Flew up to Jozi on Thursday, caught my first ride on the Guatrain... Ayobaness! What a pleasure that train will make for people. Firstly I finally had the pins removed from my little finger, in the Docs rooms. With the pins out, I travelled with the road team to Tzaneen on Friday to race the Mountain to Mountain race on Saturday.
The race has one fairly big climb in the beginning but the cold air took it's toll on my lungs. We managed only 5th on the day, not what we were looking for but we were missing some troops.
Jaco and I then caught a lift to Nelspruit where we planned to train until the Jock 3stage cycle race the next week. Training should be good here as the weather is a pleasure. Unfortunately I picked up a chest infection and have had to rest it out the past few days. Perhaps a sign to go easy on the training. Hope to be better for the race, with Worlds now only 3weeks away, the bigger picture, I need to listen to my body.
Will keep you posted,
Kev
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
DueSouth Pezula Xterra
Taking part in the Knysna Oyster Festival Xterra for something different.
Made up good time on the MTB section, then ran myself into the ground to win the event.
There was no swimming!
And after 10km of trail running, I never walked so well the next three days.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, MTB Race
The Knysna Oyster Festival is really a two week festival featuring all kinds of sports and activities and has become one of the bigger weekends of cycling on the national calendar. As per usual the festivals racing kicks off with the mountain bike component of cycling, with three different distances to cater for everyone. The main race for the Elite riders is the 85km challenge and follows the same route every year. A route which I know only too well and have only tasted success at once, despite the years of trying to win my “home” town event.
It was as close to perfect conditions that one would ever have for the race, and the normally very chilly winter’s morning was surprisingly warm, even though the racing would heat it up anyways! Again it was a really big turn out for the race, most of the countries top races on the start line, including some road riders that would take part the following day.
I had a good build up to the race, despite being ill the week prior to the race. I also decided to use my Volcan Hardtail Pro, nice and light as the course was in really good condition. Up the first climb I could feel I was good, and decided to take the race to the competitors up the hard climb of Gouna. At the top of the climb, only Dave George was left, with team mate Adrien Niyonshuti a small distance behind us with Mathys Beukes. Dave and I rolled through well together and built up our advantage over the next section of racing. We both had as good a chance to win and the decision to work together was just a pure mutual understanding. I managed to retain my “King of the mountain” title to the highest point of the race.
The conditions were great for mountain biking and the indigenous forest section of “Petrus se Brand” flew by, before we knew it we were onto the last 20km of the race.
This was where I had some minor problems with a slow leaking rear tire, but I was fortunate the Stans selant worked, as once I had stopped to inflate it, the wheel held enough pressure all the way to the finish.
Again the race was coming down to a sprint finish, and unfortunately for me, we had two kids completing the 15km fun ride in the way when we began our sprint, Dave just managed to get past on their outside whilst I had to avoid a near collision and hop onto the pavement and then back to the tar, but it was too little too late as Dave edged me out for the win. That would make my record for the race, five times second position!
At least it sounds more dramatic and keeps me motivated to come back again next year and compete for the victory!
Team mates Adrien and Paul Cordes rode well to finish up 5th and 6th on the day after spending a good week down in Knysna training with me.
Next race for me will be the Oyster Festival Road Race on Sunday, and a chance to try win the “overall” combined fastest between the two races on the weekend.
Till then, cheers.
Kevin Evans
Provisional results:
1st Dave George (SA Findit) 2hrs40
2nd Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade)
3rd Mathys Beukes (Scott)
4th Renay Goustra (GT)
5th Adrien Nyionshuti (MTN/Energade)
It was as close to perfect conditions that one would ever have for the race, and the normally very chilly winter’s morning was surprisingly warm, even though the racing would heat it up anyways! Again it was a really big turn out for the race, most of the countries top races on the start line, including some road riders that would take part the following day.
I had a good build up to the race, despite being ill the week prior to the race. I also decided to use my Volcan Hardtail Pro, nice and light as the course was in really good condition. Up the first climb I could feel I was good, and decided to take the race to the competitors up the hard climb of Gouna. At the top of the climb, only Dave George was left, with team mate Adrien Niyonshuti a small distance behind us with Mathys Beukes. Dave and I rolled through well together and built up our advantage over the next section of racing. We both had as good a chance to win and the decision to work together was just a pure mutual understanding. I managed to retain my “King of the mountain” title to the highest point of the race.
The conditions were great for mountain biking and the indigenous forest section of “Petrus se Brand” flew by, before we knew it we were onto the last 20km of the race.
