Tip Trans Cederberg Challenge

Cruising the Cederberg.

 

Photo Swen Lauer. Kevin Evans

Tip Trans Cederberg Challenge, 115km, 1600m

The Tip Trans Cederberg Challenge was held in the small town of Citrusdal, about two hours from Cape Town. Dave and I decided to take part in the race, one for training, and two to ‘scout’ out the area for possible future racing. Makadasadventures and Mtizi Knipe organized the race and her crew were more than accommodating towards us.

It was a cold start, but the sun was out and a beautiful route of mainly district roads lay ahead. The route left Citrusdal in the direction of Clanwilliam, went over the Nieuwoudts Pass towards Algeria (the campsite, not Country) and looped around back to Citrusdal.

Dave and I set a fairly hard tempo from the start, and soon we had only Louise Knipe (Contego) and Craig Boyes (Cyclefunatic) with us.

We started the big obstacle of the day, the Nieuwoudts Pass and we yet again turned up the tempo, Dave then attacking with about 4km remaining of the climb. The other two riders followed me, and once Dave had a big enough gap to secure the King of the Mountain competition, I tried to break away to join him. However Louise was able to follow all my efforts and I decided not to drag him across to Dave, so eased up. This left Dave with around 75km on his own to ride to the finish. Nice.

Race profile.

I rode with Louise and Craig for the rest of the day, with no one really trying to pull Dave back. As the climbs were over for the day, I settled down and waited for a sprint finish with the boys. The run in around the dam was a little too hectic for me as Louise outsprinted Craig and myself to take second place. Dave had done a proper effort to ride alone all the way to the finish to win the race.

Thanks again to Makadasadventure for having Team360life there, and we hope to return the floating trophy next year to try and defend it.

Next race I will do this weekend in Port Elizabeth, a road event, followed by an intense two-week block of racing and training in KZN as final preparation for World Championships.

Till then,

Cheers,

Kevin Evans

 

Provisional results: MTB

1^st David George (Team Nedbank 360life) 4hrs

2^nd Louise Knipe (Contego)

3^rd Craig Boyes (Cyclefunatic)

 

MTN Ultra Marathon #6, SA XCM Champs, Wellington

Focused at the start.

MTN Ultra Marathon #6, SA XCM Champs, Wellington, 110km, 2750m

Pics: Zoon Cronje.

The Gravel Travel in Wellington would determine the South African Marathon Champion for 2012, and it would be more than a worthy course to stage this event. Having won the race last year, we knew that a tough route lay ahead, but the conditions on the day would make it even harder and you would need to have everything go your way if you stood a chance of winning this once off prestigious race.

We were well prepared for the conditions, however everyone handles the extreme temperatures a little different, and I knew my body would battle if it got really cold.

The weather was actually all right for the first 75km, the course wound through some sublime singletracks, designed by Pieter Van Wyk. We were aboard our Scott Scale Scales 29ers and with all the climbing that lay ahead, the stiffer lighter bike would be more efficient. The bike was handling fantastically, really quick and responsive. There was not too much action upfront as a fair sized group of about ten riders stayed together. I was feeling fairly comfortable and we always knew the real racing would happen in the final 35km. No sooner had we hit this last loop, and the rain began to pour and temperatures plummet. Dave and I instigated the racing up the steep concrete climb, with the group splintering, and feeling like I was going well, I carried on for another half a kilometer until Max Knox came past and simply flew away from me.

Dave was able to follow him for a short while, and I tried in vain to catch up, but he was in another gear, one that I don’t have yet at this stage.

Then the fatigue started and slowly I was loosing my own personal battle against the elements and my own abilities on the day. I had no option than to ride my own speed through the remaining trails, battling the cold and wet whilst numerous riders passed me towards the finish.

It was one of those races where you put it all on the line and it either pays off or it doesn’t. At this stage I was holding hope that possibly Dave may still be in with a shout at a win, but my own race was over. It turned out that Dave would pass Adrien Nyionshuti in the final 3km to take second place but Max had extended his lead to well out over ten minutes, showing that he was at his best for this race, and took the green and gold national jersey.

Still feeling good.

The end result was not pretty, 9th.

The season was always going to be a tough one and the initial call at the beginning of the year was to focus on World Championships in five weeks time. It would be difficult to hold good form from now until then and still through to the end of the season, so our build up is and has been a progressive one, with our focus unchanged.

Next race will be a 115km marathon in Citrusdal next weekend, followed by an intensive two week training schedule including two big events, The Hilton Dirt Festival, also a MTN Ultra Marathon, and Hill2Hill Classic. So that’s a busy month of September coming up.

