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Rebecca Rusch Absa Cape Epic Diary, 2009, stage 3

By Rebecca Rusch
Published: Mar. 24, 2009
Rusch Diary: The start line for stage 3
Rusch Diary: The start line for stage 3
Photo: Courtesy Rebecca Rusch

Editor's Note: Rebecca Rusch is competing in South Africa's Absa Cape Epic stage race on a Mixed team with fellow American Matthew Weatherley-White. Rusch, a two-time 24-hour mountain biking world champion, is sharing her daily diaries with VeloNews readers.

Absa Cape Epic, Stage 3

Although relatively short at only 73k, stage 3 packed a wallop. Just shy of halfway, we encountered a 2000-foot climb, the vast majority of which was too steep, loose and rocky to ride. The summit ridge offered astonishing views of the incredible hill country known as The Overberg (over the mountains). Although this climb was the crux of the day, it was by no means the only challenge.

After a howling fast start straight up a 1000 foot-plus loose double-track, followed by several kilometers of loose, challenging, off-camber vineyard service roads, we found our adventure racing backgrounds serving us well as we marched up a steep trail that would take us to the summit of the Boskloof, the tallest mountain in the region. With our bikes on our shoulders, we steadily worked our way through the field on the long hike and eventually saw the third and fourth place mixed teams in the overall standings. Knowing that this was our best shot at moving into the top four in the overall standings, we pushed relentlessly, seeking seconds wherever we could find them.

Rusch Diary: Sand surfing.
Rusch Diary: Sand surfing.
Photo: Gary Perkin /SPORTZPICS

The picturesque village of Greyton, sitting snugly against the mountains, was our destination, and after the insanely fast descent (max speed 35mph), we joined up with a pack of ex-roadies who stormed towards the final grinder climbs. Our legs had a hard time shifting from big-ring ripping to granny-gear grinding, but our minds were willing: we crossed the line in fitth, again, solidifying our overall position but failing to budge one step higher.

Rusch Diary: Then the finish line.
Rusch Diary: Then the finish line.
Photo: Courtesy Rebecca Rusch

After the race, we agreed that we couldn’t have gone any faster or raced together any better than we did. No flats, solid tactics, the courage to attack a hard course, no mistakes, good nutrition and hydration … it is a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve left it all on the trail, and that those who beat you were simply stronger on the day.

We also wanted to share our observations on the total professionalism of the team that is supporting us. Benno and Dylan, our mechanics, strip our bikes down every night, clean the chains link-by-ink, install fresh rubber every night (and even modify the tread for increased traction) and even use bike shine to make sure our rides are fully pimped at the line. And Claire and Natasha, our soigneurs, wake us with coffee, wash our clothes every day, massage the day’s punishment from our legs and generally make sure that we are presentable when we go to the line.

And, in terms of psyche, it’s never a bad thing to be sharing a designated mobile home slot with the team that has won every single stage of the race so far … although the groupies and journalists are starting to get a bit tedious!

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