This was where I had some minor problems with a slow leaking rear tire, but I was fortunate the Stans selant worked, as once I had stopped to inflate it, the wheel held enough pressure all the way to the finish.
Again the race was coming down to a sprint finish, and unfortunately for me, we had two kids completing the 15km fun ride in the way when we began our sprint, Dave just managed to get past on their outside whilst I had to avoid a near collision and hop onto the pavement and then back to the tar, but it was too little too late as Dave edged me out for the win. That would make my record for the race, five times second position!
At least it sounds more dramatic and keeps me motivated to come back again next year and compete for the victory!
Team mates Adrien and Paul Cordes rode well to finish up 5th and 6th on the day after spending a good week down in Knysna training with me.
Next race for me will be the Oyster Festival Road Race on Sunday, and a chance to try win the “overall” combined fastest between the two races on the weekend.
Till then, cheers.
Kevin Evans
Provisional results:
1st Dave George (SA Findit) 2hrs40
2nd Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade)
3rd Mathys Beukes (Scott)
4th Renay Goustra (GT)
5th Adrien Nyionshuti (MTN/Energade)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Circuito Montanes
Stage 6: Torrelavega-Santo Toribio143.6km, ascent = 32.2km**@27.5k - Cat 2, 6.8km climb@57.9k - Cat 3, 4km climb@82.6k - Cat 1, 5.0km climb@99.5km - Cat 2, 5.9km climb@114.1k - Cat 1, 8.4km climb@14.6k - Cat 2, 2.1km climb
Stage 6 of the tour was always on paper the hardest looking stage of the tour. The paper proved correct as we ascended the most on the stage compared to the others.
I had big problems with my engine in the first 20km and the pace of the bunch was really urgent as certain riders were still in contention to win the tour.
After fighting my way back in the convoy, we began the “assaults” of the climbs, and slowly my legs came back.
I managed stay with the main bunch through the first three categorized climbs, and on the fourth one, the relentless pace was too much and I could only ride my own tempo. By the top was with the “grupetto” for the day as we climbed steady and conservatively. The race was over for the guys in this group and Jaco and I finished together in this group, loosing about 17minutes to Niels Alberts (BK-CP) 2009 cyclocross world champion.
Stof proved sheer determination and will to get through yesterdays queen stage loosing only 28minutes to Alberts. With todays stage being the last and also “flattest’, we are hoping that the Stof has some sprinting legs left to try go for the stage win. The only obstacle will be to keep the initial start speed of the bunch together as guys rip the race to pieces to force breaks away early on. With shattered legs, making one of these breaks is really difficult, but let us see what happens!
Last stage starts at 13:30.
Hasta la venga.
Stage 6 of the tour was always on paper the hardest looking stage of the tour. The paper proved correct as we ascended the most on the stage compared to the others.
I had big problems with my engine in the first 20km and the pace of the bunch was really urgent as certain riders were still in contention to win the tour.
After fighting my way back in the convoy, we began the “assaults” of the climbs, and slowly my legs came back.
I managed stay with the main bunch through the first three categorized climbs, and on the fourth one, the relentless pace was too much and I could only ride my own tempo. By the top was with the “grupetto” for the day as we climbed steady and conservatively. The race was over for the guys in this group and Jaco and I finished together in this group, loosing about 17minutes to Niels Alberts (BK-CP) 2009 cyclocross world champion.
Stof proved sheer determination and will to get through yesterdays queen stage loosing only 28minutes to Alberts. With todays stage being the last and also “flattest’, we are hoping that the Stof has some sprinting legs left to try go for the stage win. The only obstacle will be to keep the initial start speed of the bunch together as guys rip the race to pieces to force breaks away early on. With shattered legs, making one of these breaks is really difficult, but let us see what happens!
Last stage starts at 13:30.
Hasta la venga.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Circuito Montanes
Stage 5: Polanco-Torrelavega173.3km, ascent 28.4km**@54.7k - Cat 1, 21.3km**climb@103.7k - Cat 2, 4.9km climb@124.4km - Cat 3, 2.2km climb
Stage 5 began without too much rain, only a ligh drizzle, and never got worse for the rest of the day. This wasn absolute blessing in disguise for me and my remaining two teammates after the rpevious weeks hectic conditions. Compared to the day before, I felt like a bike rider again.
I was much more consevative in the first 30km, knowing that a 21km Cat1 climb awaited.
The attacks started before we hit the climb, and on the slopes of the climb, the peleton was already split. Jaco and I climbed in the third group, there was two groups infront of us at about a minute ahead consisting of around ten riders each. Although I made it over the top, the legs were paying the price from the week.
