The Cape Epic starts tomorrow :D

Wahooo!!! I've made a full recovery from the flu and I've been able to get a couple of good training sessions in this week, so I'm now ready for the start of the Cape Epic tomorrow!!!! Phew!!!

My team mate Karien van Jaarsveld came out to Cape Town from Johannesburg on Thursday so we've been spending the last few days getting to know each other. Although we've spoken on the phone and had lots of email contact over the last couple of months, this is the first time that we've actually met. We've been able to go out for a couple of rides together, which has been fun and we've been able to get to know each other's riding styles. Karien is really fun to ride with and I think that we're going to have a great adventure over the next 8 days :D  

Interview at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Tomorrow is a 27km prologue in Tokai Forest which is situated just behind Table Mountain. Riders will be setting off in 25 second intervals and our start is at 9:48:00. The parts of the course that we've been able to pre-ride are really nice and include some pretty technical descents and climbs where rocks, drops, roots and sand are aplenty :D There are also lots of baboons to watch out for too!

So, now I'm off to make some final preparations before putting up my feet.....fingers crossed for good luck tomorrow! 

Preparing for the Epic :D

Since finishing the Andalucia Bike Race two weeks ago today I haven't done a great deal! During the last couple of days of the race Kristine got ill and being a truly generous partner she shared it with me ;) I spent a week on the sofa unable to move and although I've been mobile for the last week, my heart rate has been super high and I've been unable to train. It has been frustrating but I know that I need to reach the start line of the Cape Epic 100% healthy, so I've been eating loads of great food while sitting with my feet up!

We arrived in South Africa a couple of days ago. We're staying in Camps Bay which is truly beautiful: gorgeous beach, nice cafes and restaurants, and lovely weather. It can't get any better :D



I'm teaming up with South African Karien van Jaarsveld and I'll be a guest rider on her team, USN (Ultimate Sports Nutrition). There is some super strong competition in the ladies pairs, including World Cup XC race winners Eva Lechner and Natalie Schneitter, British World Downhill Champ Tracy Moseley and Anka Martin, plus many others. Check out the 'who to watch' list by clicking here 

Champman's Peak - Beautiful :)

Dave and I went for an easy spin today over Chapman's Peak to Simon's Town for lunch and then around Scarborough before heading back to Camps Bay. What a stunning ride! My heart rate still hasn't settled down, so it's a few more easy days for me! In the meantime I'll be chilling on the beach and drinking smoothies :D



Andalucia Bike Race. Sixth and final stage.

Today was about playing safe with the sole aim of securing our overall race win. We checked the weather forecast last night and low temperatures (only 1 degree in the morning!) and rain were forecast, this combined with the height gain during the stage meant that we knew we would be in for a cold day!



A warmer day on a previous stage!!!



We both took extra clothes including leg warmers, waterproof jackets, neoprene overshoes and thick winter gloves. We know from experience that rain can often mean snow on high ground.

We set off really slowly and we were in last position (out of the ladies teams) at the beginning of the first climb. After the first feedzone at 19km we started to warm up and picked up the pace and in doing so we gradually started to pass the other teams. Once we reached the top at 1300 metres we were in second place. The climb up to the top was really beautiful especially when it snowed; the white snow flakes and the pink almond tree blossom looked lovely.

Even with all of our extra clothes we were still cold on the descents. There were many people wearing just shorts and jerseys – they must have been frozen! The leading mixed team (Cait Elliot and Josh Ibett) were having a great ride today and it was a real shame to see them puncture on the descent from the top, fortunately however they didn’t lose much time and they won the stage taking the overall race win.

As we went through the final feedzone we were riding with Jennifer Smith and Kathy Sherwin who were leading the stage. They both had a super strong ride today and in doing so took second place overall.

We both had good luck again today and we’re super happy to have secured our overall race win. Wahooooo!!!!!!! During 23hours and 4 minutes of riding over 6 days we’ve had no mechanical problems. A HUGE thank you to Dave, who has been unbelievably good to us and has made sure our equipment has been working perfectly!!!!! Thank you so much. The three of us have made a great team :D

Andalucia Bike Race. Stage 5.

After the stage yesterday we noticed some small cuts in my tyres so we decided to take no chances and to change them. It’s always good to know that your equipment is in good condition at the start of a stage. Dave is doing an excellent job of team supporter and we know that it would be so much harder without his help.
Once again we had a lot of fun riding today and in doing so we won the stage and retained our leader jerseys. I know that I keep saying how much fun it is here but it’s true and we’re getting to know and understand each other really well. We chat and laugh the whole time, even on the fast descents we still shout to each other about what is ahead. It’s really cool to build such a great partnership.

