Photography: Cape Epic Prologue

March 28, 2011

Photography: Cape Epic Prologue

The Cape Epic is one of my cycling highlights of the year, second only to the Tour de France in June / July. Only a cyclist (and one who has attempted to tackle a multi- day, multi-climb mountain bike ride) will appreciate the true grit that these riders are made of. Over the next 7 days, the field (made up of amateurs and Pros alike) will cover a total of 707km. Most days will see each rider completing over 100km of rugged terrain, which will be only one facet of this gruelling challenge. Heat, technical problems, inevitable crashes and failed form all pose a threat to completion of the race.

Words won't adequately sum up what it takes to do the Cape Epic. Where the Argus Cycle Tour is Goliath to some, the Cape Epic is Goliath's pissed off Grandfather who takes shit from no-one and spits chewing-tobacco in the face of the weak. Completing the Argus gives a cyclist goals for the next year. Completing the Cape Epic is life-changing.

While I will be Cape Epic - obsessed this week, and suffer a harsh strain of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) while sitting at my desk, I can still feed off the palpable excitement and nervous energy that seeped through the Tokai forest yesterday during the Prologue. A 27km loop through the forest separated the men from the boys, allowing the organisers to seed the groups correctly for the start of Stage One in Tulbach this morning.

The Ironman and I managed to find an empty tree-stump to perch on while waiting in anticipation (along with the rest of the rapidly growing crowd) for the top-dogs to pump their way up this section of single-track. I hope that I managed to capture some of the dirt and grit that was tangible on this climb.

These men are animals and should be caged.