the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[Danger Dassie]

5 minutes ago, Irvin85 said:

Yes, cause the first thing you when seeing a lifeless person, while struggling through heat exhaustion and trying to stay alive yourself is ruk out your phone and start taking pictures. Some people actually have common decency and respect for others. Just imagine you finding out your loved one passed away by some one posting his lifeless body on social media. 

Ou "bright spark"

There's a number of scenarios other than what you described Irvin, but it seems to have triggered a somewhat direct response, you're welcome to get in touch directly if there's something specific. 

The point is that despite assumptions about so-called coverups, there is literally no information that would have come forward. 

[wessie12]

Any death occurring in the race or as result from taking part would be considered a unnatural death. a Inquest will be investigated by SAPS to determine the cause and if anybody  is responsible. Very hard and unlikely to cover up by organizers. People do pass away at events world wide for various underlying reasons. Looking from the outside there was no casualties and we can argue that is because of interventions from the organizers to mitigate the heat. All and all a successful day that could have been a nightmare.

 

[SwissVan]

45 minutes ago, Irvin85 said:

Snipped

Just imagine you finding out your loved one passed away by some one posting his lifeless body on social media. 

Ou "bright spark"

Or via rumours on a cycling forum specialising in classifieds 

[saturdayknight]

55 minutes ago, dev null said:

Well, we will soon know the truth. Doctors talk to each other, and my wife's boss is riding, and he is a physician working at Vergelegen Medi-Clinic in Somerset West.

I think you are right - it will eventually come out.  BTW: Someone else posted they rode for 2.5 hours with no water and wondered why there was not another water point put in in the back half of the race. Kudos to the ladies and men who got to the end yesterday. Proper 

[saturdayknight]

30 minutes ago, wessie12 said:

Any death occurring in the race or as result from taking part would be considered a unnatural death. a Inquest will be investigated by SAPS to determine the cause and if anybody  is responsible. Very hard and unlikely to cover up by organizers. People do pass away at events world wide for various underlying reasons. Looking from the outside there was no casualties and we can argue that is because of interventions from the organizers to mitigate the heat. All and all a successful day that could have been a nightmare.

 

I set and design investigation systems into events like this - I can tell you it does not always come out within 24 hours. There are also preventable deaths and deaths that are not really preventable by the race organisers. A rider that dies of a heart attack as they had an atherosclerotic plaque sitting on their coronary artery waiting to rupture is not really preventable but someone dying of heat stroke is preventable. A basic is having enough water points and water and medical support. There are a few other basics.

[PhilipV]

56 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

The point is that despite assumptions about so-called coverups, there is literally no information that would have come forward. 

Maybe you need to do what I did, and chat to a Dr working at Paarl hospital?
 

You are after all a journalist? 

[Dicky DQ]

34 minutes ago, saturdayknight said:

I think you are right - it will eventually come out.  BTW: Someone else posted they rode for 2.5 hours with no water and wondered why there was not another water point put in in the back half of the race. Kudos to the ladies and men who got to the end yesterday. Proper 

If you rode for 2.5 hrs without water you are doing something wrong or not thinking. You leave a waterpoint with at least 1.5L maybe more. Waterpoints are typically 25km apart or equivalent time based on a fit rider time based. Or so it appears. So if you rode for 2,5hrs without water. Damn the math just don't add up or the rider was not prepared. Also on all the routes to date there will be a farmhouse/ workers house/ farm cellar/ restaurant within 3km of the trail and that would typically be all downhill. If in distress just bail and recover then get back on course.

There is really no excuse on this urban route for being so challenged, especially as they already had the initial 1.5L starts load. Which should get you between 1 and 2hrs to start with. 

I call ...... on this.

Edit:
If you know it is going to be hot take extra. Hydration pack 1.5 to 2L + 1,5L on the bike. No way you cant do waterpoint to waterpoint.  If it takes 2,5hrs to do 25km you do not belong at the Epic.

 

Edited Thursday at 02:57 PM by Dicky DQ

[Mamil]

Tread media reports that organisers say there were no rider fatalities.

 

[Danger Dassie]

27 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

Maybe you need to do what I did, and chat to a Dr working at Paarl hospital?
 

You are after all a journalist? 

Did the Dr provide a written account? 

Because ad hominem snark aside after all, without that it's unsubstantiated. 

Edited Thursday at 03:06 PM by Danger Dassie

[openmind]

6 hours ago, dev null said:

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

Schools racing is alive and well, with fields bigger than ever. Just no hamburger sponsor.

https://westerncapeschoolscycling.co.za

Edited Thursday at 03:09 PM by openmind

[Wannabe]

Also heard reports from a Dr working at one of the Hospitals where the riders were transported to, NO DEATHS, but three riders in ICU with failing organs. He is on one of my cycling groups.

 

[babse]

Do we actually wish someone passed on? No one died (really hope not) until otherwise proven...

 

On another note. Views on implenting sprint finish bonus seconds? Willier have been epic in their sprints over last 2 stages but have nothing to show for it on GC... maybe 30s bonus for sprint wins?

 

 

 

 

 

after all this is the TdF of mountian biking 👀

[W Smith]

1 hour ago, SwissVan said:

Or via rumours on a cycling forum specialising in classifieds 

Spot on . 

[mikkelz]

I'm sure the rain is a relief from the heat, but camping in the rain isn't much fun. 🙈

[OVERDRIVE]

10 hours ago, Iwan Kemp said:

Let me get this right. You did this one 20km ride this week. That correct? You did not do the Prologue at full tilt, suffered through Stage 1, the stage 2 time trial that even the proest pros said was more XCC than XCM and then took on the heat of stage 3 from the start line? Also, I doubt you were pacing yourself to try and make it to the finish line, and then do another 4 stages.

If it is correct, how does that even remotely compare? 

Let us have peace to all man 

7 hours ago, Lynskey said:

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.

Regardless of reason, let us never say things like this. Abortion, pregnancy, privacy. 

3 hours ago, Andrew_Smith said:

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but I feel the Cape Epic attracts some riders with more money than experience—since it’s such an expensive race for us mere peasants. Some assume that a bit of riding is enough to prepare them for the challenge.

Surely, there could be a qualification system, similar to the Comrades Marathon, where participants need to meet certain criteria before entering. Of course, this wouldn’t be a perfect solution, and the organisers might not support it since they’d risk losing paying participants.

Anyway, great riding from Tristan and Marco, proudly representing South Africa among the big international names!

That entry fee would make the average man weep

[J Wakefield]

46 minutes ago, babse said:

 

after all this is the TdF of mountian biking 👀

Correct and in July this year 740 teams have signed up and paid to race against Tadej at the Tour this year.

Same-same