the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[DieselnDust]

22 minutes ago, bolt67 said:

Cock up of note, backmarkers might as well pur bike on back and hike a bike straight up the mountain and ignore the marked route. Is this the EPIC or the Freedom Challenge

Listen we must be grateful we have this race hey, don’t complain about foopups

[W@nted]

2 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Listen we must be grateful we have this race hey, don’t complain about foopups

I wonder how that stuff up happened. Pros too fast or back markers too slow?

[bolt67]

3 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Listen we must be grateful we have this race hey, don’t complain about foopups

Not complaining as i am not riding  

 

 

[Shebeen]

44 minutes ago, Stephan said:

Is there a leading motorbike uphead that would give these backmarkers a warning that the pro's are coming? They would obviously hear the helicopter as well, but this looks like a route-planning mess. The backmarkers are going to bundu-bash up that trail now because there is going to be a constant stream of riders coming down. 

last start was 8:15according to Sabine/Gerald. so if my sums are right it has taken the backmarker 2:15 when their ~17km met up with the elites at ~84km using the same trail. 

maybe it is silly to send the race up/down a hiking trail?

maybe the slow guys are just too slow?

[Jakkals.]

1 hour ago, dev null said:

Speed Company not at the level they were on previous years. I think they will fade out as the week goes on. Today will be a very tough day for the stragglers at the back.

Comment didnt age well

[DieselnDust]

8 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

last start was 8:15according to Sabine/Gerald. so if my sums are right it has taken the backmarker 2:15 when their ~17km met up with the elites at ~84km using the same trail. 

maybe it is silly to send the race up/down a hiking trail?

maybe the slow guys are just too slow?

In 2016 they made the same balls up, except we had a 110km day and got stung broken by a brazillion angry bees before we hit the wagon trail. I would have expected they had learned from the 2016 experience and shortened the time between the groups departure. 
Also it’s a flipped hard climb and people walking it was inevitable 

 

[Shebeen]

 

if you're one of the stopped backmarkers, you can at least get some awesome pictures of the leading groups.

[NotSoBigBen]

I wonder if the riders complain as much as the hubbers here behind their desks/workstations 🤪

[DieselnDust]

28 minutes ago, W@nted said:

I wonder how that stuff up happened. Pros too fast or back markers too slow?

Backmarkers are too slow but the start times are also too spread out. Lastgriup leaves 1h20 after the elite groups. Those elites are on top of the wagon trail by then. 
the course also gains inclination from the start line to the foot of the wagon trail where it kicks up hard and just gets steeper till you are forced to walk. The back markers start their walk about 1.5km earlier than the elites because it’s quite technical and steep. It’s also 10 degrees hotter by 8:20 compared to 07:00

[DieselnDust]

3 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

I wonder if the riders complain as much as the hubbers here behind their desks/workstations 🤪

You really want me to answer that. 😂😂

this morning they would have been cursing like unpaid sailors as they hiked their bikes up that climb

[ajnkzn]

Is there a “qualifying standard” or something that one has to achieve to enter Epic?

 

Like with Comrades etc?

 

Or if you’ve got the cash can you just pitch up?

[W@nted]

1 minute ago, ajnkzn said:

Is there a “qualifying standard” or something that one has to achieve to enter Epic?

 

Like with Comrades etc?

 

Or if you’ve got the cash can you just pitch up?

Nope, pay and ride to enter the tour de france of mountain biking

Edited March 19, 2024 by W@nted

[Shebeen]

4 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Is there a “qualifying standard” or something that one has to achieve to enter Epic?

 

Like with Comrades etc?

 

Or if you’ve got the cash can you just pitch up?

just *** en betaal. The cynic in me says ACE are not  unhappy to have people pull out in the first few stages as it makes second half logistics easier for them.

 

 

looks like a 3way fight for the UCI men, with teams within2mins. SCR and Wilier are not out of touch yet at 8min back.

UCI women is shaping ghost/cannondale straight showdown. 3rd is Songo maybe able to do something from 8min back

[The Bull Shark]

7 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Is there a “qualifying standard” or something that one has to achieve to enter Epic?

 

Like with Comrades etc?

 

Or if you’ve got the cash can you just pitch up?

If you have the cash you can pitch up. But the first day usually sorts out the unprepared.

[Mailman7412]

22 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Is there a “qualifying standard” or something that one has to achieve to enter Epic?

 

Like with Comrades etc?

 

Or if you’ve got the cash can you just pitch up?

Geld , baie Geld

[The Bull Shark]

53 minutes ago, Jakkals. said:

Comment didnt age well

The Epic is still a spring chicken. A long week is still waiting. I stand by my comment.