Kevin
Evans
Old Mutual Joberg2C, 9Days, 910km
Stage 1 (non-racing) Karan
Beef, Heidelberg–Frankfort – 113km, 917m
This definitely a unique
way in which to start a bike race, with a neutral stage, where we could ride
our own pace and mingle with average weekend warriors. It was still no gimme at
113km and with the sudden rise up to altitude and the lack of post Epic
training, I was having myself a little fright of what lay ahead. Dave seemed to
be fine, and the stage highlights were crossing the Val River in one of the
many dragon boats that we had to paddle across. Four and half-hours later we
arrived at the finish and began to setup our camper and home for the next
8nights. Along with our Hyundai H1, trailer, Swen and Nicoles tents, we would
have a cozy campsite awaiting us every day.
Stage 2 Frankfort–Reitz –
93km, 1030m
Not quite sure what
prompted us to do what we did on this stage, but after around 15km into the
race, we some fast and fun Freestate singletrack. Dave and I came out with
Stewart and Rossouw of Fedgroup, and soon found ourselves with a small gap on
the rest of the field. Rossouw had dropped off the pace, and Dave and I
continued on our own, building ourselves a lead of around a minute. This was
not easy to maintain as four teams were pursuing us, and they would obviously
roll faster than us on the big district roads. Un-sure how my legs would
survive this effort, I was pleasantly surprised when we were able to hold on to
take the first stage by around 40seconds. Not an easy way to win, but
definitely a rewarding one.
Stage 3 Reitz–Sterkfontein
Dam – 125km, 1064m
Again we started the stage
with perfect weather, and how recovery had been made easy with the support of
our staff. We rolled out easy and I was convinced that today I would spare as
much energy as possible and just follow the wheels for what would be my longest
ride in a month.
The bunch stayed together
until around 80km, when the pace started heating up, and soon, it was only Team
RE-CM, Fedgroup and ourselves left. Dave and I turned on the gas again around
the 100km mark, but this stage looked set to finish in a sprint. It was a
magnificent site rolling up to the Sterkfontein Dam, and we were at the
disadvantage of not knowing how the finish worked, having not ridden the race
the previous year. I looked ahead and saw a fairly subtle climb, followed by
some rough grass tracks to the finish, and knew that our Scott Spark’s would be
the biggest advantage over the rest. I went hard up the drag, followed by
RE-CM, and straight into the rough track towards the finish. Unfortunately
through the rough bit, Neil Macdonald got his chain jammed and Dave and I were
able to finish ahead of Fedgroup for the win, and gain another half a minute or
so.
Stage 4 Sterkfontein Dam–Winterton
– 124km, 1937m
This had to be one of the
most phenomenal days I’ve had on a mountain bike in my career. Not in terms of
how I felt, but for the trails that Craig, Gary and Glen and found to drop us
off the Escarpment and down towards the Berg. Incredible fast flowing trails,
with panoramic views that showcase our country to the max. The day was long,
and heating up fast. Again we had so much singletrack to digest, that the long
piece after Spieonkop, you battled to be able to get your hands off the bars to
eat, and could feel fatigue creeping in. Fedgroup made a break at the final
feed zone and river crossing, and Dave and I responded quickly to get onto
their wheels, and for the remainder of the stage, the last 20km, just followed
them, allowing them to do all the work as we got a ‘free’ ride to the finish.
They managed to take the stage in the sprint, but I was content to see the end
of this long and challenging stage. Dave also earned more respect for some
exceptional downhill skills displayed, too much fun.
Stage 5 Winterton–Kamberg –
102km, 1625m
The organizers varied the
route up, and after all the technical riding of the previous day, todays stage
ran along the foothills of the Berg, and was absolutely beautiful. Only
downside was the start of a lot more climbing. Although this suited us, we
managed to ride a gap into the field up the biggest climb, only to be joined by
Team RE-CM. Fedgroups Rossouw was suffering from illness and the opportunity
for us to ride away with RE-CM would mean that we extended our overall lead as
Fedgroup were second on general classification. So again, the final 20km we
benefited from a ‘free’ ride as the boys in black and yellow were also trying
consolidate their overall place and move up into second. The finish was quite
tight and narrow and they did earn a great stage win, just ahead of us. However
there would be a shuffle on the overall placing behind us. Best part of the
day, rolling up to our camper village, which had now grown to include two other
teams and the festive vibe within our campsite, was full of good humor, war
stories and of course red wine.
