Unsung heroes get their turn in the spotlight
2015-06-01
Christoph Sauser says it. So does Karl Platt. And Ariane Kleinhans, Annika Langvad, Jose Hermida and Kristian Hynek. And just about any rider who has taken part. They all say the Absa Cape Epic has become the benchmark for organisational efficiency.
That hard-earned reputation has come through 12 years of tireless work. And behind the scenes carrying out much of that work each year are several hundred unsung heroes – the event crew members.
On May 21, however, the 900 crew that did duty in 2015 were recognised at the Absa Cape Epic crew awards evening held at Ratanga Junction.
A record turnout enjoyed a drink and some food before the awards were announced by General Manager Michael Flinn, who also stood in as MC for the evening.
First came the awards voted for by riders:
- The Most Improved Service went to Tracker, which supplies a lightweight tracking device to each team. The 79-gram unit relays live positioning information, such as speed and location, to the Absa Cape Epic website, where supporters, families and friends can monitor riders’ progress. Tracker Business also provides emergency and logistics vehicle tracking and intelligence for the duration of the race.
- The Mitas Tyre Service won the Best Debut Service award. Mitas joined the Absa Cape Epic as its official tyre partner in February and the Czech-based tyre manufacturer hosted “tyre zones” on the route and in the race village. It’s Kratos Textra tyres were launched at the Absa Cape Epic and imprinted with the event’s logo.
- The Most Consistent Service, based on riders’ votes over three years, went to the Woolworths Online Top Up Meal service. Before the event cyclists choose top up meals such as spaghetti bolognese or cottage pie to be eaten after each stage and help them prepare for the next day. The food is chosen by Woolworths’ dietitian, who takes international guidelines and applies them to the Absa Cape Epic.
- And the Best Overall Service which was not sponsored went to the team of route marshals. The riders clearly appreciated the efforts out on the course of these crew members who braved weather conditions that ranged from freezing cold and wet to very hot to ensure that they stayed on course.
Then it was the turn of the awards voted for by the crew themselves:
- Best Event Photo Captured by a Crew Member went to media motorcycle rider Marchant Maasdorp, for his moody shot of cyclists (taken during a rare moment when he wasn’t himself transporting a photographer).
- The Overall Best Service provider went to the entire media team. These included television and still photographers, writers, social media crew and the motorcyclists and assistants who made sure it all happened – a team of 90 in total.
- And finally the prestigious Crew Member of the Year went to Dr Jann Killops, the new race doctor. Jann stepped into Dr Basil Bonner’s considerable shoes this year and her simultaneously calm and efficient manner clearly impressed her fellow crew members.
“Well done to Jann, the media team and all the winners,” said Flinn. “The standard has been exceptionally high this year and it was close in just about every category.”
He added: The Absa Cape Epic has gained a reputation for being extremely well organised and we are very grateful to the crew who have helped us get there. Many of them come back year after year, taking annual leave for what is evidently a highlight on their calendars too. It is these unsung heroes who have become part of what we consider our Absa Cape Epic family.”
Just about nobody went home empty handed on the night: many spot prizes – ranging from Columbia jackets to a selection of some of the Western Cape’s finest wines – were also handed out.
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