A very early morning, had us leaving for the 2008 Hill 2 Hill. We arrived the start of the half marathon just after 5:00 a.m. with the race starting at 6:00 a.m. the weather was completely miserable, which I was very happy about. It rained continuously until about 5 minute before the start of our race.
I went hard from the start and managed to get a good gap on the guys. Travis Walker then rode across to me and we began to work together. About 5km in a marshal sent us in the wrong direction and we rode 2km in the wrong direction. I noticed this and shouted it to the bunch I was in. some of them did not hear me and continued riding. I turned around with Travis, and we faught our way back up the field. At the crossing over the Free Way Travis and I were back in the lead and had a very comfortable gap. We continued working together. We approached the first KOM (king of the mountains) and Travis put the hammer down. I later on caught him again, and resumed our “team work.” As we approached the 2nd KOM I broke away and managed to win it. In doing so in doing so I had also managed to get a gap over Travis. But then more disaster was to come. I again came to a marshal who sent me in the wrong direction, down a very long hill, I got to the bottom to notice that there were no more markings. I turned around to see Travis shouting to me. I sprinted up the long climb, and I was now in 2nd position. Bryce Munro, Adriaan Louw, and Jedson Tooms had not caught up yet.
I was furious. And gave chase as hard as I could, I had been preparing for the long flat road into the finish, but as I reached the cane depot, I noticed a monster of a climb to the left. I tried to hold my pace, but slowly began losing my legs. Bryce caught me with about 2km to go, and Adriaan caught me at the 1km to go sign.
The course was phenomenal, it was just a pitty that the marshals were not on form. Well done to Kim Phillips and the team for an awesome course, and the sponsors, Jeep Apparel, and Sunday Tribune for an awesome event.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Lynford Super Classic 14 September 2008
A very early morning saw us to the Lynford School, just outside Ixopo. Having left home at 5:00 a.m. we arrived there, still half asleep. As we stepped out the car, I could already feel the heat and knew that there was going to be an extremely hot.
Again the turn out for this super classic was immense and had a pool of top riders, Brandon Stewart, Pete Smith, Roan Exelby and Jedson Tooms, along with many more. The racing was started with the traditional shooting of a bottle of milk, and from the start the attacks started. As we turned onto the climb Jedson attacked. Brandon charged through the pack and took control of the race shortly after. I hung on as long as possible but had to drop off before the crest of the climb. I was sitting 10th overall and trailing quite badly from the chase bunch.
I gave chase as hard as possible and I eventually worked my way back up to 7th, passing Tim Stark and Daniel Paul. I continued chasing as hard as possible and I managed to eventually drop Daniel. Going into the second loop of about 10km, I was beginning to close down the Gap on Travis Walker. But in turn Daniel’s sheer power seriously closed the gap on me on the open sections. He caught me on the last big climb and dropped me, but I was still closing down on Travis. With about 2km to go I could seem him in the distance. I went hammer to the wall to try close the gap but it was too late in the race. I managed to pull off an 8th overall and 2nd Youth male.
The course was fantastic, as always. Hats off to “Farmer” Glen Haw and the course setters. The venue was awesome and the atmosphere was great, which made for an awesome days racing.
Again the turn out for this super classic was immense and had a pool of top riders, Brandon Stewart, Pete Smith, Roan Exelby and Jedson Tooms, along with many more. The racing was started with the traditional shooting of a bottle of milk, and from the start the attacks started. As we turned onto the climb Jedson attacked. Brandon charged through the pack and took control of the race shortly after. I hung on as long as possible but had to drop off before the crest of the climb. I was sitting 10th overall and trailing quite badly from the chase bunch.
I gave chase as hard as possible and I eventually worked my way back up to 7th, passing Tim Stark and Daniel Paul. I continued chasing as hard as possible and I managed to eventually drop Daniel. Going into the second loop of about 10km, I was beginning to close down the Gap on Travis Walker. But in turn Daniel’s sheer power seriously closed the gap on me on the open sections. He caught me on the last big climb and dropped me, but I was still closing down on Travis. With about 2km to go I could seem him in the distance. I went hammer to the wall to try close the gap but it was too late in the race. I managed to pull off an 8th overall and 2nd Youth male.
The course was fantastic, as always. Hats off to “Farmer” Glen Haw and the course setters. The venue was awesome and the atmosphere was great, which made for an awesome days racing.
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