Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek Mountain Bike Race
7 Days, 534km, 11,515 vertical meters.
I had been sponsored by Wilde Fruit Juices one of the headline sponsors for the event and was riding as a Solo Lady. Was I mad?
We started with the prologue at Buffelsdrift Game Farm in Oudshoorn. This was 15km of mostly technical single track through the Game Reserve. For me it was heaven! An amazing track to ride and thoroughly enjoyable. I completed it in 50.03 min which put me into first place in the Solo Ladies category and 91 in GC.
Day 1 started bright and early and as I was wearing the leaders jersey I got to start in the front group with all the pro riders – pretty intimidating I have to say. After a flyover from the press helicopter and a heap of photos were taken we set off for Carlitzdorp. This stage was 103 km with 1720 vertical meters of climbing. It was a stunningly scenic route though not without it’s hardships. I had a fall on some loose sand which skinned my elbow and hip and bent my handlebars, but was soon brushed off and straightened out and on my way again. At some stage another solo lady pulled up next to me and asked my name and announced that she was my competition. I thought nothing of it at the time but that moment was a defining one…. After a big climb we at last we started a rough descent into a valley where I managed to puncture my tyre. Fortunately Rob stopped to help and I was soon on my way again though having lost a lot of time. Sadly the biggest incident of the day was when a group of people were attacked by a swarm of very angry bees. Fortunately there were no fatalities and all victims recovered.
My competition had beaten me by 15 min by the time I reached Carlizdorp as the 3rd solo lady in a time of 5 17.51 133 in GC.
Thanks to Cheryl at Carlizdorp Station for a lovely bed to sleep in and great hospitality. It made all the difference.
Day 2
85kms, 2760 vertical metres. We shoveled down some breakfast and packed into the starting chute back with the normal people as I had lost my leaders jersey. Off we set to Prince Albert this wasn’t a long day but there was a sting in the tail. We had to climb the Swartberg Pass 1,100m in 12km and the winning team to the top won R100,000! I managed to catch my “competition” and rode with her for quite a while until she eventually broke a way just before water point 3. At 75kms I reached the bottom of the Pass and began what seemed like a pretty tame climb.
“This isn’t so bad”
I thought to myself. Boy was I mistaken! It seemed to never end! At one stage I had to get off my bike and have a pep talk with myself. Then I was passed by a guy in a thong! He wanted to win a wheel set that had been sponsored to the most outrageous antic to cross the finish line. At last the top arrived and I was the 2nd Solo Lady in just 4 mins behind my “competition” in 5 46.14. I had completely underestimated that one!
We then had a fast and really fun descent into the most stunning valley and then a draught behind the medics quad bike back to Prince Albert which meant in total 108 km in the saddle that day!
That night was our first hint of rain and I fell asleep in my tent to the sound of snores and farts from the tents around me.
Day 3
109km, 1555 vertical meters to De Rust. Today was to be another long one with 15 km of straight road through the Karoo. For this mountain biker it was hell on wheels. A long struggle to keep in a group and awesome mental will power to not just get off my bike and throw it in a bush. At last we turned off onto some more technical terreign and I settled in with a ladies team and we got to water point 1. Then the climbing began and I caught my “competition” and as I love tricky descents soon over took her on the way down the other side. There was then a game of tag between us as we rode along district roads. About 30 km from the finish we were caught in a thunderstorm and got hailed on. As we progressed in the pouring rain the road became flooded and riding proved quite a challenge. Lucky for me we soon turned onto some technical single track on the long descent to De Rust. It was the highlight of the day for me flying along the trails and loving every moment of it. Some of the best single track ever!
At last, thanks to a Mach7 ride along the tar road to De Rust with a bunch of 6 guys, we reached De Rust and sprinted for the finish in 5 16.21 and first drenched Solo Lady in.
Day 4
63km, 1894 vertical metres. De Rust to Lovaine Farm. After rough night of little sleep and a very upset tummy, the day promised to be a challenge. Off we all set to the grumbles of tired legs and we had a serious climb right at the beginning and a lot of pushing our bikes up steep rocky roads which was pretty tough going.
And then the descent always the reward for the slog to the top. The highlight of that day was when I fell into a river crossing and sat in the water for a while. I could have sat there all day! It wasn’t a long day but it had its challenges and somewhere along the route on a treacherous descent I caught my “competition” and pushed hard all the way to the finish to stay ahead. Upset tummy and all this was my best day. My GC was 83 and after 4 26,07 hrs I came in as first Solo Lady. I was slowly eating away at the lead my “competiton” had over me. Lovaine was lovely though a little chilly and rather wet as the evening drew in. I slept in my sponsors bakkie that night to the sound of pouring rain.
Day 5
75km, 1,693 vertical meters to George. As it had rained so hard in the night a section of single track had been removed from the days ride and we started an hour later than planned. Eventually we set of through some very muddy roads and knowing it wasn’t going to be a long day I went for it. It was time to get that leaders jersey back!
I arrived at George a whole 13 min ahead of my competition. That put me back in the lead with 8 minutes to spare.
Day 6
George to Oudshoorn, 84km, 1,584 verticam meters The weather was as revolting as I felt. I had caught a nasty cold. Dressed warmly we all set off towards the mountains. This was to be a day of hell on wheels for me as there was mostly district road riding and very little technical riding or single track. We climbed the Montague Pass and I saw my”competition pulling away up ahead. After the old wagon trail I realized that I had a puncture again! There went the 8 min lead I had. Once on the road again it was a long hard slog in the pouring rain and mud back to Oudshoorn. Not one of my better days in the saddle and thanks to Nev for his support the last 6 km to the finish it was finally all over. I arived back a broken 3rd solo lady 4 23.24 and second over all. What a journey!
This event was one to be remembered for the amazing people and the warmth and support that one felt the entire week.
A big big thanks to the organizers and the sponsors Wilde, Bridge and Karoo Ostrich Meat. I can’t wait for next year!
Author: Diana Carolin, Sojourn Natural Spa