I won’t be mentioning the VMO thing in this blog. Er, oops.

The thing that may not be mentioned.

And so the first stage of the race is in the bag. It took quite a bit of effort though, to overpower it and stuff in into the bag. It turned out we brought the wrong bag. Apart from my issues, Hilana had probably her worst day on the bike. She says in, like, ever.

The first two hours (55km) were great – mostly flat and easy riding courtesy of the pro’s who were really chilled before the climbing and the racing started. It was about then that the Hilana’s wheels came off. There was even a hill where, horror of horrors, she actually had to get off and walk. Never mind that everyone was basically walking! Except perhaps for Liana who peddled up a bit and then ran down to push her team mate Hetje. Repeat.

There is nothing small about the Klein Karoo. With the majestic Swartberg to the north and the rolling hills to the coastal plain in the south it is a stunning part of the country. It did strike me as rather odd though that all the jeep tracks that we rode on were built at all. Where were they trying to get to?? And why?? As far as I could tell they just go, kind of around and about.

But from a riding point of view the route was brilliant. Good under rubber and quite safe – no dangerous (or really dangerous) descents.

The Calitzdorp dam is pretty full this year unlike last year. And the vegetation is looking good too. Nice to see after the trouble they have had with water in these parts these past years.

And finally, the finish. We were most relieved to slip under the Bedouin tent to the finish line.

The finish at Calitzdorp

Oh yes – Eric and Ariane. Ariane arrived from Switzerland to race the Pioneer last year. During the race – apparently by the second day according to most accounts – she had hooked up with Eric Kleinhans and they were married a few months later! They are back to defend there honor this year And did so quite well today, taking first place in the mixed and 9th (yes ninth) overall! Kevin and David took the line in 4h12m.

Here’s their story in Ariane’s words:

“Actually it happened by pure chance. I had lost my water bottle during one of the stages and I was becoming very thirsty,” is how Ariane explained the chance meeting that led to their marriage shortly after the Cape Epic.

“That was when everything in the romance department started. I went to visit him in Stellenbosch and we just decided that we were meant for each other.”