Race Rewind: 2011 Absa Cape Epic

A large, very appreciative crowd turned out to cheer the riders through their prologue over the drop-offs and root tangles of the Tokai Forest in Cape Town on a course that managed to cram 750 metres of climbing into a 27 kilometre loop to determine the start batches for Stage 1 of the 2011 edition of the Absa Cape Epic.

Monday morning saw the riders gathering on purpose-planted lawns at the Saronsberg wine estate outside Tulbagh, ready to tackle a route over 89 kilometres that promised 2 050 metres of climbing. After a fairly quick start, the riders soon realised that they would have to be both patient and careful if they wanted to see the finish. On very rocky, technical terrain, the going was at times painfully slow, and the heat extreme. The camp looked like a war zone, as finished riders dropped in the first available spot.

Riders during the Prologue 

After a whole day spent among the Tulbagh rocks and sand, the 104-kilometre Stage 2 looked menacing. The climbing started almost immediately but although it was steep the old wagon route actually rolled better than expected. With more than 1 000 meters of climbing already in the bank before the 20-kilometre mark, the valley views and tracks above the orchards were enjoyable but the day became long and hot long before the descent on that same wagon trail returned them to the race village.

Stage 3 would take riders to a new camp at Worcester, 125 kilometres and 1 900 metres of climbing away. After rapid early progress, the trail headed fairly steeply up again, and if the farm views of the previous days were appealing, those on the plateau were even better, as if to toughen the cyclists up for an extremely treacherous descent. Although the vegetation became tougher it felt as if the terrain softened ever so slightly as they headed towards the overnight race village, grateful for a short day ahead.

Riders during Stage 4's Time Trial 

The 32-kilometre time trial scheduled for Stage 4 managed to find an astonishing 800 rocky metres of climbing along the foothills of Brandwacht, the mountain that towers over the town of Worcester and the riding was intense, but on the grounds of Worcester Gymnasium a spectator crowd of local scholars made everyone feel as if they were contenders.

Two short stages don’t come for free at the Absa Cape Epic, and now the riders prepared for a big day (143 kilometres long with 2 350 metres of climbing and an 11-hour cut-off) that would take them to the Elgin Valley on Stage 5. After surviving the first major obstacle for the day it was time to rediscover or learn some bunch riding skills as cooler weather brought wind and there was plenty of ground and another major obstacle to clear before Groenlandberg appeared more or less at the 100-kilometre mark. Winching their way up the 750-metre monster, starting with sections at 15% on concrete strips over 12-kilometres of demanding trail, more than one rider marvelled at how trail-hardened they had become.

The lead pack during Stage 6 

Over a distance of 128 kilometres with 2 700 metres of altitude to be gained, Stage 6 would drag the riders back over Groenlandberg and then another legend of the route – Dassenberg – affectionately named The Beeatch for all the loose sand on its steep surface. Later their efforts would be rewarded by a spectacular view over the Indian Ocean and an opportunity to carve the Lebanon, Thandi and Oak Valley singletrack - no doubt too much of a good thing so late in the day, but still excellent riding.

Stage 7 would have the riders sweating and swearing compliments at their route designer one last time, as a 59-kilometre route with 1 700 metres of climbing led them via Nuweberg and the old Viljoen’s Pass in the Hottentots Holland Reserve (popular with hikers in search of rare plants, and rest stops) to the finish line and festivities at the Lourensford wine estate in Somerset West.