ROTARY CLUB OF MORNINGSIDE

The final stage took riders from Oak Valley up the old Viljoen's pass, across the Nuweberg through the Hottentot Holland Nature Reserve to the beautiful Lourensford wine estate in Somerset West.

Although this stage was the shortest is would be as tough as the other stages. As the riders set off in a mass start, all of them were focusing on the remaining 65km and 1640m of climbing that would conclude this epic event.

Stage 7 of the Epic would prove to be the most challenging.  A distance of 99km and 2190m of climbing with a 7km stretch of sand known as 'the Beeatch'.  All of this made that much harder as a result of rain and gale force winds.

Our first team, team Rotary Razor Blades, completed the stage in 6 hours and seemed to have had an enjoyable ride compared to the rest of the field.

The other teams struggled with tired legs, the cold and sore bottoms. The local supermarkets barely managed to keep up with the demand for Fissan Baby Cream.

Stage 6 was a testing rider from Worcester to Oak Valley a distance 120km that included a grueling climb over Groenlandberg, nick named 'the Beast'. This stage was predicted to be the hardest of the event.

The day started with plenty of cloud cover with predictions of a cool day  that would prove to be the advantage  needed that would ensure all teams that started made it to the end well within the cut-off, this despite a gale force  head wind for most of the route.

Stage 5 of the Epic was a 27km time trial.  The format of this stage presented a wonderful opportunity for spectators to see the top riders in action and also appreciate their skills.

The top team completed the course in 1 hour and 5 mins with our Rotary Razor Blades finishing in 1 hour 33 mins. 

The slowest riders got to start first so this was their opportunity to relax and enjoy the village hospitality.

It was also an opportunity for the Rotary Supporters to get to know the riders.

Some of the interesting things we learned:

Stage 4 of the epic started with the teams packing up their belongings as the ABSA village moved from Ceres to Worcester.

This stage although a lot shorter than the previous three was characterized by short climbs as the route followed the foothills of the mountains eventually ending up on the saddle allowing no time for the legs to recover.  The riders were rewarded with a spectacular view of the Breede River Valley.

Stage 3 of the Epic.......a distance of 120km including 1800m of climbing and a 10km finish in loose sand. Dr Evil, the nick name given to the course designer, continues to live up to his name. 

As the riders gathered in the starting chute a somber mood hung over them with news of a young Australian rider having passed away in the early hours of the morning of a suspected heart attack. 

The sun rose over the ABSA Cape Epic village in Ceres at around 6.30am.  The temperature was expected to reach a high of 38DC on what would be another extreme test of human endurance.

This stage was 90km characterized by single track with 1625m of climbing would take riders through farmlands, rocky scrub and forest.  One of the toughest sections of the ride known as 'Dead Man Walking' was waiting for the riders and would prove to be not only be a physical test but also mental.  This stage had a 9 hour cut off.