Stage 6: Team Trippz Epic down to one
Below is the story of Jeroen's day out on the Stellenbosch trails. No longer a teammate on the bike, I just assumed the role of ghostwriter.
I slept really well, thanks to the wonderful bed at Darrel and Christa's. After starting Cape Epic with a few rougher nights, waking up actually feeling rested and strong is such a great start.
Overnight I had a new derailleur mounted by the mechanics that have been servicing our bike for the entire week. It was nice to have my 12 gears back, instead of just #7.
I rolled out alongside two Individual Finishers — riders whose partners had dropped out of the race and who are now completing the stages solo. One of them couldn't hold the pace and dropped back early. The other stayed with me for a long time, which at least gave me the feeling I wasn't riding rolo.
By the first climb I'd worked my way up into batch H — we started in batch I, so catching the group ahead is always the goal early on. I pushed through them, picking riders off one by one. I nearly had everyone when the climb narrowed into singletrack near the top and the passing windows closed. Close, but not quite.
The descent that followed was another story. I'll be straight with you: downhills haven't been where I've shone this week. But then came what I can only describe as the best descent I have ever ridden. Switchbend, jump, switchbend, jump — completely in the flow, not thinking, just riding. I don't know the name of the trail exactly, but this is truly the best trail riding I've done in my life, and I've seen quite a bit!
I skipped the first waterpoint — the climb ahead was gentler and I had enough — and I used the extra time to actually race. Not manage the effort, not tick off kilometers, but go for it. Hunt riders down, pass them, keep moving. For a stretch there it felt genuinely competitive in a way that doesn't happen every day out here. I wanted every second of it.
Five climbs, five descents, and the whole thing was just fantastic. The kind of day that reminds you why you signed up for this.
Just before the crossing into Boschendal I passed by Ingmar, who had lined up on the side of the road to cheer me on. It is sad that I wasn't riding with him anymore, but I was great to see him!
Then Boschendal — and here's something we only pieced together today. A week ago, Ingmar and I rode the Boschendal trails during our pre-race preparation. They had Cape Epic route markers on them, but somehow we assumed it was an old course from a previous edition. No idea why didn't think of the option that it could actually be for this year's event (which is much more logical, isn't it?) So indeed it was for this year's route. So today, when I hit that long climb and those trails, I'd actually ridden them before without realising it. On the climb, where I had to bail out a week ago when arriving at the top, I passed a lot of riders and found a great rhythm. What a difference with one week back! On the trails themselves, I mostly just enjoyed them. They are genuinely beautiful — the kind of terrain where you stop calculating and just ride.
Two big climbs later and the tank was getting low. Second to last day, though, so there was really only one answer: keep pushing. A few more short descents — well built, proper fun — and then the final run down toward Stellenbosch. It started getting quite warm, but since it wasn't far anymore, it was manageable.
Over the line, high five from Ingmar at the finish. And then: kaputt. Genuinely cooked, in the best possible way. A real race day. Exactly what you come to the Cape Epic for.
Back at Darrel and Christa's, where we just enjoyed a lovely late lunch and now I going for a nap.
One more day to Chase!