The trails here in Jaen are really nice. The singletrail descent from 1300 metres was long, swoopy, smooth and fast :D I think that we will definitely return here for a training holiday. We have found the course well marked but on the final descent we missed a marker and descended down a steep, rocky trail to a dead end! Yikes! It was a tough climb/hike back up, but good training ;) Fortunately it wasn’t a long descent and we only lost about 5 minutes or so.
We nearly collided with a dog on one of the asphalt descents but luck was on our side! We hope for good luck and lots of laughs again in the sixth and final stage tomorrow.

Stage 4. Andalucia Bike Race

Today we moved stage towns from Cordoba to Jaen. The temperature has really dropped here and it was only 4 degrees when we set off this morning *Brrrrr* The low temperature combined with the altitude today meant that we wore many more clothes than the previous stages and this proved to be a good decision because it was really cold at 1200 metres.

We didn’t have chance for a warm up so we took the start really easy and cruised up the first climb. After the first descent the course followed an old railway line until the last big climb. This was a real power session for me and I loved it :) I was able to find a good rhythm and we past many male riders; some jumped into our slip stream while other riders couldn’t keep the pace ;) Eventually we found one guy who was willing to work and take turns.

The last climb was really beautiful. The scenery totally changed and we entered the forest. The trail turned into a sweet piece of singletrack which was steep and rocky in places. It was certainly challenging after 100km! The descent to the finish was so much fun: lots of swoopy singletrack and some steep, loose, rutted drops. Once we exited the trail a police motorbike escorted us down the fast descent through the town to the finish line :D

Job done and we took the victory again :) We hope for good luck again tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Stage 3.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! Today was definitely the best stage. There was a lot of tight twisty single track; some super steep, rocky technical climbs; and fast, rocky descents with drop offs. Kristine and I were beaming from ear to ear the whole way :D We’re getting on really well as a team and we’re working to each others strengths. To add to the fun the leading mixed pairs team comprising of Josh Ibett (Torq) and Cait Elliot (WXC) joined us for a long time. They too are working really well together and are comfortably leading their category.

I’m riding my new Canyon hard tail for the first time ever in this race and I love it! The super skinny Ritchey carbon seat post and the fat tyres (2.2 Continental race king on the rear and 2.4 X King on the front) make it a really comfy ride, even on these gnarly trails. As always, I’m running protection tyres tubeless with stans milk and this seems to be working well.

Today we both had a couple of tumbles: Kristine fell in a huge bog in a cow field and I fell in a thorn bush (I’m still pulling out thorns now!). This added to our amusement and gave us more to laugh about :D

At 60km we were both absolutely desperate for the toilet. This gave us the motivation to ride as fast as we could to the finish line, where we immediately handed our bikes to the camera man and reporter while to their amusement (and all of the spectators!) we headed for the nearest bush. Phew! Another excellent day in the saddle :)

We won the stage again today and I think we now have a good lead. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Andalucia Bike Race. Stage 2

I had trouble with the internet connection so this is a little late.....

Today Kristine and I agreed to take things easy and not to take any chances. We knew that immediately from the start line there was a long, steep, loose descent where riders gridded behind us would all be jostling to get ahead. Our plan was to play it safe, get down safely, and then start racing. Once the race started we soon knew that we had made the right decision. From the gun things became a little ‘aggressive’ with the whole pack of riders all vying for a small entrance to the trail. Then things became a bit chaotic with riders skidding out of control and crashing into each other. We were almost at the bottom when Kristine lost her front wheel on the ‘marble-like’ gravel and had a small crash. Fortunately she was OK and we were soon on a long flat section where we were able to go full speed and pass many packs of riders.

We caught the leading women’s team at the bottom of the first climb and soon took the lead which we then kept for the remainder of the race. We relaxed into a good rhythm and enjoyed the nice trails that lay ahead. The course today was perfect: it was not as demanding as yesterday’s course which meant that we were able to conserve some energy for the stage tomorrow. We now have approximately 50 minutes lead over second place; however there are 4 stages left and we are fully aware that anything can happen.

We both had a lot of fun again today and we’re really happy to be racing together.

So now it’s time to eat and rest :)