The next 60km was really quick with fast tecnical descends, and with around 100km remaining, we had caught the front group, all for except around five guys who had slipped away.
Café Colombia controlled the rest of the day andJaco and I finished safely in the main pack, about 2min behind the winner from team Bretagne Shuller, again!
Stoff showed that he was here to finish this race by riding into the finish with about 5minutes to spare!
Today is a real brutal day with 33km of climbing. I’m going to have to see how the legs are feeling before I try anything though!
Stage 5 began without too much rain, only a ligh drizzle, and never got worse for the rest of the day. This wasn absolute blessing in disguise for me and my remaining two teammates after the rpevious weeks hectic conditions. Compared to the day before, I felt like a bike rider again.
I was much more consevative in the first 30km, knowing that a 21km Cat1 climb awaited.
The attacks started before we hit the climb, and on the slopes of the climb, the peleton was already split. Jaco and I climbed in the third group, there was two groups infront of us at about a minute ahead consisting of around ten riders each. Although I made it over the top, the legs were paying the price from the week.
The next 60km was really quick with fast tecnical descends, and with around 100km remaining, we had caught the front group, all for except around five guys who had slipped away.
Café Colombia controlled the rest of the day andJaco and I finished safely in the main pack, about 2min behind the winner from team Bretagne Shuller, again!
Stoff showed that he was here to finish this race by riding into the finish with about 5minutes to spare!
Today is a real brutal day with 33km of climbing. I’m going to have to see how the legs are feeling before I try anything though!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Circuito Montanes
Circuito Montanes
Stage 4: Agua de Solares - Fuente del Chivo145.7km, ascent 32.3km**@36.4km - Cat 3, 2.2km climb@54.6km - Cat 1, 7.2km climb@88.3 - Cat 1, 7.1km climb@145.7k - CAT HC** 32.3km climb
As we began our fifth day in the pouring rain, I was sure that the conditions couldn’t get worse than the previous days. But I was proven correct as, things can always be worse! The conditions as we began to climb higher became so extreme, my body literally began to “shut” down and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it other than to suffer on and finish in the “autobus”, loosing half a day to the amazing solo performance of the Café Colombian ex-under23 World Champion.
I started really hard, trying to force an early break or at least put myself into one so that I could stay out the trouble of the conditions in the bunch, but as luck would have it, no matter how many move I followed in the first hour, nothing went.
I paid the price as we hit the first climbs, being so cold and battling to keep my fuel intake up, I had got shelled and had to spend the day in the “comfort of the autobus”. The only humor in this was that Stoff managed to ride back up to us and help keep the motivation required to complete the day. Jaco in the meantime had done extremely well to hang onto the front group until the first HC climb, from where he would be on his own to the finish.
Despite the following, armwarmers, kneewarmers, booties, Long finger gloves, under vest, cycle shirt, sleeveless windbreaker, full rain jacket, hat and helmet, climbing up to 2250m in the snow, I had no feeling whatsoever. I could not shift gears, let alone feel my handlebar in my hand despite all the clothing.
Luthandho who had done well until the last HC climb would later be dsq’d for hanging onto a car for too long, even though many Spanish riders did the same trick.
That was day to remember which goes down in my own history books as one of the hardest stages I’ve finished, all due to conditions.
On the brighter side, perhaps they may let one of the three remaining SA riders get away in a break now. If the legs come back, and especially if, just for one day, we could race in anything else other than pouring rain.
I have to say, as I sit here, it’s still raining though!
Hasta lanother wet one!
Stage 4: Agua de Solares - Fuente del Chivo145.7km, ascent 32.3km**@36.4km - Cat 3, 2.2km climb@54.6km - Cat 1, 7.2km climb@88.3 - Cat 1, 7.1km climb@145.7k - CAT HC** 32.3km climb
As we began our fifth day in the pouring rain, I was sure that the conditions couldn’t get worse than the previous days. But I was proven correct as, things can always be worse! The conditions as we began to climb higher became so extreme, my body literally began to “shut” down and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it other than to suffer on and finish in the “autobus”, loosing half a day to the amazing solo performance of the Café Colombian ex-under23 World Champion.
I started really hard, trying to force an early break or at least put myself into one so that I could stay out the trouble of the conditions in the bunch, but as luck would have it, no matter how many move I followed in the first hour, nothing went.
I paid the price as we hit the first climbs, being so cold and battling to keep my fuel intake up, I had got shelled and had to spend the day in the “comfort of the autobus”. The only humor in this was that Stoff managed to ride back up to us and help keep the motivation required to complete the day. Jaco in the meantime had done extremely well to hang onto the front group until the first HC climb, from where he would be on his own to the finish.
