This was my first K2C as I opted in previous years to do the Oudtshoorn marathon that usually was one week before the K2C. I have trained on this route in 2008 when I was training for the 209 Epic, $$$so it was not entirely new to me. The Wapad was a breeze from start group 2. On my previous visit it was much more overgrown and technical, or maybe my skills improved since 2008 and my Zula just gobbled up the rocks and ruts better than what my Merida D3000 FLX did.

I lost about 10 minutes fixing my rear tyre and lost my usual riding partner in the process, so once fixed I suppressed the urge to go fullgas in an attempt to catch my partner. It was after all simply a long ride as part of my Cape Pioneer Trek training, rather than a full out race for me. The climbing as you enter the Prins Alfred Pass is deceiving as you tend to forget about the 200m of climbing in 5kms that takes you to the big descend into De Vlugt. Being built like a stone paid dividends here and I used the descent to good effect. A rider passing me overcooked a turn and slid into the rock wall barrier. I ended up going over the rider’s rear wheel and heard the “clang” of spokes popping. As I turned the next corner I slowed down to assess any damage to my bike and to turn around to assist the rider that went down, but saw the rider was on his feet with other riders assisting him, so I was off again. Luckily my bike came off unscathed. If only my Go Pro was running at the time I could have upped my view count on YouTube. People love this type of thing.

36km into the race we were at De Vlugt and the big climbing started. The heat was also building and it seemed that riders were passing me at a steady rate, but I kept going at my own pace and very soon we were at what must have been the 3^rd or 4^th water point. After a splash and dash I was onto the second big climb before you hit Kom-se-pad.

As I approached the water point at the forestry housing compound, an ER vehicle came past me with sirens blaring and lights flashing. The water point at about 55km offered the usual water, coke, energade and fruit, but also had some potatoes, wine gums and most importantly chain lube. The dust was a menace and the squirt guys and girls were my main reason for stopping, followed closely by the lure of a half potato and a few wine gums. The announcer asked us to keep left when we heard the ER car coming back as he was attending to a “code red” case, ie. that this was a very serious case that was potentially life threatening.

The rollers on Kom-se-pad was not nearly as hard as what I recalled from my last visit, so I picked up my tempo and started overhauling the riders that sped past me earlier in the day. The humidity took over from where the heat of the Klein Karoo left us, so I made sure that I was well hydrated and that I was eating regularly. I assisted a few riders who was struggling with cramps (mostly cute female riders by the way) by handing out a supplement that I carry on me for this eventuality.

I enjoyed the descend before the Simola climb and even Simola was not nearly as bad as I recalled. The knowledge that the last 7km home was downhill also helped to get me over the last bump. The vibe at the finish was great, and the cold showers were the perfect tonic to cool me down and rid myself of most of the dust and sweat before making my way back to Cape Town.

I came in at 5:17 with a minor technical (wire pierced my back tyre after the wapad, removed the wire and Stans did the rest with the help of a CO2 canister). I took it relatively easy for most of the ride (ave about 158 and max of about 169).