Stage 6 Kamberg–Hazeldene Farm
– 93.7km, 1982m
The serious climbing was
about to begin, and we took full advantage of this stage and put the first bit
of serious time into our competition. We managed to ride away on one of the
many long climbs early on in the stage, and again spent the remainder of the
day alone and at the front of the race. Our bikes were running like machines
thanks to the work Swen was doing on them daily, and likewise were our bodies
from Nicole. She had adopted the job of mother to us and not only looked after
our bodies, but also nutrition, washing and cleaning. The scenery remained
breathtaking and a tough day was rewarded with a beautiful campsite just
outside Underberg. We extended our overall lead to around nine minutes, which
is still not much in this sport, as we know. You couldn’t help but feel the
Midlands hospitality in the air, and finally we would be onto familiar tracks.
Bring on the Sani routes!
Stage 7 Hazeldene Farm–MacKenzie
Club – 86km, 1110m
Effectively this was stage
one of the Sani2C, a race I know only too well. This time however, the weather
was perfect and the trails were dry and fast. We knew not to waste any energy
on the stage, and RE-CM, Brandon Stewart and ourselves rode most of the day at
the front of the race, with only a slight gap over Dave Morrisson and Louise
Knipe of Team Itec-Connect. They did however latch on to us in the final 10km,
just in time for the usual sprint up the final climb to Mackenzie Club. Dave
and I were up for the sprint, and just when we were about to have dig, Neil
Macdonald opened up the taps, and we simply followed. But he had gone about
100m too early and his teammate, Waylon Woolcock was able to come past him,
with Dave and myself on is wheel. Neil was just off the back of us and tis
meant we had taken our fourth stage win, and probably our first in a sprint.
Team Itec-Connect had now moved up into third spot overall, but the overall
race looked set between Nedbank 360life and RE-CM.
Stage 8 MacKenzie Club–Jolivet
– 97km, 2230m
Probably the ‘queen’ stage
of the event, with the incredible descend down into the Umko Valley, followed
by the notorious climbing out, this stage was always one that favored us.
However it would be with mixed emotions as the passing away of a good friend
and ex teammate the day before. We rode to his memory, and in a way, gave us
the motivation to dig a little deeper than we needed to. Again Brandon followed
us for company and we set a great tempo ride from the valley floor all the way
to the finish. Our Maxxis tires were rolling fast, and had not even come close
to letting us down through the various rough and rugged terrain. We took the
stage, extended our overall time, and dedicated it to our friend, JVH.
Stage
9 Jolivet–Scottburgh – 75km, 1235m
75km
was all that remained between the Joberg2C Massi-Fergusson Tractor Trophy and
us. And this time we were adamant to follow the wheels and not miss any turns.
In fact this had become the talk of the race village and we were the brunt of
many jokes the evening before. RE-CM hungry for a final stage win put all the
effort in, and we were content to follow them all the way down onto the beach
in Scottburgh, where they rode a small gap into us to take the final stage.
Dave and I could enjoy our ride up to the finish, having conquered the Joberg2C
for 2012, with a flawless ride and no hassles.
I
have to say that the race far exceeded my expectations and has quickly become
my favorite event on the calendar, and one that I’d recommend to any budding
stage race rider. Chapeau to Glen, Wappo, Gary and their crew for a fantastic
nine days of riding.
Next
race will be the fifth leg of the MTN Ultra Marathon series in Mabalingwe, and
will be an important one as we just missed out on Clarens, which cashed with
Joberg2C.
Till
then,
Cheers,
Kevin
Evans
Provisional results:
1st Evans/George (Team Nedbank 360life) 32hrs27
2nd Macdonald/Woolcock (Team RE-CM) 32hrs44
3rd Morrison/Knipe (Itec-Connect) 33hrs27
