the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[saturdayknight]

3 hours ago, dev null said:

It is piss poorly organised. Anybody who looked at the weather forecast 2 days ago and knew just a little bit about mountain biking in the Western Cape knew it was going to be bad. Especially Paarlberg which is extremely exposed to the sun on the western slopes and northern slopes. Just refer to some of the  earlier comments here on this forum from a few days ago.

I think you have beancounters in NYC where Ironman is headquartered who squeeze and only interested in margins who are calling the shots. And they report to a media company and the venture capitalists. That’s why it’s poorly organised and not properly resourced. To run out of water is inexcusable (if it’s true). And it’s obvious a week out and even a year out that it can be super hot on Paarl rock. Just put extra water stations in. And don’t f%^* run out of water. Ever. 

[babse]

1 hour ago, love2fly said:

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

 

58 minutes ago, love2fly said:

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

Yeah just pulling the micky on previous posts... 😂

 

Also dont mind me, im just a 2x finisher who's opinion are weak until the amabubesi medal is in the bag. 

[love2fly]

5 minutes ago, babse said:

 

Yeah just pulling the micky on previous posts... 😂

 

Also dont mind me, im just a 2x finisher who's opinion are weak until the amabubesi medal is in the bag. 

I'm a 6 time finisher on 4 different couches! 😬

[babse]

42 minutes ago, Jbr said:

What hair

Ouch.

 

🤣🤣🤣

[ChrisF]

7 minutes ago, love2fly said:

I'm a 6 time finisher on 4 different couches! 😬

 

Post of the year 🤣

[Me rida my bicycle]

1 hour ago, 'Kaze Pete said:

Somebody I know posted a ride (no map, just distance and time) that correlates with WP3. See they received a finish time of more than an hour more than what was posted

Could most likely be auto pause so they are posting moving time and the event posts total time. 

[Danger Dassie]

Being on site throughout the day, some facts that are due are that the start was earlier, the route was shortened, and cutoffs were extended along with extra water. Unfortunately, it can also be compounded by someone dousing themselves with water. Yes they shouldn't and yes they should be stopped, but for anyone who has been involved with events, try stopping someone in that condition from doing so. 
There were also a host of other issues brought about. What I did see on site was vehicles with extra water going out. The decision to stop riders at Christmas Camp (66km) could well have compounded this. However, with the air ambulance operating, the call had to be made. The event also put out an emergency evac, which called for all staff, etc., to take vehicles up to the evacuation point and bring riders down. 
I'd say approx 220 od people were evacuated in the space of an hour or two. Trucks etc went up to collect bike. The staff and officials took pictures of each registration as well as rider numbers.
As far as fatality/ies go, there's no confirmation and if so it requires a severe amount of delicacy, family would be involved and any priority of notice is toward them. There is also the fact that in such a scenario for most, they'd prefer to keep such a thing private. It should be respected, no argument.

It's a difficult call to make, hindsight is always perfect, and no doubt there are questions to be asked. On the keyboard flipside there's those who are calling the decision soft, and fairweather riders. Personally, I feel that these are those kinds of moments people should step back a little until the dust settles. 

[ChrisF]

3 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Being on site throughout the day, some facts that are due are that the start was earlier, the route was shortened, and cutoffs were extended along with extra water. Unfortunately, it can also be compounded by someone dousing themselves with water. Yes they shouldn't and yes they should be stopped, but for anyone who has been involved with events, try stopping someone in that condition from doing so. 
There were also a host of other issues brought about. What I did see on site was vehicles with extra water going out. The decision to stop riders at Christmas Camp (66km) could well have compounded this. However, with the air ambulance operating, the call had to be made. The event also put out an emergency evac, which called for all staff, etc., to take vehicles up to the evacuation point and bring riders down. 
I'd say approx 220 od people were evacuated in the space of an hour or two. Trucks etc went up to collect bike. The staff and officials took pictures of each registration as well as rider numbers.
As far as fatality/ies go, there's no confirmation and if so it requires a severe amount of delicacy, family would be involved and any priority of notice is toward them. There is also the fact that in such a scenario for most, they'd prefer to keep such a thing private. It should be respected, no argument.

