Ten-Timers – those athletes who have completed 10 Cape Epics
Article from the March 2014 issue of Ride Magazine.
Four thousand five hundred and eighty-three riders have completed this gruelling eight-day mountain bike stage race over the past 10 years (it was nine days for those unfortunate enough to have chosen to ride in 2008), but only nine special athletes have completed all 10 Absa Cape Epics.
In 2014, four more aim to join that elite club: Joyce Benade, Johan Labuschange, Pieter Lategan and Ben van Niekerk share their experience and utimately glory over the last decade.
Joyce Benade – Lecturer
I heard about the Epic when I read the blogs of Bonnie Swanepoel and Terry Kobus. We were three riders from Kwambonambi who were keen to ride, and on the day the entries opened we were on the internet at midnight… and we waited and waited and then decided to take turns to check. At 4am we got in!
In 2005 I mentally prepared myself by calling it a “tour” and not a “race”, as I was going to “tour” from water table to water table – eat the elephant piece by piece!
The Epic does not become easier as you get older. The routes have changed and it has become much more technical.
In all nine events I have never had a puncture. In 2004, tubeless tyres were new technology to us cycling in Northern Natal, but this was always the way to go!
The tortoises and the chameleons are my favourite part – I always stop and watch them, and often take them out of the road.
My best advice is: don’t focus on just one pain. If your leg is sore, think about your shoulder that also hurts. Then think about your finger…
It was not funny at the time, but in 2008, riding towards Hermanus, a rider blew his nose and onto my leg. I tried to wash it off with water but it did not move, and I could not scrape it off either. Eventually I had to stop and remove it with a protea branch.
Johan Labuschagne – Business Analyst
I don’t recommend the same bike twice for the Epic, unless you ride it very little or rebuild the major parts.
There are so many hard moments, but the pain is temporary and those moments are forgotten very quickly.
On stage 1 in 2006 I had no brakes, because of the weather, and when we were dropping down towards George at blistering speeds I had to use my feet and logs to slow down.
The people that imnspire me are the old toppies like Linus van Onselen and Doug Brown, who make me feel that I have many years left in the sport. Also inspiring are the working executives like Stan Goetch from Dis-Chem and many others, and guys like Sakkie and Hannes Hanekom, Gerrie Beukes and Adrian Enthoven, who race very hard but are the kindest people with amazing integrity.
I fit in long hours of training by commuting to work. This takes away most of the pressure, and helps the family cope better.
Ben van Niekerk – Utility Manager
I was hooked when I read an article by Gary Fisher about a mountain bike stage race in Europe. Less than a year later, Kevin announced the Cape Epic and I was sold. What better way to ride your bike with your buddies for a week through the Western Cape’s beauty?
My training programme has not changed much – I knew when I signed up for the first race that I was going to be in serious trouble if I didn’t get help, so I bought Joe Friel’s Mountain Biking Training Bible and based my training on it from day one.
My equipment has changed significantly since 2004, to the point where even sock technology is not what it used to be.
My five most essential items are: Assos shorts – after nine-and-a half Epics I have not had a single saddle sore; chamois cream – for the same reason; my own pillow – I sleep better at night; Schwalbe Racing Ralph – I swear by these tyres, and have been using them since my second Epic.
Every year we pick a different charity – this year it is the SW Wildlife Trust, last year it was the Stop Rhino Poaching Trust, the year before it was Ride For Sight.
My hardest moment was in 2012 at the halfway mark on Stage 4, when I broke my collarbone and could not finish my ninth Epic – devastating.
I cope mentally by breaking the race into bite-size chunks, like sections between the water points/feeding stations – that really helps.
It’s the one week in the year where I can switch off my cellphone and forget about reality and the world out there and only do the thing that I love best.
Pieter Lategan – General Practitioner
On the day of the prologue of my 10th Epic I’ll be turning 50. Last year the final stage marked my daughter’s 21st birthday. She rode with my son that year, and in 2014 she’s aiming to join the Amabubesi club.
I don’t train for the Absa Cape Epic. Instead I just play squash three times a week – the two complement each other really well. The race is 90% in your head and 10% in your legs.
The key to the race is that I don’t aim to win it. The second and third time I rode, I asked myself why. Then I thought, “Let me just enjoy it!” I am happy with finishing somewhere in the middle. And every time I ride, it gets nicer and nicer.
Whenever we see a dam we go for a swim if it’s a hot day. Everyone that rides past says that they should be doing the same, but they never do. It lowers the body’s core temperature and it’s good for the spirit – you feel great afterwards! We may lose a few minutes, but we always pass the guys again.
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