Masters on a mission: Cape Epic Stage 6


Michael Finch |

Stage 6 has been dubbed as the Queen stage owing to the monumental amount of climbing for the day (102km/2750m).

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I’m not sure if the Queen song “We are the Champions” or “Another one bites the dust” was more appropriate today! It was incredibly tough and one that I’m happy to have in the bank and if I have it my way, I never want to see that mountain range again in my biking days.

Yesterday truly destroyed me and I was hoping on this freezing morning, I would find some of my legs that were stolen from me yesterday. After 5km into the ride, I realised that they were still M.I.A. The amount of climbing that lead us to Groenlandberg seemed like a stage in itself for me but as a 2015 finisher, I knew today was like our Stage 1 and I was still very far off getting to the infamous mountain. I knew that if I was going to get through today, I was going to need my Lord God to get me home. I was going to need every bit of help I could get. I even managed a bit of a giggle to myself as we climbed up Groenlandberg as we had a strong wind from behind that truly assisted us enormously.

It has to be said, descending was almost as tough as the ascending. It was brutal. It tired you out both mentally and physically giving you no chance to recover. This would be from kilometre 24 all the way to 68km. Scattered in between there were two serious technical climbs. The rocky and sandy terrain really started playing with my head and all I could think about were my amazing family waiting for me at the finish line.

Shaun really came into play today. He assisted me wherever he could with either a push or the offer of the pocket. One day I hope he gets repaid with the same assistance should he find himself in that dark hole! Thank you partner.

Finally, getting to the Thandi water point I thought we were home dry. Only 13km to go and I know the switchback climb very well from my W2W events. Needless to say, that was probably only 350 meters of the 13km. The rest was all uphill with switchbacks, massive sharp inclines and enough to knock the stuffing out of you. I was cursing. Hanging on, with only 4km to go we got some of the Oak Valley fast finish with magical berms and flowing trails. How I wish we could have been given a bit more of this to finish off with. I made it to the finish line with Bicycling Editor Mike Finch a bit surprised to see me finish so far back in the field and giving me a few sarcastic chirps.
ONE MORE DAY TO GO!

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