Despite the following, armwarmers, kneewarmers, booties, Long finger gloves, under vest, cycle shirt, sleeveless windbreaker, full rain jacket, hat and helmet, climbing up to 2250m in the snow, I had no feeling whatsoever. I could not shift gears, let alone feel my handlebar in my hand despite all the clothing.
Luthandho who had done well until the last HC climb would later be dsq’d for hanging onto a car for too long, even though many Spanish riders did the same trick.
That was day to remember which goes down in my own history books as one of the hardest stages I’ve finished, all due to conditions.
On the brighter side, perhaps they may let one of the three remaining SA riders get away in a break now. If the legs come back, and especially if, just for one day, we could race in anything else other than pouring rain.
I have to say, as I sit here, it’s still raining though!
Hasta lanother wet one!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Circuito Montanes
Stage 3: Miengo--El Astillero178.1km, ascent 11.5km@18.6k - Cat3, 2.4km climb@105k - Cat 1, 6.4km climb@151k - Cat 3, 2.7km climb
Stage three of the tour, also the longest, had the worst conditions we had encountered thus far. And we have had some fairly bad weather along the way.
For the entire 180km, it never let up raining, in fact at one stage in the first hour, it was raining so hard that I was convinced it was hailing. At this time there were a few crashes, luckily the worst of them just involved me getting hit from behind as the brakes simply don’t work in the wet. Not knowing it, I had a pretty badly buckled rear wheel, which meant the brakes were on and taxed a fair amount of my energy. I’d only find this out at the dinner table once the mechanic, Magnus, joined us after servicing our bikes. A small break slipped away in the chaos, despite our best efforts to put a man in there, we only have four riders and is really hard to try follow all the moves.
Jaco and I decided to save our energy for the cat1 climb, but the cold and wet took its toll on my body, as I battled to keep warm the whole day. No matter how much I ate, it was simply not enough. In the last 30km, it was not possible to feed and luckily Jaco had enough extra food to see me through to the finish.
The bunch to the finish was really big and I was mid pack heading into the final 2km’s, unfortunately with three slippery roundabouts to get to get through, there were another two crashes. These crashes caused a split in the bunch and I lost about 30seconds.
Jaco was good on the day, and looks like he is getting stronger, as is Luthando who rode really well today. Stoff dug deep to finish another monster stage and hang in still with his sense of humor intact.
Today’s stage is the first mountain top finish, ending with about 20km of climbing up to 2200m, where I fear, the rain which has not stopped yet, will turn into snow.
The legs are sore and I hope the other riders are in the same boat. It’s incredible to see that on the climbs, despite how hard the pace is, the group never drops! I think today it will change though.
The weather however will not!
Results on www.cyclingnews.com
Stage three of the tour, also the longest, had the worst conditions we had encountered thus far. And we have had some fairly bad weather along the way.
For the entire 180km, it never let up raining, in fact at one stage in the first hour, it was raining so hard that I was convinced it was hailing. At this time there were a few crashes, luckily the worst of them just involved me getting hit from behind as the brakes simply don’t work in the wet. Not knowing it, I had a pretty badly buckled rear wheel, which meant the brakes were on and taxed a fair amount of my energy. I’d only find this out at the dinner table once the mechanic, Magnus, joined us after servicing our bikes. A small break slipped away in the chaos, despite our best efforts to put a man in there, we only have four riders and is really hard to try follow all the moves.
Jaco and I decided to save our energy for the cat1 climb, but the cold and wet took its toll on my body, as I battled to keep warm the whole day. No matter how much I ate, it was simply not enough. In the last 30km, it was not possible to feed and luckily Jaco had enough extra food to see me through to the finish.
The bunch to the finish was really big and I was mid pack heading into the final 2km’s, unfortunately with three slippery roundabouts to get to get through, there were another two crashes. These crashes caused a split in the bunch and I lost about 30seconds.
Jaco was good on the day, and looks like he is getting stronger, as is Luthando who rode really well today. Stoff dug deep to finish another monster stage and hang in still with his sense of humor intact.
Today’s stage is the first mountain top finish, ending with about 20km of climbing up to 2200m, where I fear, the rain which has not stopped yet, will turn into snow.
The legs are sore and I hope the other riders are in the same boat. It’s incredible to see that on the climbs, despite how hard the pace is, the group never drops! I think today it will change though.
The weather however will not!
Results on www.cyclingnews.com
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