I have been very busy since the Argus. First there were 2 prize givings the week following the race, first age group for the Argus on Monday and then for the overall for the league on Thursday. At the same time iRideAfrica had tours 9 out of 10 days starting on the Monday, so I was guiding almost everyday! It was hard work but lots of fun! We are very lucky to always have very nice customers, it almost makes me feel like I am also on a holiday:-)

Then it was the Cape Epic, the worlds biggest MTB stage race and my friend Esther Suss from Switzerland won the ladies together with Sally Bigham. Craig massaged them everyday so he saw the race from the inside. I went to watch a few of the stages and I got very motivated to do the race next year. (I started the Epic in 2005 but stopped due to illness). This year was one of the most challenging races through the history of the Epic, the weather played its toll, day 5 started in pouring rain and a lot of riders had to stop due to hypothermia.

On the final day, last Sunday, they held a one day race at the finishing venue, I entered the long one together with 700-800 others! The cold front that had just passed made the mornings very chilly, it was about +12 degrees at the start. It took me a few kilometres to warm up and I tried not to go out too hard, since I had the Tulbagh MTB race in fresh memory… It was a lot of climbing, 1340m over the 55km distance and the downhills were mostly on single tracks, so no time to rest. I am really starting to enjoy the technical sections and the route was really really fun with some amazing views!!

I quickly took the lead among the ladies and I kept it all the way to the finish. I did not see any of the other girls for the whole race, so I got a bit surprised when I saw Marleen 25 meters behind me in the last corner 50meters from the finish line!! Where did she come from?? I managed to stay clear to take my first ever MTB win!

I am thanking Focus SA for this win, my new FSL 3.0 full sus bike makes such a difference!! I really like that bike! I have only done mountainbiking the last 2 weeks, it has been lots of fun, especially since we live close to MTB heaven :-)

Age group prize giving after Argus, first in 35-39:-)

 League prize giving, Tina was 3rd, I won and Sharon who was 2nd was missing.

 My new Focus MTB!

 I really starting to like the single tracks:-)

2 of my favorite guests, Nancy and Rob from Holland 

Our returning norwegian guests, they really like the roads around Stellenbosch!

This was how they had to go to dinner tho....;)

Before the start on Sunday

Prize giving on Sunday

Esther and Sally winning the Epic