Cycling

A unique race thrills riders at sani2c nonstop

The Brink Racing Team of David Low and Dean Wortmann gained the KAP sani2c nonstop race in 13 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds.

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They crossed the end line lower than a minute forward of Team FRIB who had led the race up till a navigation error in the previous couple of kilometres. Team FRIB was made up of Steven Holm, Jarrad van Zuydam, Rick Diesel and Darryl Irvine, and completed in 13:26:07. 

Starting at 02:00 on Saturday, 4 June, the KAP sani2c nonstop mountain bike endurance occasion lined simply over 250km on a lot of the KAP sani2c route from Underberg to Scottburgh, all inside a 24-hour cut-off interval. 

Riding into the Umkomaas Valley at dawn was a spotlight for many riders. Photo: Anthony Grote

Brink Racing Team’s David Low says they have been a bit shocked to win the race in the long run.

“It was a little bit of a dash end with the main group at the top. From earlier than the drop into the Umkomaas Valley we have been jostling with them however then they dropped us so we saved our personal tempo. We noticed them at every of the checkpoints heading off however we have been each so drained. It was in all probability the toughest factor I’ve accomplished on a bicycle.

“The greatest was dropping into the Umko and watching the dawn. We often begin the Umko when the solar is already up a bit however this, seeing the solar peeping by the mountain, was completely mindblowing. It’s so quiet, you’ll be able to hear the river at the underside thundering and the birds chirping. They don’t name it the mighty Umko for nothing, it was gorgeous dropping in there.”.

The strongest group of the race was Team FRIB. They led for many of the race, however two kilometres from the end they made a navigation error and adopted a flag that was apparently from a path race within the space.

Rick Diesel stated: “We had educated actually exhausting and have been hoping to do nicely and we rode constantly, so we thought we had it within the bag, after which we made that error. That was very disappointing, but it surely was a very good journey and an awesome race. We had a very good group and gelled nicely collectively. 

“Three of us had accomplished sani2c earlier than and we’ve all accomplished Joburg2c so we knew the realm and the route fairly nicely. But I’ve by no means accomplished something like this. I’ve accomplished Transbaviaans and different 100 miler races however nothing fairly as powerful as this, with the climbing and the only observe. The single observe makes it actually exhausting, whenever you’re 10 hours in and also you hit a technical part, and there was method, far more climbing than in different endurance occasions. Some of that climbing, although the final stage is shorter, comes at the top. 

“It was a great experience. I think starting in the dark adds depth to it. Normally where you’d be  looking around and counting down the kms, you’re just in the dark and focused on that. To hit the Umko at sunrise was just magical. I don’t think many people get to do that in their lives – we were the first team down the Umko so to have a free run was just incredible.”

About their group dynamic, Diesel stated: “We knew that everyone can be in a darkish place at completely different instances, and we simply stated everybody should talk early should you’re not feeling nice. There have been factors the place I used to be getting pushed up climbs, however then later, I felt good so then was pushing the others. The combine labored rather well and we nonetheless had fun and a few jokes alongside the best way.”

Each group made up of 2-4 riders and a help driver, needed to take a selfie at the varied checkpoints and ship it by to the race organisers. Photo: Anthony Grote

Diesel’s spouse Fran and her buddy Adele Lourens performed the help driver position.

She stated: “There have been so many factors, 15 together with the end. The drive distances have been assorted, they have been roughly 10-20km every time, so we might drive perhaps half an hour. And the fellows can be using about 15-20km, however to get to that time limit to get every thing prepared was a problem. Then as soon as they have been by we needed to pack every thing up and get to the subsequent level – there was no relaxation and we barely ate, till we have been ravenous. It was fairly difficult, however really a great deal of enjoyable. 

Regarding the navigation, Fran Diesel stated: “We used the printed book they gave us at registration which worked well. Adele did the navigation and we followed it to the detail and it took us to exactly where we needed to be. Some of the routes off the main road you just had to trust the directions and then we’d take some random dirt road – but then in the middle of a field there would be the flag. It’s exhausting, definitely, but you get to go places you normally never go to – it’s actually such a privilege.” 