Till then,

Cheers,

Kevin Evans

 

Provisional results: MTB

1st Max Knox (Specialized) 4hrs50

2nd Dave George (Team Nedbank 360life)

3rd Adrien Nyionshuti (MTN/Qhubeka)

 

Totalsports Xterra Pezula, Knysna

1st, 2nd, 3rd, from right to left.

Not sure what was funny? Nervous laugh?

Photo Jacky Mclean. Kevin Evans

Totalsports Xterra, Pezula, Knysna, 3km Run, 24km Bike, 7km Run

It didn’t take long for this leg of the Totalsports Xterra series to become one of my favorite events over the week of the Knysna Oyster Festiva. I would be back for my third year, and the atmosphere amongst the Xterra warriors and supporters at the Pezula field of dreams is phenomenal.

The event definitely keeps me motivated to cross train and keep up the running, but to give most of the seasoned Xterra athletes an idea of my priorities, in three years I’d be on my sixth mountain bike, but still the same pair of running shoes!

The first 3km trail run is always intense, and I could not believe the speed at which pre race favorite Stuart Marais took off with. I could only run as fast as my legs would take me, obviously, and had to settle for around tenth position, about two minutes down heading into the first transition.

Once onto my bike, with mudguard firmly in place, I would use all my experience of racing in muddy conditions to gain as much time as possible. Although my bike form is not where it usually is for this time of year, I started to catch guys quickly, and after about 12km, I caught and passed Stuart. I had a small mental battle with myself to slow down, as I knew he would out run me on the final trail run, but decided to push on and get as much of a head start as possible.

I always enjoy coming into the second transition after making up so much time, and Paul Valstar, the commentator, really gets the local support behind you. I shoed up as quickly as I could, and set off for the 7km trail run, with a slender 2minute lead over Stuart and Nico Pfitzenmeier.

Muddy!

I knew Stuart would catch me, but I wanted to try stay ahead of Nico, and I was gauging my efforts accordingly. The second trail is pretty hard by my standards, and you need to concentrate the whole time.  The legs were starting to tire, and my back was beginning to fatigue, but with the finish line just ahead, I pushed on and maintained about a thirty second gap over Nico, to take second place again, behind a flying Stuart Marais.

At least Stuart said I made him work for it, but as always, I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and thanks again to Stillwater Sports for having me at this fantastic event.

Time to recover from the running damage, and focus on a good solid block of training for the next four weeks.

Till then,

Cheers,

Kevin Evans

 

Provisional results: MTB

1st Stuart Marais (New Balance/RSA Web) 1hr39

2nd Kevin Evans (Team Nedbank 360life) 1hr41

3rd Nico Pfitzenmaier (Robert Daniel) 1hr42

 

Knysna Oyster Festival

Pic that Dave George took, thinks it sums up my race.

Knysna Oyster Festival, 75km, 1600m

So with the structure of the race calendar this year, and our next big focus around September and October, World Championships in October, Dave and I had only really resumed our base training over the last two weeks. Having said this, it meant that on the day, I would take a fair bit of strain over the course, which is one of my favorites. Luckily our Junior James had just returned from his successful World Cup stint in the US and would be with us to fly the team flag in the front of the race.

The race starts with the Simola climb, and Bonitas rider Darren Lill set the tempo. He has great form and will be leaving shortly for another European trip of racing in two weeks with the team. I could not match the tempo, and settled into my own pace. My head was way in front of my body as I watched the lead group of four riders get a gap on us. I knew James was with them and that he could match the intensity being set out. All I could do from here was follow the wheels of the second group, and enjoy my ride around the forests of Knysna.

I cant comment on what happened at the front of the race, but James rode an awesome race to finish second to Darren, and ahead of the two RE:CM riders. Having finished second in this race no less than six times, it seems I have already taught the ‘Junior’ well!

Next up will be a good solid block of training for three weeks, before we head off to Tour de Tuli with sponsors, and then National Marathon Championships in late August.

Till then,

Cheers,

Kevin Evans

 

Provisional results: MTB

1st Darren Lill (Bonitas) 2hrs40

2nd James Reid (Nedbank Team360life)

3rd Waylon Woolcock (RE:CM)

Nedbank 360life Tour de Plett

A-Team, Pic Belinda Blumeris

Photo Brad Thomas. Kevin Evans

Nedbank Tour de Plett Mountain Bike Race, 75km, 1400m

It’s fantastic to have a race in your hometown, and even better to have the event sponsored by your very own sponsors. Even though there was no pressure on us, as riders, you kind of feel that you owe them a good performance and I was lucky the way things worked out on race day, or at least luckier than my wingman who had an altercation with a fence about fifteen kilometers from the finish and was unable to continue, sent off to hospital for x-rays, but fortunately no broken bones!

