MTN
Rooiberg Ultra Marathon
This
weekend saw the sixth leg of the National series take place at a new
venue, and what an awesome venue Rooiberg turned out to be. Once
again the Ultra marathon was designed with all aspects in mind,
rocks, thick sand, lung busting climbs, adrenaline pumping descents
and pure nature at its best, brutal where only the strong survive.
This was
my second Ultra marathon race and I again I was excited to see how I
would go, the aim today was to go out and stay in the front as long
as possible and then if I got dropped, I would stay on the hammer and
'go till I blow' .
The race
started with a quick tempo and lots of thick energy sapping sand in
the first 15km thinned out the racing pack relatively quick, a group
of about 12-15 riders reached the base of the KOM climb and
immediately the pace went high and the pressure was on. I lost
contact with the front group of 5 just before the top and had to put
in some fast descending and quick smooth riding through the single
track that followed so I could get back in touch, as I got back two
other riders had managed to rejoin and we were 8 riders. The race was
really on now and the pace was high, Gawie Combrinck was on the gas
and making the race hard to set it up for his team and series leader
Nico Bell.
The
group of us went into a stretch of single track for a few a little
while before we turned onto a jeep track and over the next 10km there
would be some serious climbing to be done, I was in the red and lost
touch after digging deep to try hang on. At this point I just had to
keep pushing, I was in the top 10 and I didn't want to get caught or
lose my top 10 position. The terrain was pure mountain biking
paradise, it was testing and energy sapping at every pedal stroke, if
it wasn't the loose little stones keeping your reflexes in check
while cornering (drifting), it was the steep loose rocky climbs that
took maximum concentration and effort, or the fast open plateaus that
burnt off more energy, or the descents that required all your
concentration reflexes and balls to get down.
I was
still holding onto my 8th place and with 30km to go in the
105km Ultra marathon, the engines (legs) were starting run out of
fuel and fatigue was starting to take effect. On one of the last big
descents I miscalculated a steep section and when a slower rider
(70km entrant) in front of me stopped, I tried to get around him and
down the drop off … AT THE SAME TIME, I ended up going over the
bars and into a tree. That fall hurt and I was now a wounded buck,
but the fight in me was not done yet, I had to just keep going, “
You lying in 8th and you cant give up now, just keep the
pedals turning”, I kept telling myself even though my legs were
screaming and I was I pain from the crash.
I got to
the 10km to go board and I over the edge already, the last 10km was
gonna be a fight in my mind with my body that didn't want to carry
on. Fighting myself 1Km at a time, but it was slow and I was looking
back hoping no one was coming. 1Km to go, I was almost at the finish.
One last look back and my fear was realised, there was another rider
closing FAST, I jumped out the saddle and tried to hold him off to
the finish but there was nothing left. I had pushed really hard early
on and I had paid the price. In the end I had to settle for 9th
overall.
I had
made the race hard for myself to see how far I could push, 9th
in only my second ultra marathon this year. Not bad, training and
planning is going well, if I keep this up a podium is on the horizon.
But first some rest and recovery before the prep for the second half
of the season starts.
Thank
you to @ghostbikessa for an awesome racing machine and racing kit,
its an honour to have your support and belief in me. To
@clubbrytonusn, @ballasticbike and @USNSA, your support is much
appreciated. Lastly to my father (Andre) and my brother (Neil) thank
you for taking time to come and support me. And ,my wife to be Lanie,
thank you for allowing me to pursue what I love doing, you are
blessing and an amazing woman!
From me @met_uys aka Henry Iceman Uys, keep the rubber side down and your eyes on the prize.
Photos By Zoon Cronje : www.zcmc.co.za
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