It's a difficult call to make, hindsight is always perfect, and no doubt there are questions to be asked. On the keyboard flipside there's those who are calling the decision soft, and fairweather riders. Personally, I feel that these are those kinds of moments people should step back a little until the dust settles. 

 

Thank you for balanced feedback

[love2fly]

5 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Being on site throughout the day, some facts that are due are that the start was earlier, the route was shortened, and cutoffs were extended along with extra water. Unfortunately, it can also be compounded by someone dousing themselves with water. Yes they shouldn't and yes they should be stopped, but for anyone who has been involved with events, try stopping someone in that condition from doing so. 
There were also a host of other issues brought about. What I did see on site was vehicles with extra water going out. The decision to stop riders at Christmas Camp (66km) could well have compounded this. However, with the air ambulance operating, the call had to be made. The event also put out an emergency evac, which called for all staff, etc., to take vehicles up to the evacuation point and bring riders down. 
I'd say approx 220 od people were evacuated in the space of an hour or two. Trucks etc went up to collect bike. The staff and officials took pictures of each registration as well as rider numbers.
As far as fatality/ies go, there's no confirmation and if so it requires a severe amount of delicacy, family would be involved and any priority of notice is toward them. There is also the fact that in such a scenario for most, they'd prefer to keep such a thing private. It should be respected, no argument.

It's a difficult call to make, hindsight is always perfect, and no doubt there are questions to be asked. On the keyboard flipside there's those who are calling the decision soft, and fairweather riders. Personally, I feel that these are those kinds of moments people should step back a little until the dust settles. 

Thanks for that.

[ChrisF]

Have we heard from @DieselnDust ?

[SwissVan]

1 hour ago, love2fly said:

Don't bottles pick up a lot of dust and stuff like cow ****? 😃

Proper daily rinse with water and toilet paper in Bottom to soak...

Yip it can be tasty drinking from a downt tube bottle that spent the last few hours behind your front wheel riding through farmlands etc… LOL

Tell me more about this toilet paper trick, Why, how etc…

[Robbie Stewart]

On their post-race interviews Bianca Haw was mentioning how she doused herself with 5lt of water before drinking some and then doing it again. I recall thinking how would that impact other riders behind them, but then I don't think folks at the front even think about anyone else other than the race. In that sense I'd say there should really be a pro's only water point and then one for the groups following.

I remember that during the Paarl Enduro a few years back the water point had run out of water by the time I stopped there. It was a mere 31°C day and still it was so bad I had to withdraw and DNF for the event. Watching the riders go through those same trails today gave me bad memories of that day.

[mrcg]

16 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

On their post-race interviews Bianca Haw was mentioning how she doused herself with 5lt of water before drinking some and then doing it again. I recall thinking how would that impact other riders behind them, but then I don't think folks at the front even think about anyone else other than the race. In that sense I'd say there should really be a pro's only water point and then one for the groups following.

I remember that during the Paarl Enduro a few years back the water point had run out of water by the time I stopped there. It was a mere 31°C day and still it was so bad I had to withdraw and DNF for the event. Watching the riders go through those same trails today gave me bad memories of that day.

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 

[DieselnDust]

13 hours ago, babse said:

Anika walking down a trail... 

Why did she bother entering 🤷

 

The trail is very broken at that crossing. You have to get the approach right or you’re walking. It’s easy to get it wrong as you can see.

9 hours ago, dev null said:

Just walked outside into the gardens of the Capitec office here in Technopark. There is a wind that came up from the ocean's side to cool things off a wee bit. But it might be too late for many already dehidrated riders.

EDIT: This wind hopefully makes it to Paarl.

It did, but only at the top of the peaks

6 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.

