An extremely cold and early morning saw us to the first ever Juicy Luicy Classic. Situated in Mid Illovo surrounded by HILLS and sugar cane. The organization looked very well-done, and the conditions were looking to be set for an awesome days racing. Surprisingly some of the top racers were there, Dave Lieman, Andrew Warr, Jedson Tooms and Carl Calvarly.
Racing was off at 9:00am. A neutral zone for the first couple of hundred meters, had the field get really anxious to race. As the lead bike pulled off the racing began. Jedson was the first to put down the hammer followed by David Lieman and Andrew Warr. Carl and myself caught up and soon were in a pack with Bruce Hughes, Jedson, Carl and myself, with Dave and Andrew ahead. A couple of kilometers down the road I put in a big attack, in an attempt to catch Dave as I was keen to try and race with him and also try to learn from him at the same time..
I slowly began to close the gap and was soon in third place with Dave only metres ahead of m, but I ended up taking the wrong route through the river and lost all the time I had gained. The chasing pack then caught me on the other side of the river and I decided to settled down and try a break a little later once I had been able to assess the other riders after some distance.
Carl, Jedson and I now were in a pack taking up third , fourth and fifth place respectively and were really working well together. We were really pushing the pace, and we received news from the camera crew that we were closing on Dave Lieman again, which really got the motivation going again
But just after that tragedy struck, whilst descending before the water point really fast, in an effort to close down Jedson and Karl who were about 20 meters in front after a small break away, I hit a huge rock and flattened my tire completely. I stopped and bombed it and was going again soon after, but my stop had allowed them to break away and I decided to really give it everything again in an attempt to try and catch them, but in doing so I blew and just had to maintain my pace and ride to finish in fifth place overall and 1st youth rider. I would just like to give a major thanks to Carl and Jedson for the fantastic ride and Johann Wykerd for his assistance with my bike before the start of the race
The course was Extremely tough, very nasty hills, but very well organized, great first impression guys… well done!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Energizer Night Relay 25 April 2008
The 4th Energizer night relay was again held at the awesome grounds of Hilton College, with the sun setting the back drop was awesome, and it was going to be an awesome night for racing!
Candice Neethling (a fellow team mate) and I had joined together for the mixed relay. The racing started as it became dark, Candice did the first lap, and came in relatively near the front after a great first lap. When she came in she tagged me and I sprinted off into the dark, pushing as hard as I could. Maybe I went a little too hard, my light on my handle bars came loose and I had to stop and put it back on a couple of times. After reattaching it a couple of times, I went really hard at every place I could, and managed to catch and pass some teams ahead of me. Coming back onto the field I caught Lance Kime, going onto the last lap, I had to tag Candice and then we had to do the third lap together.
Candice, myself, lance Kime and Andrew Birkett all left together.
Working together we took turns pulling in the front, but coming into the one sandy section, I lost focus and hit it at full speed, not prepared for what was going to happen, I was spat off and landed hard on the ground.
After landing so hard my light had once again come loose, I told Candice to carry on. I fixed my light but as I caught Candice it once again came loose, this happened 2 more times during the last lap!
Coming into the finish we became very excited and anxious to know how we had featured in the mixed division and were delighted to hear that we had actually come home first in our respective category.
It was awesome fun, and we both really enjoyed it. I could not have asked for a better partner to race with and a huge thanks must go out to Candice. The course was awesome, great single track, and a huge amount of organization went into the race. Well done!
Candice Neethling (a fellow team mate) and I had joined together for the mixed relay. The racing started as it became dark, Candice did the first lap, and came in relatively near the front after a great first lap. When she came in she tagged me and I sprinted off into the dark, pushing as hard as I could. Maybe I went a little too hard, my light on my handle bars came loose and I had to stop and put it back on a couple of times. After reattaching it a couple of times, I went really hard at every place I could, and managed to catch and pass some teams ahead of me. Coming back onto the field I caught Lance Kime, going onto the last lap, I had to tag Candice and then we had to do the third lap together.
Candice, myself, lance Kime and Andrew Birkett all left together.
Working together we took turns pulling in the front, but coming into the one sandy section, I lost focus and hit it at full speed, not prepared for what was going to happen, I was spat off and landed hard on the ground.
After landing so hard my light had once again come loose, I told Candice to carry on. I fixed my light but as I caught Candice it once again came loose, this happened 2 more times during the last lap!
Coming into the finish we became very excited and anxious to know how we had featured in the mixed division and were delighted to hear that we had actually come home first in our respective category.
It was awesome fun, and we both really enjoyed it. I could not have asked for a better partner to race with and a huge thanks must go out to Candice. The course was awesome, great single track, and a huge amount of organization went into the race. Well done!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Cumberland Super Classic 19 April 2008
Another overcast and drizzling morning saw us to the Cumberland Super Classic. After hearing many good remarks about the race, I was really looking forward to it. I had never done the longer race and had only participated in the 25km race 2 years earlier.
All the top racers were here, Brandon Stewart, Craig Paul, Pete Smith, Dave Lieman, Roan Exelby, and a few others. The pace was going to be really hard and tough.
Off the start the pace was fairly chilled and we all sat in a big bunch. But as soon as we came off the dirt road and into the grass section the racing began and all the top guys went. Myself, Mike Smith and Carl Calverly all settled into a small bunch and soon we managed to catch Jedson Tooms and Pete Smith, and we pushed to catch Travis Walker and Andrew Hill. We maintained this tempo well into the race and I had settled in nicely in 6th place on the road and was riding at a good pace together with Jedson Tooms and Mike Smith.
Further into the race we entered one of the many single tracks, Pete Smith upped the pace and I decided to try and go with him, but tragedy struck when I came into the one sandy corner too hot, losing the front end and smashing my knee into a stump.
