Sus the Cradle Mountain Trophy Stats:
Website: www.mountain-trophy.co.za
Distances: Stage 1: 75km & Stage 2: 45km
Rider: Martin Vos
The weekend of the 12th and 13th of April 2014 was the weekend of the Cradle Mountain Trophy, held at Moropeng in the Cradle of Human Kind. Riders could choose to ride the two day race or either day of the 75km (day 1) or 45km (day 2) options. The 75km day 1 was also a qualifier for the Rainbow Challenge that is to be held later this year in Pietermaritzburg (A world championship for amateur vet’s).
To have a race so close to home is always nice and the area in the Cradle and at Maropeng is just beautiful. The race is not called the Cradle Mountain Trophy for nothing. There are a lot of climbs and lots of fast rocky descents.
Day 1
The trails and Jeep track was fast and flowing except for two sections, a river crossing at about 30km in and a farm fence that you had to jump through at about the 40km mark.
There was a problem with the seeding system and as a result there was a massive group start. The problem was that there were just shy of 1 000 entrants for day 1 and in theory the batching should have sorted itself out by the time the riders entered this first bit of farm road. The thing was the first 8 or 9 km was flat or downhill so everybody raced this section of road and thus did nothing for the batching. The problems started at the very first rocky descent, all the riders struggling with this were soon walking this section, which in my opinion could have been ridden without too much of a headache. This held up the field at least 20 minutes. Then the river crossing came… riders where cueing for between 30 to 50 minutes just to cross the river as a portage was required.
Once past this river crossing the race started flowing and except for one or two sections where slower riders where walking up ascents and sometimes causing guys like me, attempting to ride up to have to stop, climb-off and push too. All part of the sport really – no reason to get aggravated.
In short I had a horrible day. I was aiming to complete the 75km in 4 hours and 40 minutes or so, but ended up taking 6 hours and 31 minutes. Forgetting my water bottles at home with my race fuel in them was probably my biggest mistake and as a result I almost “Bonked” at 60km. Luckily my new favourite people at Mount Grace in Magaliesburg put the day’s fourth water-point at more or less at the spot I ran out of energy and I managed to push through to the finish.
Day 2
Day 2 once again started at Maropeng and I was disappointed to learn day 2’s batching was based on the finish times of day 1. Disappointed, I accepted my fate and lined up in Batch D, because of my poor showing on day 1. We then heard that it will once again be group start and I almost lost all hope. I was aiming for 2 hour and 30minutes and that thought blew out the window right then and there. I pulled myself together and decided that I knew the day 2 route more or less, as the start is similar to day 3 of the Bridgestone Route 66 Challenge. I was going to give it gas.
As the race started I almost immediately started pushing hard and over took about two thirds of the race field within the first two kilometres or so. As I expected the early kilometres were the same as Route 66, day 3, but from about 20km to 35km was a bit different. Day 2 consisted of district roads, Jeep track and some single track no really big technical sections, but there were one or two small surprises to keep you awake.
During a fast descent, at about 36km, I lost my Bryton Rider 20 but I only realised it was gone when I came up the other end of the river crossing. It was too late to stop and go look for it. The last section home to the finish was once again similar to day 1 I rode conservatively until the last 3km. I realised that my 2:30 time limit was in reach, so I started pushing myself very hard to make the last climb and then sprint to the finish. When I got to within view of the finish line I saw my wife and kids and I could hear them cheering me on. I’m not sure where my legs got that last bit of power from, but I managed to make my planned time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, cheering from those who support you and love you the most always is the best motivation to go harder and faster for next time!
In closing the Cradle Mountain trophy is a great event and The Leverage Corporation did a great job. I don’t blame them for the seeding problems; it is all part of the sport and just makes you better at the end of the day. The water points were well manned and the friendly guys and girls were very helpful in filling up your containers and give you some sweets, race fuel or water. The route was well marked and the marshals did a great job of keeping the traffic at bay. The medics had their hands full as there were a couple of spectaculars crashes. (If I had a GoPro I could have showed you at least one on day 2). Overall great event but words to the wise, don’t underestimate Day 1 in 2015…