Good headlamps have been a necessary instrument for the primary 4 hours of the race. Photo: Anthony Grote

Team Full GAS, made up of Graham Parker and Stephen Prowse, have been the third group in, in a time of 13:50:02.

Not far behind them have been two groups that rode collectively, The Bombay Bicycle Club group of Owen Gandar, Michael Jamieson and Lance Kime (13:51:14) and Team sani2c of Andrew Houston, Bianca Haw and Damon Duncan Stamp (13:51:23).

Graham Parker stated: “The different two groups reached us at the final checkpoint, so simply after we thought we might take it simple the final 10-15km we have been motivated to maintain pushing. This method we had one thing to journey for which was good really. 

“For me it was the nicest event of any I have done, I really, really enjoyed it and the night riding was phenomenal. You are always riding at 70% because you can’t go 100% over such a long distance, so you get to look around and enjoy it.”

Riding companion Stephen Prowse added, “The tranquillity of simply Graham and I using by the forest at evening was astounding. The supporters have been very a lot a part of the group which was nice and because the race went on the supporters have been collectively and in addition needed to push to get to the subsequent checkpoint, they have been all racing one another. 

“At first I questioned the wisdom of so many checkpoints but I get it now and its part of the challenge. Having the forced stops also means you manage your nutrition better. You would probably say to your seconders see you in two hours, but this way you are forced to eat.”

Lance Kime, of the Bombay Bicycle Club Cycling group who have been fourth, stated their group and the sani2c group have been using as one group however needed to enter two groups as there have been six of them. An skilled Adventure Racer, he commented: “The early morning begin at 02:00 suited me, with a number of hours of darkish and using into the sunshine and searching ahead to the morning, the place I wrestle with the early night and earlier than midnight on journey races.

“We considered ourselves one team and the dynamic was incredible, better than any adventure race I have done. When you’re tired someoone is helping and when you’re strong enough you’re helping out, it was seamless with everyone on the same page. The team aspect was incredible in this race.” 

“The Umko was unimaginable, we have been there simply earlier than dawn so we didn’t have the solar evident into our eyes, we had that golden horizon dropping into the valley. The singletrack at evening was a spotlight – to journey well-groomed single observe, dwelling within the little world of your headlight and you haven’t any concept what’s in your left and proper, it was superb. That final 40km we have been racing due to the opposite group that almost caught us at Vernon Crookes, which ignited our aggressive flare and we hammered it to the end.”

Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve examined riders on a bit of the route that’s often a part of day 3 of the KAP sani2c. Photo: Anthony Grote

Bianca Haw, the primary lady rider throughout the road with Team sani2c, the fifth group general, stated: “The boys told me we were not racing at all, we were going to chill and go slow the first 150km. But they started racing from the start, I would never have done it with them if they had told me they were racing! They just couldn’t help themselves and got so excited, but it was cool,” she laughed.  

“At Jolivet there was a team 15 minutes in front of us (team Full GAS) and there was one team just behind us that caught us at Vernon Crookes, so we took off and were having fun racing. Riding the singletrack in the dark was such fun, as long as you had a good light.”

Founder of the sani2c, ‘Farmer’ Glen Haw, was thrilled with how the race went.

“The final group got here in simply after midnight, and we have now had such good suggestions from riders, who all appear to suppose it’s the toughest factor they’ve accomplished. They have been correctly drained however each the riders and the supporters appear to have cherished it. We included many checkpoints for the help drivers which meant they have been actually a part of the group and in addition needed to preserve going nonstop. 

“I think this is something different that mountain bikers are looking for. We don’t want nonstop to be the hardest for the sake of being the hardest race, but there are so many sections that are great fun but that make it really challenging,” he says. 

SANI2C NONSTOP TEAM RESULTS:

1. Brink Racing Team: David Low and Dean Wortmann – 13:25:10

2. Team FRIB: Steven Holm, Jarrad van Zuydam, Rick Diesel and Darryl Irvine – 13:26:07. 

3. Team Full GAS: Graham Parker and Stephen Prowse – 13:50:02

4. The Bombay Bicycle Club: Owen Gandar, Michael Jamieson and Lance Kime – 13:51:14

5. Team sani2c: Andrew Houston, Bianca Haw and Damon Duncan Stamp – 13:51:23

For extra info go to:  www.sani2c.co.za


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