The Absa Cape Epic’s first-ever point-to-point time trial stage over a relatively short 66km from Meerendal, to Fairview, Paarl was meant to offer a chance for the Working Dads to make up more time. Instead, disaster! They almost pulled out of the race. Here’s what happened.
Day 3: Stage 2, Meerendal-Fairview
Distance: 66km | Climbing: 950m
Time: 3hr 14min 51sec | Position: 264 overall; 69 Master Men
General Classification: 199 overall; 39 Master Men
Moved down 24 places overall and down 8 positions in Master Men.
MARK
It was an interesting day for us. That was definitely the easiest stage I have ever done at the Cape Epic, yet it was without a shadow of a doubt the worst I have felt on a bicycle in my life. And I have had some pretty dark days over the last 25 years, but nothing compares to today.
We got off to quite a quick start. We were passing many teams and really setting a good tempo, feeling great. And then after about 25km, it literally was like someone flipped a switch. I went from feeling great to instantly feeling so completely blown. It was quite scary.
The remaining 40 kays I really went through a dark place. I vomited twice and literally had no strength. We managed to get to the second water point eventually and I just said to Jimbo. ‘I’m done’. The thought of riding one kilometre, never mind another 15 was incomprehensible.
But he was having none of it and basically, he told me to get my mind right and we eventually made it to the finish. It was bizarre. My legs felt great, but I was just feeling terrible with nausea and weakness. As I write this after the stage, I feel okay. It was quite a mystery and I’m putting it down to dehydration. I did say to Jimbo after Stage 1 that I hadn’t drunk as much as I should have. My mouth was pretty dry within the first kilometre today, which was strange.
So, Ja, putting it down to dehydration and hoping that was my bad day. In fact, I don’t think I can have a worse day than today on a bike. It’s super frustrating because we made up quite a few places on Stage 1 and were hoping to do the same today.
Instead, we lost places. But I was mostly just focused on getting to the finish and reassessing. I have perked up a bit and have some electrolytes in me. I will keep hydrating and I’m sure a good night’s sleep will see me ready for tomorrow’s big stage
JIMBO
I initially didn’t have anything to say about today’s stage. But the more I think about it, I have a small amount to say…
Mark painted the picture quite beautifully about how today went. Mark would have struggled to hold onto a toddler on a tricycle’s wheel today! There was not much I could do – or he could – to make him pedal faster than about 4 kays an hour. Really just enough to stay upright.
He wanted to pull out at 42 kays, which in my mind was not an option. We had only 15 kays left. He was a broken human being. It was very hot out there – let’s give him a little bit of benefit there.
It was ironically a very easy Cape Epic stage, which we knew, but these things happen. Rather have a bad day today than tomorrow. Stage 4 is a beast! We have to celebrate the small gains. I’m definitely going to have a glass of red wine tonight because it was a victory just getting my partner to the finish today. I have still got a partner and we are still in the game!
Stage 4 on Wednesday has been shortened from 90km to 72km and the amount of ascent reduced from 2600 metres to 2450 metres. This is because the temperature is expected to go into the 40s and the risk of heat-related illness is high among the remaining 1431 participants. It’s a stage around the Paarl trails with a high volume of singletrack.
You can follow Mark and Jimbo’s progress live by downloading the Epic Series app and selecting them under ‘Riders’. Their team name is Barneys Army/Ride 4 Child and the team number is 397.
Mark and Jimbo are riding for two charities: The Player’s Fund and Ride for a Child. The Player’s Fund is an official charity of the Absa Cape Epic and primarily raises funds to assist rugby players that have suffered catastrophic injuries. Find out more on the official website here. You can find out more about the Ride for a Child charity via Mark and Jimbo’s fundraising link here.
The introduction image is not a shot of Mark and Jimbo. It’s a generic image of today’s stage shot by Dom Barnardt, one of the official Absa Cape Epic photographers.
