Stage 6
Distance: 115km
Time: 5h 38min
Quote of the day:
Too shell shocked to remember! Lucky to be able to continue after what has been a very close call!
An eventful day on the world’s toughest mountain bike race! Just when you think you are on top of things and starting to get into the groove and you are invincible things can turn very quickly!
We had just completed the 6km hike-a-bike and enjoying the down hill, maybe a little too much! After a rugged section we hit a smooth steep tar road and let our brakes go! Clocking 80km/h! The tar met the dirt right at the bottom of hill and at the same time it took a sharp right! I was leading the way and just managed to hold it together, I let out a scream, with my adrenalin pumping!
I turned round expecting to see Chris flying up along side! The next thing I saw was Chris sliding down the dirt road on his back with his bike tumbling across the road! The two following teams, who saw the whole incident unfold shouted as they flew past: “It was bad! Very bad!” After seeing him there I instantly noticed the two farmers had a bakkie! It won’t take us long to get him to a proper doctor! When I got to him all Chris was concerned about was his bike! “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m worried about my bike!” The left side didn’t look too good, serious grazes down the leg and his shorts weren’t holding up too strong! His clothing was severely ripped, helmet smashed looked pretty beaten up but all he was concerned about was his bike! True to his claim to fame (Hard man Chris) he was back on his feet in no time! A little shocked but riding none the less! Fortunately the next water stop was 5km away where a medic would be on hand to clean and take a proper look at his injuries!
Thankfully we managed to hobble through the last 25 kms and finished relatively strongly considering the days events!
Moral of the story we are both very lucky still to be in the race and can thank the man up stairs for watching over us! The next couple of days are going to be interesting, tomorrow is a biggie – going to be riding through the beautiful fruit orchards down into Klienmond, forecast says 35 degrees! Pole pole!
Scene of the day: Arriving at the last water station at the same time as the best mountain biker in the world! Christoff Sauzer! Clearly he was taking his time out there today!
Race Village
1000 + riders have to moved (thanks to their bikes), washed, fed and kept happy for 8 days through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country! So far it has been a very well oil machine!
Typical day:
Truck horn sounds, loud enough to wake even the sleepiest riders, at 5am!
No you don’t really want to get up! You are stiff and sore and the temperature outside is very nippy indeed!
Breakfast is served from 5am – 6:30am!
Bacon, Eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, tea, coffee and a display of breads!!
I wish is was hungry at 5am! We really have to force all this good food down!!
Get prepared for day ahead – half asleep – fill water bottles, apply some much needed milking cream (to our behinds!!) check tyre pressures and make sure your bike is really to roll!
Ride begins 7am sharp! We usually enter our group (C) 5min before they close them off! No need to stand around in the cold when you could be wrapped warmly in your sleeping bag!
Ride:
Most riders fly off while we allow our bodies to warm up, which usually takes 30min before its in full swing!
Water stops are positioned throughout the course, usually before all mountain passes.
Each stop is very well organized:
- Plenty of liquid, coke, water and Powerade
- Medic tent
- Shamano technical tent
- Motorex (bike oil) personnel running around cleaning riders chains (key to your bike running smoothly)
- Plenty of energetic supporters screaming and shouting and taking plenty
Distance: 115km
Time: 5h 38min
Quote of the day:
Too shell shocked to remember! Lucky to be able to continue after what has been a very close call!
An eventful day on the world’s toughest mountain bike race! Just when you think you are on top of things and starting to get into the groove and you are invincible things can turn very quickly!
We had just completed the 6km hike-a-bike and enjoying the down hill, maybe a little too much! After a rugged section we hit a smooth steep tar road and let our brakes go! Clocking 80km/h! The tar met the dirt right at the bottom of hill and at the same time it took a sharp right! I was leading the way and just managed to hold it together, I let out a scream, with my adrenalin pumping!
I turned round expecting to see Chris flying up along side! The next thing I saw was Chris sliding down the dirt road on his back with his bike tumbling across the road! The two following teams, who saw the whole incident unfold shouted as they flew past: “It was bad! Very bad!” After seeing him there I instantly noticed the two farmers had a bakkie! It won’t take us long to get him to a proper doctor! When I got to him all Chris was concerned about was his bike! “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m worried about my bike!” The left side didn’t look too good, serious grazes down the leg and his shorts weren’t holding up too strong! His clothing was severely ripped, helmet smashed looked pretty beaten up but all he was concerned about was his bike! True to his claim to fame (Hard man Chris) he was back on his feet in no time! A little shocked but riding none the less! Fortunately the next water stop was 5km away where a medic would be on hand to clean and take a proper look at his injuries!
Thankfully we managed to hobble through the last 25 kms and finished relatively strongly considering the days events!
Moral of the story we are both very lucky still to be in the race and can thank the man up stairs for watching over us! The next couple of days are going to be interesting, tomorrow is a biggie – going to be riding through the beautiful fruit orchards down into Klienmond, forecast says 35 degrees! Pole pole!
Scene of the day: Arriving at the last water station at the same time as the best mountain biker in the world! Christoff Sauzer! Clearly he was taking his time out there today!
Race Village
1000 + riders have to moved (thanks to their bikes), washed, fed and kept happy for 8 days through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country! So far it has been a very well oil machine!
Typical day:
Truck horn sounds, loud enough to wake even the sleepiest riders, at 5am!
No you don’t really want to get up! You are stiff and sore and the temperature outside is very nippy indeed!
Breakfast is served from 5am – 6:30am!
Bacon, Eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, tea, coffee and a display of breads!!
I wish is was hungry at 5am! We really have to force all this good food down!!
Get prepared for day ahead – half asleep – fill water bottles, apply some much needed milking cream (to our behinds!!) check tyre pressures and make sure your bike is really to roll!
Ride begins 7am sharp! We usually enter our group (C) 5min before they close them off! No need to stand around in the cold when you could be wrapped warmly in your sleeping bag!
Ride:
Most riders fly off while we allow our bodies to warm up, which usually takes 30min before its in full swing!
Water stops are positioned throughout the course, usually before all mountain passes.
Each stop is very well organized:
- Plenty of liquid, coke, water and Powerade
- Medic tent
- Shamano technical tent
- Motorex (bike oil) personnel running around cleaning riders chains (key to your bike running smoothly)
- Plenty of energetic supporters screaming and shouting and taking plenty
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