I tried to recover as quickly as possible so that I would not loose too much time and Stumbled back onto my bike. I really put down the hammer to catch the group again and had soon reeled Jedson, Carl, and Mike back in (Pete was gone). It was a good thing I managed to close back up again as we continue to work with each other trying to catch Travis Walker and Andrew Hill who were just ahead of us. At about the half way mark, we managed to drop Carl and Mike and myself were really upping the pace through the single track. Just before the big drop off we passed Andrew Hill who had punctured.
Up the big dirt climb we got news we were only 30 or so seconds back on Travis, who at this stage had found himself on his own with Andrew having problems and I set my focus on closing the gap which was at that stage reported to be in the region of 30 seconds. Mike Smith and I managed to break away from Jedson and we were racing Time Trial (TT).
With about 5km to go Mike and I caught the 25km riders and Mike managed to find a gap but I got boxed in and after I managed to get through I was the one on my own as Mike had made his break. I pushed myself to the limit to try catching Mike, and in doing so, I blew with about 3km to go and both Carl and Jedson caught up again.
I got a second wind and I pushed really hard to the finish, but to no avail. I still managed to get a second in age group, and 12th overall.
It was a great race which I found to be quite tough on the body, but I really enjoyed it.
All the top racers were here, Brandon Stewart, Craig Paul, Pete Smith, Dave Lieman, Roan Exelby, and a few others. The pace was going to be really hard and tough.
Off the start the pace was fairly chilled and we all sat in a big bunch. But as soon as we came off the dirt road and into the grass section the racing began and all the top guys went. Myself, Mike Smith and Carl Calverly all settled into a small bunch and soon we managed to catch Jedson Tooms and Pete Smith, and we pushed to catch Travis Walker and Andrew Hill. We maintained this tempo well into the race and I had settled in nicely in 6th place on the road and was riding at a good pace together with Jedson Tooms and Mike Smith.
Further into the race we entered one of the many single tracks, Pete Smith upped the pace and I decided to try and go with him, but tragedy struck when I came into the one sandy corner too hot, losing the front end and smashing my knee into a stump.
I tried to recover as quickly as possible so that I would not loose too much time and Stumbled back onto my bike. I really put down the hammer to catch the group again and had soon reeled Jedson, Carl, and Mike back in (Pete was gone). It was a good thing I managed to close back up again as we continue to work with each other trying to catch Travis Walker and Andrew Hill who were just ahead of us. At about the half way mark, we managed to drop Carl and Mike and myself were really upping the pace through the single track. Just before the big drop off we passed Andrew Hill who had punctured.
Up the big dirt climb we got news we were only 30 or so seconds back on Travis, who at this stage had found himself on his own with Andrew having problems and I set my focus on closing the gap which was at that stage reported to be in the region of 30 seconds. Mike Smith and I managed to break away from Jedson and we were racing Time Trial (TT).
With about 5km to go Mike and I caught the 25km riders and Mike managed to find a gap but I got boxed in and after I managed to get through I was the one on my own as Mike had made his break. I pushed myself to the limit to try catching Mike, and in doing so, I blew with about 3km to go and both Carl and Jedson caught up again.
I got a second wind and I pushed really hard to the finish, but to no avail. I still managed to get a second in age group, and 12th overall.
It was a great race which I found to be quite tough on the body, but I really enjoyed it.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
George XC National 12 April 2008
With my race only starting last- 13:30! I used it to my advantage and relaxed the entire morning. At 11:30 we left the house, and took a slow drive to the venue, which was only a couple of kilometers down the road.
After having been at George for the past week, I was fairly confident; I was loving the course and was hoping I was in as good form as I was last year.
Half an hour before the race I left and went to warm up, trying to get in the zone. 10 minutes before the race we were called up to the start. I was seeded 8th, which was the second row, off the start there was a mad dash (about 500m) to the first single track. My start was terrible after I had got boxed in, and now had to fight my way through the field. I entered into the single track 9th place but had worked myself up to 7th after the first kilometer..
Over the course of the first lap I managed to work my way up to 2nd and came through the feed zone feeling really strong. I settled into third place for the second and was constantly trying to close the gap on 2nd place, but half way through my third lap the current S.A. champ Arnot Du Toit caught and passed me . I tried to hang on as long as possible, but he was just too strong.
On the fourth lap, I pushed really hard, putting in a big effort, but I could not close the gap and finished 4th, my best national result for the year.
I was really happy with the result .The course was really awesome, great single track, with really technical root gardens, and fast flowing sections and some really cool drop offs. Great organization went into the race, well done to the organizers.
After having been at George for the past week, I was fairly confident; I was loving the course and was hoping I was in as good form as I was last year.
Half an hour before the race I left and went to warm up, trying to get in the zone. 10 minutes before the race we were called up to the start. I was seeded 8th, which was the second row, off the start there was a mad dash (about 500m) to the first single track. My start was terrible after I had got boxed in, and now had to fight my way through the field. I entered into the single track 9th place but had worked myself up to 7th after the first kilometer..
Over the course of the first lap I managed to work my way up to 2nd and came through the feed zone feeling really strong. I settled into third place for the second and was constantly trying to close the gap on 2nd place, but half way through my third lap the current S.A. champ Arnot Du Toit caught and passed me . I tried to hang on as long as possible, but he was just too strong.
On the fourth lap, I pushed really hard, putting in a big effort, but I could not close the gap and finished 4th, my best national result for the year.
I was really happy with the result .The course was really awesome, great single track, with really technical root gardens, and fast flowing sections and some really cool drop offs. Great organization went into the race, well done to the organizers.
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