100 miles on a mountain bike

The AMArider 100 miler mountain bike race was a race that I had been thinking about for quite a long time. Unlike a local PPA race it is one of those races that only happens once a year and thus one that I would like to do well in!

So much can happen in a race this long and you can never really plan out the entire race. You can have a strategy, however, due to the long day ahead and depending on how the race unfolds this strategy is very likely to change. I thought that for a start I would watch Erik Kleinhans (Mr Price GT) as he is the defending champion of this race therefore I was sure he would have some experience and a good strategy. Secondly, I would eat a lot! Otherwise just sit tight, stay with the rest of my team Blend, communicate with them to see how everyone is doing and what we could do as a team until about 130km. Then see how I'm feeling and try push it as hard as possible from there.

The race started with a few climbs in the beginning. The pace didn't seem to be all that fast, as I made sure that I wasn't pushing myself too hard as there was a long way to go! After one of the climbs I glanced around to see only about 12 riders in the front bunch. Not long after this Jacques Roussouw (Cannondale) put in a hard effort, which got everyone in the group scrambling to catch onto a back wheel and then when another small climb started Jacque and David George (SA findit) rode off the front. Not wanting to push myself too hard I just kept a steady pace. Afterwards Jacque dropped back from David George into our group, which by this time consisted of about 10 riders after a few dropped back after the slight changes in pace earlier on.

We rode through the first water point as it was only about 30 odd kilometers into the race and there was no real need to refuel already. The breakfast stop at about 50km there was once again no real need to stop and refuel, as I had made sure I had enough to get me to the second water point at 80km. Soon after the breakfast stop we headed up a decent climb. This created some gaps among our group of riders. I was feeling strong up this climb and didn't really push myself too hard. On the other side of the climb we rode an easy pace and a few of the riders that got dropped up the climb were able to catch back up again. From here we just kept things steady until the refuelling stop at water point two.

After the second water point the race changed slightly as no one was wanting to do any work up front or push the pace. And some tried a few attacks but none were successful in getting away. At this point in the race I was not going to let anyone else get away. David George was still quite a long way up the road (he had a 4min lead at the second water point).

The race took a dramatic change and it all began at about the 115km mark. A few of the other riders that hung back right near the beginning caught up to our group. Among these riders was Erik Kleinhans (Mr Price GT). As they caught up and without us even realising Erik had gone passed at a rapid pace and was already a couple hundred meters up ahead! A few of the other riders and myself put in some big efforts to see if we could close the gap. After a while the other riders gave up the chase and I had to then decide whether to continue chasing Erik. It was a little earlier in the race than I would have liked to have to be pushing hard and trying to make a break, however, it was also that time in the race that I had to make that decision. I was feeling alright and continued to chase Erik and managed to catch up to him. Once catching him I looked back and saw that the rest of the group were quite a long way back.

We worked quite hard together and in no time had caught up to David George. David George didn't seem to be strong as he wasn't able to take turns on the front as Erik and I continued to push the pace. It wasn't long until David George had dropped off and as we were going up a climb Erik attacked at about the 130km mark. I was unable to respond and then got the feeling that I had gone to hard to soon and was blown. I kept a steady pace and ate a Gu while Erik was up the road, however, remaining in sight.

We soon approached the third and final water point at about 135km. At this point Erik had a minute and a half lead on me. I was not feeling that broken as I was able to just swap my bottles and grab a banana while still on the go.

Then the real climbing began! Although the climbing wasn't steep it was long and with tied legs it sure did feel steep! I kept a steady pace and noticed that I was catching back up to Erik. Much to my delight I realised that he must be tied and have tried to break away too soon. I caught him up on one of the many rolling hills after the big climb with about 15 to 20km still to go. He was not able to keep up with me and I continued to keep a solid pace.

I looked at my watch and saw that there was about 10km to go and looked behind to see no one in sight. It then hit me that I was out in front of the race, the race that I had been thinking about for a long time and dreaming of winning. I kept pushing towards the finish line but on the flat gravel roads I was really taking strain! Although taking strain with about 5km to go I looked behind and still couldn't see anyone. I thought that I could do it but I could hardly sit on the saddle and I couldn't stand up as my legs were hurting so much! I looked behind again and was horrified to see someone fast approaching! I thought that it was probably Erik catching back up to me but in no time with only 2km to go the the finish line, Jacque Roussouw came flying passed me!

I couldn't go with him, I couldn't pick up my pace any more and I just had to keep on going to the finish and try not get passed by anyone else! At least I managed that and finished a long, gruelling and very exciting race in second place!

Thanks very much to our team Blend support crew in which my number one supporter Jayde was there to have everything I needed within an instant, taking photos and giving the timing splits! Amazing job, well done my girl!