Category: Totalsports Challenge
Racing for Burry Stander
TotalSports Challenge Terra Firma: 50km road cycle (Caveman), 14km road run (Princess Hotstuff), 25km MTB (Caveman), 9km beach run (Princess Hotstuff)
My coach Ian Rodger wanted me to ride steady TT pace “so we can look at the watts and see how we measure up with last year (at this race)” I said, actually Liezel and I are doing this race for Burry, and instead of towing everyone from Gordons Bay to Kleinmond, I want to arrive at the hand over alone- like Burry did 3 years ago. Ian thought about it, and said, “ok, you haven’t trained for that kind of riding, but hit them hard on the rolling technical section through Gordons Bay, see who’s with you, and then attack them when you’re into the wind” He finished off with: “Kick them in the nuts till no one is left standing”
Still raw from Burry’s funeral, I rode to Gordons Bay filled with emotion. Angry Battery 9 soundtrack seemingly the only suitable companion.
Althoug it was wind-still in Stellenbosch, it was howling in Gordons Bay, so I went with a training wheel in front. I rode my UCI legal SHIV TT bike, and warmed like I would for a big TT race, and got to the start simmering and ready to kick crotches. But on the start line the mood was very somber- Songo Fipaza and a number of the Songo kids were at the start line in memory of Burry. Songo made a stirring speech celebrating Burry’s extraordinary life before Songo and the kids slowly led us through the neutral zone of Gordons Bay. Obviously I had to go to plan B and attack the guys on the open road to Rooiels- a much harder task.
2012 Totalsports Challenge- Team Stoltz wins Mixed Terra Firma
Liezel played international Netball (Americans. click here for Netball video) for the past 15 years, and just recently took the endurance sport plunge. She took to the endurance thing like a springbok to the Karoo, and here, doing intervals on the Stellenbosch fields, I had to ride my bike just to keep up…
The Totalsports Challenge is a great season opener- its a fun event, the course is really scenic, all kinds of endurance junkies pitch up and we decided to do the Terra Firma event as a Mixed Team: I do the 45km draft legal TT (road bike) leg, Liezel does the 13km road run leg, I do the 30km MTB leg, and she does the 9km beach run…
The 45km bike. I used it as a trial run for the upcoming SA TT Champs. So I didnt bother with drafting or trying to attack anyone. I’m trying to make friends with my UCI legal (no nose cone) Specialized SHIV TT. However, the hard part is staying friends with the “Flat bike” as I call it for an hour of pain. The Time Trail is called “the race of truth”, and after 40 minutes or so, no amount of speed (or big watts) makes up for the pain surging through your body…
A gaggle of riders enjoyed my draft for 43 of the 45km, (the yellow line offers the least rolling resistance)
But whenever the TV got near, and on the 2 big climbs (Rooiels in picture) they attacked.
We finished in a pack of about 7, Liezel (in pink) waited at the change-over and burned some rubber on the way out. 13km is a long race for a first time runner, but she paced it well, and put some time into our competition.
After that hard TT leg (1.02 for 45km) my legs were a little dented, but gravity provided some relief and time for play. (And to pick off a few more riders) Thanks to Fanus at Oakpics.com for the great pics
Liezel blitzed the 9km beach run bare foot and brought it home 4th in the open Terra Firma and 1st in the Mixed teams. It was so much fun being able to race with my wife and being able to watch and support each other along the way. We do some of our training together which is great, but we are both born competitors and nothing makes our adrenaline pump like a gun at the start!
Talking to the TV hairy squirrel (microphone) in top right…
Hobnobbing with fast athletes Kevin Evans and Richard Murray instead of warming up. Notice GoPro camera- when I get some time (and skill) I’ll put a video up.
After a long day, our Team Kelfords Ford Fiesta with Thule racks, and securely locked Specialized Shiv TT and Specialized Sworks Epic 29er takes a romantic overnight break at Hangklip, Pringle bay.
After an action packed, fun day, Team Stoltz takes a romantic break at Hangklip, Pringle Bay…
