April 4, 2008 — Today we started the second to last stage of this year’s Cape Epic – it was a ‘s hort one’ at 93km. At this point in the race nothing is short, or for that matter, easy. We’ve been racing with the two leading mixed teams the entire race and can see how tired they are from battling with each other hard every day since the start. When you see how hard the other teams are racing you feel both respect for them and a bit sorry at the same time.

At this point having to push hard is not possible any longer. We’re just racing on instinct and a few fumes. Yesterday we had a really great stage with some good power in our legs and did not take it easy. But I think we paid a bit today for yesterday’s efforts. We were up the first two climbs of the day with the leading two mixed teams and then on the third long climb it was just us with the mixed leaders. We knew the long downhill would be in a forest and it was promised to be a fun one – and it was. It was really the best downhill section of the whole race, and long too.

But after almost 40 hours of hard riding we are tired and the skills are not so sharp anymore. My teammate Pia only started mountain biking three years ago and she’s actually very fast on any non-extreme downhills. But today she just felt so tired that this one was not that much fun for her. I could see this from the start and just let her lead at the pace that was comfortable and I followed. After almost 17 years of riding mtn bikes I’m at the point where even at my limits of fatigue I can descend fine. But this comes only after years and years of riding. So we played safe at the end of the stage – but again we were pushed hard just by the terrain itself.

Up and down numerous very steep hills and through vineyards we came across the line today both feeling totally empty. It’s quite mountainous where we are now and the climb that we took away from the sea today lead us to some truly wonderful vistas. Even in race mode we all took time to enjoy them. Nico, the man in the leading mixed pair sprinted off the front (as he has on many other stages) numerous times today, whipped out his camera and snapped some shots of us and the scenery.

Just so you know, we pros race totally serious but still do make sure never to forget that this is a unique experience we are having here in SA and one we try to enjoy and savour the best we can despite our tired bodies and the intensity of the race. And tonight we get to sleep in a bit with a late start tomorrow for the final day of just 61kms.

There’s a lot of climbing still left, but really not much racing. The overall positions are pretty set and we all just hope now for a smooth and safe ride to the finish for ourselves, and of course our many fellow riders. It should be a fun day tomorrow, and we are going to just take it a bit easier on ourselves and enjoy our final day at the Cape Epic.

Canadian MTB cycling legend and Pedal columnist, Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain), is competing at the 9-day 2008 Absa Cape Epic with her team mate, Marathon World Cup winner Pia Sundstedt (Fin), and will be sending us daily reports as conditions allow for an inside look at this amazing race with 1,200 riders from 41 countries.