Riders had to be evacuated because the course was needed for emergency services. Several distress calls went out from the trackers. I know because I passed almost all the casualty cases, one of which I don’t want to talk about as I’m still processing

teo ladies were with one of the casualties and they were already waiting for an hour for assistance. I decided the best o could do was try and get helP so I kept going a little faster which wasn’t smart as I put myself into a near dehydrated state but felt it coming on. Paramedics were already trying to get to all the casualties

I saw the first ambulances heading to the top of the singletrack as I was descending a long hill toward WP3. I knew the race was cancelled and that the situation was dire. 

4 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

Newly updated front page

 

2 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

Being on site throughout the day, some facts that are due are that the start was earlier, the route was shortened, and cutoffs were extended along with extra water. Unfortunately, it can also be compounded by someone dousing themselves with water. Yes they shouldn't and yes they should be stopped, but for anyone who has been involved with events, try stopping someone in that condition from doing so. 
There were also a host of other issues brought about. What I did see on site was vehicles with extra water going out. The decision to stop riders at Christmas Camp (66km) could well have compounded this. However, with the air ambulance operating, the call had to be made. The event also put out an emergency evac, which called for all staff, etc., to take vehicles up to the evacuation point and bring riders down. 
I'd say approx 220 od people were evacuated in the space of an hour or two. Trucks etc went up to collect bike. The staff and officials took pictures of each registration as well as rider numbers.
As far as fatality/ies go, there's no confirmation and if so it requires a severe amount of delicacy, family would be involved and any priority of notice is toward them. There is also the fact that in such a scenario for most, they'd prefer to keep such a thing private. It should be respected, no argument.

It's a difficult call to make, hindsight is always perfect, and no doubt there are questions to be asked. On the keyboard flipside there's those who are calling the decision soft, and fairweather riders. Personally, I feel that these are those kinds of moments people should step back a little until the dust settles. 

Re the deaths rumours. The official statement is laced with a semantic nuance. “No one passed away on course.”

one will never be declared deceased at an event. They will transport you to a hospital where a registered physician will make the call and sign the death certificate. I found the handling of this situation extremely troubling as in 2005 a rider passed away in his sleep in ahis tent at boschendal. The event manager made the announcement on the start line (without names) and asked for a minutes silence.

 

moving into my report back. 
 

the stage started at 6:45 for the pros. We were in M group and departed 7:55. Already too late in the morning. We headed across the road to Diamant estate and climbed a darn steep brick road that became gravel till we entered the aingletrack. This was poorly maintained and unrideable in many places causing long queues. There were sections I simply could not get traction. Once we cleared the sandy bits it was lovely riding all the way to the monument. It was already 30degrees and my team mate was showing signs of overheating. 
on the dryland climb he cracked, soldiered  on to WP2 which we arrived at 11:45 , 10 min ahead of cut off. He went to the medics and they pulled him . I continued.

With the stage cancellation they took it that since we made cut off for the WP 2 we can continue as a team tomorrow. He’s in a bad way so I’m. It sure how it’s going to play out 

[babse]

2 hours ago, ChrisF said:

Have we heard from @DieselnDust ?

He lives... 

 

I assume he might be busy with a novel on today's occurrences. 

[JohanDiv]

I did some spectating today. Went straight up a 400m climb from town towards Krismis Camp. Ended up climbing 6km with Batch L on the route before turning up to the spectating point. The mood was dreadful apart from one lady and a few Ausies chatting. 

Sure it was hot, I needed two water bottles for my 20km ride.. but you have to question the fitness/readiness from some of the riders. I've basically stopped riding my bike since 36One last year, overweight and in my worst shape in the last decade, and I was moving at double the speed up that climb than some of the riders. There is no way I'd even consider entering the Epic in my current shape! They will have to start looking at a screening process for entrants for their own safety. 

Canceling was the right call. 2022 Stage 1 is still fresh in my mind where we got caught in the heat without water on The Neck climb going to Lourensford. That day someone died on that climb. I hope the rumors about 3 fatalities today is inaccurate and thay the organizers learned from that day and pulled the plug early enough today. I HOPE.