What happened at The Cape Epic?
Where to start?! Well everything was going great. Both the lads and girls had a solid day in the prologue and into stage one, where the lads took the overall lead following their stage win and the girls placing sixth with their endurance background still to come we were looking good. Stage two and Burry and Christoph (Team Songo) despite Burry suffering from a “slow puncture” finished second retaining their overall lead and the girls maintaining their position.
The first signs of possible trouble ahead: Burry had a knee niggle following stage two, due to tightening of his IT Band. He needed acupuncture and I managed to find such a person (thank you Full Dynamics), so we were still bright and positive on the evening prior to stage three. The morning of stage three and Burry’s knee was sore. By water point three we got word that Burry was out! He rode slowly into feed three dismounted and that was it. Disappointing for Burry, but what a talent and with a serious future ahead (remember he is only twenty!).
Meanwhile the girls soldier on and Susi unofficially rode stage four easy and back behind the main racing. Stage four spelled more disaster. A medical van pulled up at our camper to enquire if we were team Specialized. I had to go to hospital as one of our girls had suffered a broken shoulder – I did not know who. I arrived at the hospital to find Cristina in trouble. We removed her from the general hospital and a two hour drive later and she was in the capable hands of surgeons in a private clinic. That night she had her operation. Rebecca continued unofficially solo, Ryan and Claire have remained to support her while Susi, Benno Cristina and I are back in Stellenbosch.
We are like one big happy family. We had serious joking on the way back to Stellenbosch, despite our misfortunes, with the mad Italian behind the wheel! The atmosphere could not be better. The team still leave Tuesday, Cristina is recovering & doing well, Rebecca racing strongly and Susi back to serious training.
As far as the Songo project goes, things are very positive. Just as an introduction Christoph rode The Cape Epis Enough money has been raised to build the BMX Track and now everything is in the planning permission stages, which can take a little time. Please stay tuned to www.songo.info to keep up to date with the progress there.
Burry and Christoph during the prologue (courtesy Gary Perkin)
Rebecca and Cristina also in prologue action (courtesy Gary Perkin)
Susi and Burry "taking the bull by the horns" in Stage 1
The winners podium after Stage 1
Sad photo of Burry Standler leaving The Cape Epic with his dad
Some other moments from The Epic:
Benno's run in with the law!
Some of The Epic Team: Songo (whom the charity is called after); Christoph, Ruth (Songo Charity); Everett (Jag Foundation); Kasia (Jag Foundation); Ben (Jag Foundation); Bobby; Elana (Jag Foundation, 6 time world record holder - track & field - plus Olympic Silver Medallist); Ryan and Benno