South African mountain bike racer, Amy Wakefield, is leading the Women’s Category in the 2023 Absa Cape Epic, along with teammate Candice Lill. Wakefield’s incident with a tree that tore open her bicep a third of the way into Stage 1, which they went on to win, has been a bigger story. We spoke to Wakefield ahead of Wednesday’s Stage 3 to get some details of exactly what happened.
By Sean Badenhorst
As we wrote here , Lill and Wakefield rode to an historic stage win on Monday. But it’s the courage and camaraderie shown by both women that’s captured the attention of the mountain biking world. For those who may not know, The Absa Cape Epic is the world’s premiere mountain bike stage race. It’s the mountain biking equivalent of the Tour de France. It’s watched by millions around the world and it’s a really big deal to win a stage and an even bigger deal to win the eight-day race overall.
While we too were in awe of what Lill and Wakefield accomplished on Stage 1, we had some questions. So, we had a chat with Wakefield ahead of Wednesday’s 100km Stage 3 from Hermanus to Oak Valley to get some detailed answers.
Do you remember what happened or was it a blur?
I remember everything in detail! I was riding in front of the lead group. It was about 30km into the stage. Sofia (Gomez Villafane) and Katerina (Nash) were on my wheel and Candice was at the back. We were riding along the side of a fruit-tree orchard. The route turned left through a row of fruit trees which are about three metres high – mature trees. As I turned, I felt my left arm catch on a branch of the tree on the corner. It actually stopped me completely. Either Sofia or Katerina rode into my bike and also stopped. I didn’t fall, but my bike did. The Specialized girls went around me and carried on. I pulled my arm away from the branch, which was sharp. It was about two centimetres in diameter and had been pruned. The sharp edge is what made the cut. I looked at my arm and saw a huge gash. I could see muscle and fat, but no blood. Incredibly, it didn’t damage my shirt sleeve at all, which was a godsend infection wise. I showed Candice, who had stopped behind me. It looked really bad. But we discussed it briefly and I decided if she could cover it with duct tape, I could try carry on. She taped it with some duct tape she was carrying. I’m so squeamish, it’s ridiculous, but luckily Candice isn’t!
Did you remove the duct tape after the stage or wait until you got to hospital?
After the prizegiving, the medic at the race took it off. Before he removed it, he asked if I think it will need stitches. I said ‘um, probably, yes’!”
There wasn’t blood initially you say, but your sleeve looked bloody.
There really wasn’t much blood luckily. The underside of my sleeve was bloody, but that’s it.
How long was the surgery and what did they do?
I went into surgery at 19h30 and it took an hour. I didn’t have a general anaesthetic. I only left the hospital at 23h00. According the surgeon, Tonetha Jay, all the sutures done are continuous and under the skin. She used a special type of barbed suture to keep it closed in layers. And then she used a high-tech new technology glue dressing over the wound to keep it closed with wound care that is able to withstand water.
On Tuesday, with minimal sleep, you started Stage 2 with your arm covered by a proper medical bandage. It must have hurt while riding for five-and-a-half hours?
It did! I felt every single bump! There were times when it was very sore, especially rocky downhills and corrugated roads. By the end of the stage, it was very sore.
Did you take anything for the pain. There’s surely not much you are allowed to take based on the anti-doping banned substances list.
Darren Lill, Candice’s husband, has been on the phone to Drug Free Sport making sure of what I can and can’t take. I took two Mypaid tablets after the stage because it was super store. But I definitely won’t take any on the bike unless I absolutely have to.
[Ed’s note: Mypaid Forte is an over-the-counter Schedule 3 tablet for mild to moderate pain and inflammation that contains paracetamol and ibuprofen].
We saw a photo of the wound on Monday. The photo was sent on just about every cycling WhatsApp Group in South Africa, along with our TREAD tweet briefly explaining the incident.
Oh my goodness! I was completely unaware how viral that went. My hubby’s phone was ringing off the hook and I have had so many messages! Thanks to everyone for your concern!
It seems you have a superb support team, who would you like to thank?
My partner, Candice, she was completely calm and kind the whole time. Even in the split second she thought our race was over. There was never a hint of frustration or panic.
Darren Lill, he insisted on me getting the best care and somehow found a plastic surgeon in Somerset West who could help me last minute. Also, so kind, caring and supportive.
My husband who drove through from Cape Town and spent the time in hospital with me. And then the rest of my support team; I got back after midnight from the hospital and everything was done for me including my bottles, kit, finishers bag. To have such an organised and kind team is extremely touching!
Are you confident that you will be able to finish the 2023 Absa Cape Epic?
Absolutely! The arm is fully functional. It’s just going to hurt and I have accepted that.
Follow Amy’s Absa Cape Epic experience via her instagram account.
