the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[babse]

the "King of Gravel" better live up to all his hype in days to come...

[Jbr]

45 minutes ago, lukelockie said:

technically the riders aren't allowed to post their rides to strava (according to the rules). Get familiar with that red flag button 🤣

ahaha let's see !

 

I expected Matt and Keegan to roll over the competition, looks like the Cape Epic Diarhea is striking from day 1 😜

That's a big gap to bring back after just 2 days hey...

[Bub Marley]

33 minutes ago, babse said:

the "King of Gravel" better live up to all his hype in days to come...

Tbh. Every year the xco specialists come out full guns blazing the first few stages and then fade out completely towards the end so wouldn’t surprise me to see the same thing happen again. I’ve seen so many of Ninos partners look great initially but can’t keep that intensity going for the full week. 

[Bub Marley]

1 minute ago, Jbr said:

ahaha let's see !

 

I expected Matt and Keegan to roll over the competition, looks like the Cape Epic Diarhea is striking from day 1 😜

That's a big gap to bring back after just 2 days hey...

Also just shows you how different it is to ride somewhere foreign. You need to adapt and so far doesn’t look like keegan has. Let’s see if he gets stronger as the days go by. 

[Bub Marley]

Tomorrow is a 66km time trial😂. Going to be huge gaps I feel. 

[babse]

2 minutes ago, Bub Marley said:

Tbh. Every year the xco specialists come out full guns blazing the first few stages and then fade out completely towards the end so wouldn’t surprise me to see the same thing happen again. I’ve seen so many of Ninos partners look great initially but can’t keep that intensity going for the full week. 

Yeah not getting too excited... i'll like to see Beers up there again. 

 

I have no doubt Beers could ride his way back into this, hence my comment around the gravel king. Beeeeeeg gaps already and there is real quality in between. Lets see

[Titleist]

Today's bad day for Matt and Keegan might be a blessing in disguise. The week is still long with brutal climbs waiting. Some guys already burnt matches meant for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, lukelockie said:

technically the riders aren't allowed to post their rides to strava (according to the rules). Get familiar with that red flag button 🤣

That silly rule has been ignored for the past decade. The fact that it coincide with the polar sponsorship waning is merely conjecture.

exhibit A: the race winner ignoring the rule and still winning

https://www.strava.com/activities/11033828189

[Headshot]

GDK made a big deal about some rocks on the trail earlier on. How rocky is this version compared to last years? Its mostly buffed Tygerberm isn't it? 🙂 

[MaMc]

7 minutes ago, Headshot said:

GDK made a big deal about some rocks on the trail earlier on. How rocky is this version compared to last years? Its mostly buffed Tygerberm isn't it? 🙂 

Saying it's a manicured trail centre doesn't go with the "Untamed African MTB Race" slogan

[ChrisF]

25 minutes ago, Headshot said:

GDK made a big deal about some rocks on the trail earlier on. How rocky is this version compared to last years? Its mostly buffed Tygerberm isn't it? 🙂 

 

Today certainly is a notch up from Sunday !

[Headshot]

Interviews of some of the lower level contestants were illuminating. Two guys form Joburg - one has tried 2-3 times and never finished. Back for more this year. Another guy confessed to being a covid cyclist and had only started mountain biking 1 month ago.  Say what?

[ChrisF]

 

This one of the nicer sections .... along these service roads

[dev null]

Wednesday's attrition rate will be very high unless they shorten the day. I suspect the Mediclinic in Paarl will get quite a lot of new patients by the end of the evening. Riding those hills west of Paarl in 40 degrees will be brutal as there is not much shade to hide away in from the blazing sun.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

There's no nice way of saying this... hulle gaan klippe k@k en bloed p!s.

After today that realization will have hit them squarely between the eyes. This race is brutal in every way.

[Titleist]

15 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

There's no nice way of saying this... hulle gaan klippe k@k en bloed p!s.

After today that realization will have hit them squarely between the eyes. This race is brutal in every way.

And a lot of people paid big money to suffer.....🤣.