The small town of Wittedrift hosted the mountain bike race, and the full 360life squad, including the bosses, descended on my sisters house about 100m from the start line to stay warm and have a last cup of coffee before the three hundred odd riders took to the three different distances the race offered. The field was good and with the likes of RE:CM, Bonitas and Blend Properties on the line, it looked to be a hard race. At least the weather was a far cry from last year and riders would be able to enjoy the route that ran through the Knysna indigenous forest and trails around Diepwalle forest station.

Darren Lill was eager to make the racing hard from the start, whilst I had to push hard to stay with him up the first climb. Near the top he had about a 20seond gap, and Waylon Woolcock and Ruan Du Toit soon joined me. We set about slowly catching him, but unfortunately for him, he decided to take the 30km route and missed a well-marked split in the two routes. Dave was a little behind us, having taken a three-week break after his great result in Trans Germany. So the three of us rode a steady tempo right around the course, and with my legs far from a hundred percent, I banked on my home turf knowledge of the final 10km including the technical descend into Buffalo Hills to try and make a gap that I could then sustain to the end.

Ruan popped off a few kilometers before this section, and as planned, I managed to get about a 10second gap on Waylon down the jeep track, just enough for me to be able to put in a final effort up the last drag and solo on into the finish, giving Nedbank 360life a super win in one of their own cycling events.

Generally the response was fantastic and all the riders thoroughly enjoyed the event.

Of course the event also included a road race with various distances, but the old classic ‘two passes’ race, 110km, was finally back and has to be said that this is possibly the nicest one day fun ride in the country. Bonitas had a full team on the start, and they made the racing hard and fast, and took all first five places on the podium, whilst I managed to hang onto about 8^th place for the day. Again a very successful day, and great to have the whole of the Plett main street closed off for the cyclists!

A big thanks to the local organizers, Alan Kurhnet and Danie Erasmus, plus many more volunteers who came out to help marshal and do the admin most people don’t see. And of course, big thanks to Nedbank for backing my hometown race. It was a real privileged to defend my title from last year, and be part of our own classic!

Next race will be another ‘home town’ race, and classic, The Knysna Oyster Festival. Again two days of racing with the full team, as ‘Junior’ returns from the States.

Till then,

Cheers,

Kevin Evans

 

Provisional results: MTB

1st Kevin Evans (Team Nedbank 360life) 2hrs58

2nd Waylon Woolcock (Team RE-CM)

3rd Ruan Du Toit (Blend Properties)

RE:CM Knysna 200

Kevin Evans

RE:CM Knysna 200, 3days, 200km

The Garden Route was host to the RE:CM Knysna 200 mountain bike race which took place over the past three days in Knysna.

As I’ve just come off a three-week break, I thought this would be great event to start the training off and get back into the swing of things.

Plus, the day3 start, was literally 200meters away from home in Harkerville, needless to say I could not miss it!

Kari rode it last year and it sounded like fun, so with no ambitions other than having fun on the mountain bike, I set off to ride the event with Sandi Bryan, our team chef for the Epic.

The routes over the three days used my entire favorite and most used training grounds for basically my whole career, so it was a privilege to ride these routes as part of an event.

The finish for each day would be at Tappas on Thesen Island in Knysna, and this included a fantastic spread for lunch and dinner for the riders after each day.

Each day had a different start venue, from the Elephant Park halfway between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, to Millwood’s old gold mines and finally Harkerville for its well-known trails.

Sandi and I basically just did enough to conquer the route in good time, but enjoy the race and scenery that surrounded us. It was a completely different experience obviously to what I’m used to, and I was the brunt of many jokes as weekend warriors were able to ride with me, and past me! Needless to say, I have no idea what transpired at the head of the race, but I had a great time and Sandi and I had our own race within the race trying to compete against the infamous ‘Hops” brothers from Plett who are my golfing partners amongst friends. This friendly rivalry made for some interesting ‘racing’ and tactics, but also ensured some hard ‘pushing’ and strength work on my behalf.

Thanks to Patrick and Louise for having us at their event, one that I’ll be sure to try not miss in the future. It was mountain biking as I know it and took me back to my roots of where I fell in love with this great sport.

Next race proper for me will be The Nedbank Tour de Plett, followed by the Knysna Oyster Festival. What a fantastic couple weeks of racing and training coming up for me at home!

Till then,

Cheers,