It’s been described as the Tour de France of mountain biking, an eight-day stage race labelled ‘gruelling’ and ‘brutal’.
The ABSA Cape Epic is a true test of physical and mental strength, immeasurable in terms of difficulty and tough enough that simply crossing the finish line is considered a notable achievement.
Up, across and down mountains, its title of ‘the untamed race’ is deserved.
Newcastillians, Chris Lubbe and Adee Bosman this year joined the ranks of national and international finishers of the Cape Epic, despite their status as only amateur cyclists.
Being eligible to compete, the friends and cycling partners said, was a rare opportunity.
Mr Lubbe explained he and Mr Bosman were on a morning cycle run when he proposed the two enter the Epic, taken their performance in previous team events into account.
“Once we had entered, I felt like the dog catching the bus,” Mr Lubbe joked.
From then onwards, Mr Bosman and Mr Lubbe underwent intensive training for six months, cycling for long hours and hard kilometres each week, even to the detriment of family life and staying awake at work.
An average day, the two explained, was early morning rides, eating, sleeping and then preparing for the next day.
“It took self-discipline – after we had entered, we both sat down with our families and said we would see them in six months.”
At the start of their training, Mr Bosman and Mr Lubbe undertook a full base fitness test, basically cycling on a fixed machine until they almost collapsed, and a training regime was planned.
Thus, their goal was simply to complete the Epic comfortably.
Leading up to the Epic, which began on March 15 this year, Mr Lubbe and Mr Bosman competed in a series of ultra-marathons as a precursor to what they could anticipate from their target race.
“The last thing we wanted was to leave the Epic because we were unprepared.”
After their first team ultra-marathon, Mr Bosman and Mr Lubbe said their resolve wavered seriously, not convinced they could endure such hardships for eight consecutive days.
And as they might have predicted, nothing could have fully steeled them for the Epic itself.
Arriving at the start of the Epic to be surrounded by a harrowing army of mountains, Mr Lubbe and Mr Bosman realised their path lay on the other side of almost every peak.
It was here already, their earlier training kicked in.
“Our coach said the training was 20 per cent physical and 80 per cent mental – our minds had to be strong.”
From stages one to four, the team saw this statement at work, a tiring body kept upright by a forceful will.
Despite one mishap along the route, where a bicycle malfunction cost Mr Bosman and Mr Lubbe time in a race governed by hours, minutes and seconds, they pushed through even in driving rains and muddy routes.
“We were worried the whole time, because a buckled rim or damaged frame could cost you the race.”
Mr Lubbe and Mr Bosman said many grown men had been in tears at not being able to finish the race due to technical faults, some of them only hours away from the liberty of being an Epic finisher.
Until they had reached the end of stage five, the team remained uncertain if they could really finish the race.
After stage six, Mr Bosman said emotions ran high as both men reflected on the six months of training, the adrenaline rush of cycling to the finish and wonder at what would follow.
“You actually feel sad it’s over, but glad it was done.”
Both Mr Bosman and Mr Lubbe expressed reservations about taking on the Epic again, particularly owing to the costs of entry and being away from family for long periods.
However, they will utilise the experience to improve times in other races, including the Sani2C later this year.
“Participating in the Epic was life-changing in all aspects, and we thank the Lord we could afford most of the costs ourselves and by physically able to compete.”
Mr Bosman said finishing the Epic had been a learning curve which had taught him how to overcome any physical or mental challenge, overriding any desire to not continue.
“It prepared me. We definitely came out stronger people for it.”
