Category: Cape Epic

Singletrack Magazine, the UK based publication with a truly international readership and one of the world’s biggest and most popular mountain biking websites have agreed a deal with the rothar.com team for the Cape Epic. It’s great news and we’re both looking forward to working with the Singletrack team from Todmorden in the build up to, during the race and after the event.

We’ve been asked recently about our fundraising efforts. We’re a standard entry into the Cape Epic raise rather than one of the Charity Entries, but as Tyrrell and I both see completing the event as a big challenge, we thought we’d give set ourselves an added incentive – raising funds for a good cause (much of the information below comes from the CF Trust website).

What is CF?

CF stands for Cystic Fibrosis and is the UK’s most common life-threatening, inherited disease. It affects more than 7,500 babies, children and young adults. Symptoms can include poor weight gain, troublesome coughs, repeated chest infections and salty sweat. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects a number of organs in the body (especially the lungs and pancreas) by clogging them with thick, sticky mucus.

At present there is no cure for CF, but the faulty gene has been identified and doctors and scientists are working to find ways of repairing or replacing it. One of the main objectives of the CF Trust is to fund this work. People with CF are living longer than ever before. Until the 1930s, the life expectancy of a baby with CF was only a few months. Today the average life expectancy for someone with CF is around 31 years.

Where will the money go?

Every year, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is committed to spending at least £5 million. This money funds medical research, clinical support and family care. All clinical and research projects are scrutinised by an international panel of leading doctors and scientists. This ensures that every pound is distributed to areas of most need and potential scientific impact. Learn more…

It’s official – the 2007 Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas will finish at Lourensford Wine Estate for the first time! The final day of the Absa Cape Epic from Kleinmond to Lourensford will feature some challenging new trails that were previously inaccessible. The exciting new finish venue also means that the Cape Times Vigne à Vigne, the 1-day race that coincides with the last day of the Absa Cape Epic, has its entirely own route that will start and finish on Lourensford Wine Estate.

Kind Regards
Kevin Vermaak
Director – Cape Epic

The staff magazine at work has recently carried a little bit of publicity about our efforts. It’s good to get some coverage. Hopefully we’ll get some more sponsorship off the back of the article!

…If we don’t get the food and nutrition right. Tyrrell is on the case. He’s thinking along the lines of more or less our base training i.e. work daily commute and extended weekend training and then following a plan close to that of the Cape Epic training program starting early December.

I think we are going to have to catch a beer over the weekend sometime soon and work out more or less the winter program that we could send to the professional coaching guys for advice. Oh and we need to get Tyrrell sorted with a winter bike so we can get those pedals grinding again.

The route details, stage towns and our brand new finish location for 2007 will be revealed at our first-ever annual Charity Gala on Tuesday 24th October in Johannesburg. One of the prizes to be auctioned on the night will be a training ride for you and your friends with Christoph Sauser (multiple 2006 World Cup winner, twice overall World Cup champion and 2006 Absa Cape Epic winner) with a 2 night spa getaway at Spier hotel. We’ll also be introducing and offering a prize in our new all-girls ‘boot-camp’ programme for wives and girlfriends at next year’s Epic (details of this programme will be available on our website after the Charity Gala). All the guests will get a short DVD of next year’s route taken from our experiences while riding the trial ride of the route in September. We look forward to seeing all of you that have bought tickets at the Gala next week.

Kind Regards
Kevin Vermaak
Director – Cape Epic

Hi there. Tyrrell here. The new route has been announced. As I thought they have gone inland via Oudshoorn where I did my Army training. Looks very interesting & think it is going to be very hot during the days and very cold at nights, but it’s piss compared to good old UK, lol.

Have a look http://capeepic.igroup.co.za/info/routeinfo.php

I will go through it better later and follow the course better.

Tyrrell posting some thoughts. I was looking through the Cape Epic sites to get more info on the race and maybe some training tips. I stumbled over this one which looked pretty good.

http://www.live2ride.co.za/teamsubaru/

This message came in last month and I forgot to post it!

From: Rick McKee
Subject: Cape Epic

Hey Cris,

Just found your web site while cruising around. I did the Transalp Challenge this year, which was AWESOME, so I am sure you are in for a treat on the Epic.

Gimme a shout back and lemme know if you can set up a link to my site, and I will do the same for you, yeah?

Cheers,

Rick

Tango & Cash, Transalp Challenge 2006
http://www.transalpchallenge2006.blogspot.com/

2007 sees a new challenge for the rothar.com race team. In support of the CF Trust, we’re going to be undertaking the Cape Epic, one of the toughest mountain bike races on the planet and we want your sponsorship. We need corporate sponsorship to help us make the trip a reality in terms of race entry fees and travel costs – if you think you can help please contact us. We also need your help to raise money. You can make a donation by visiting the justgiving website for the team – all donations made here will go directly to the CF Trust.

The Race

The Cape Epic is the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world. The South African Epic, presented by adidas, will kick off for the fourth time on 24 March 2007 in Knysna and lead over 900 mountain bikers from across the globe through the magnificent scenery of the Western Cape. Finishers will have to ride more than 900 gruelling kilometres and climb some 16000 vertical metres during their adventurous eight-day journey ending on 31 March 2007 at the Cape Winelands just outside Cape Town.

Cris & Tyrrell in Wales. Photo: Paul Childerhouse

The rothar.com race team

In one shape or form for the last 5 years the rothar.com race team has been participating in endurance mountain bike events. The pair of riders teaming up for the Cape Epic are work colleagues from The University of Manchester’s STARS IT Services department, British rider Cris Bloomfield and South African Tyrrell Basson. Rider profiles can be obtained by visiting the links below:

Rider Profile: Cris Bloomfield
Rider Profile: Tyrrell Basson

In May 2006 as a build up to events over the summer season Tyrrell and Cris rode the Trans-Cambrian Trail which is a three day cross-country epic across upland Wales and is a test of stamina, commitment and climbing ability. In July 2006 as part of a mixed team of five they participated in the Bontrager Twentyfour12 24hr Mountain Bike Race. The team entered with one goal: To finish the first ever Twentyfour12 event as a mixed fun team. The result: 2nd place in class (finishing just minutes behind the 1st place team) with 30 laps. If they had entered in the open mixed team category they would have placed in the top three too.

Tyrrell’s pride in his South African roots led to him suggesting an entry in the Cape Epic and both Cris and Tyrrell are delighted to have been offered an opportunity to race in this magical and untamed African point to point race. As a team they recognise the commitment that this race requires and both riders are currently putting together a good training schedule based on the experiences of other riders.

On the Trans Cambrian Trail. Photo: Paul Childerhouse