorry it's upset you. It's just something that came into my mind after reading about it a little while ago. 

As I said, I'm not accusing or suggesting anything. She's a respected athlete and I cannot imagine for a nanosecond she'd do something like that to gain an advantage. 

She retired from racing, pursued her profess career and started her family. Yet the first place your mind goes is there? 
 

do you mind excusing yourself for a while? 

[saturdayknight]

11 hours ago, mrcg said:

Remember the pros have their own people supporting them. I would assume they handed them the 5l. They are usually cognisant of the fact that the backmarkers need it more. But of course it is possible.

What usually happens though is that riders from about midpack take the "showers" at the waterpoints and this escalates and compounds to the backmarkers. But this is all known, yet planning remains inefficient and questionable. Hopefully a water problem did not lead to the possible deaths and dozens of hospitalisations, as there would be a strong case for negligence.

Having ridden and worked at the Epic, there are soooo many areas that need improvement. But the arrogance of management is mindblowing. Perhaps a proper comeuppance is what is needed. If lives were again lost, serious questions need to be asked 

I think you have hit the nail on the head - the organisers have had a year to plan, they know its in Paarl which is as hot as hades, and some simple understanding of heat stress and heat stroke and maths would allow them to plan for this. It's not rocket science - multiple extra water points, require riders to carry hydration packs. 1700 riders x 30 liters per rider - that gives them 15 litres to throw over themselves and 15 litres to drink gives about 50 tons of water - that's 5 large water tanks spread over the course. Thats not THAT difficult with a budget of over 100 million rands and a year of planning. And additional medics and access routes to attend to riders with heat stress. And most of that route is very accessible. 

[Skubarra]

11 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Other than the disclaimer "I am not accusing or suggesting anything" your post reads exactly like you are accusing her or suggesting something. Why put it out there if you don't have the slightest of proof?

 

[PhilipV]

5 days of racing and there is 30 seconds in it between 1 and 2. 
love it!!

[tinmug]

Does Marco drive a Big Six Ford and smoke Camels? White pants?

Or am I confusing him from some fragment of memory from the Seventies? 😆 Either way awesome to see the locals (ladies too) doing so well. 👍

[babse]

lets keep the wild accusations discussion out of here

[Paul Ruinaard]

14 hours ago, love2fly said:

In the CTCT you see people walking up (is it Edinburgh Drive?) Bishopscourt area....and in last year's YouTube video you could see Epic riders walking down a medium difficulty decent.

You should have to "qualify" to get an entry but think of how much that would affect profit......I pity the riders staying in tents and getting the Epic Delhi Belly gyppos.....

You need to understand how the camera flattens those ascents and descents. They are crazy steep and super cambered with gravel and everything trying to push you off line. Very tough and very risky. Also get in to the mindset of an epic rider. The costs, effort and sacrifices you have made are monumental. Anything that causes you to fall or is a risk you avoid. So that stuff you would normally ride you walk because if you take a risk and screw it up you take your team out and potentially end both of your races. I can tell you, you start to think and ride very differently and worry more about the long game than acing a technical section. 

[PhilipV]

2 minutes ago, saturdayknight said:

I think you have hit the nail on the head - the organisers have had a year to plan, they know its in Paarl which is as hot as hades, and some simple understanding of heat stress and heat stroke and maths would allow them to plan for this. It's not rocket science - multiple extra water points, require riders to carry hydration packs. 1700 riders x 30 liters per rider - that gives them 15 litres to throw over themselves and 15 litres to drink gives about 50 tons of water - that's 5 large water tanks spread over the course. Thats not THAT difficult with a budget of over 100 million rands and a year of planning. And additional medics and access routes to attend to riders with heat stress. And most of that route is very accessible. 

Agreed. Getting 5tons of water to the water points really isn’t that hard. Not even to KrismasKamp. Add another 5tonner for safe margin. 
 

The top of Groenlandberg is a different story, but then you put a WP at the bottom and a cache of water as high up as you can. 

 

[love2fly]

2 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

You need to understand how the camera flattens those ascents and descents. They are crazy steep and super cambered with gravel and everything trying to push you off line. Very tough and very risky. Also get in to the mindset of an epic rider. The costs, effort and sacrifices you have made are monumental. Anything that causes you to fall or is a risk you avoid. So that stuff you would normally ride you walk because if you take a risk and screw it up you take your team out and potentially end both of your races. I can tell you, you start to think and ride very differently and worry more about the long game than acing a technical section. 

I hear you but on Craig Koleskys YT video he was clearly frustrated and he's no racing snake ... 

Edited March 20, 2025 by love2fly
Typos

[The Bull Shark]

I see Speed Company is not so speedy anymore. And Beers & partner is bleeding time. I think his Epic podium has long took flight.

Really impressed by the SA youngsters. All those Spur school races of years back starting to realise results. Pity it went tits up.

Edited March 20, 2025 by dev null