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| 13.05.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 12.05.2013 // Marathon European Championships Singen, GER
2 laps, 94km, 2100m of climbing
Second place, 18sec off winner Alban Lakata
I was about to win this race, but 100m before the finish I dropped my chain off the chainring... I had a small chain suck so I instinctively back pedaled. With all the mud all over my drive train the chain went off and I had to walk over the finish line but Lakata had passed me already. It was like in a bad dream but I am pretty used to dramas like that. I only have to think of the Olympics back in Athens when I broke my chain on a medal spot.
I did not ride with a chain guide on my rotor 36 Rotor chain ring. To me it seems it works very well in normal conditions but in very sticky mud a chain guide is recommended in racing.
It was a hard race because of the sticky muddy terrain and the strong cold wind. Luckily it only rained for a few minutes. My legs were very cold and they felt like "aliens" to me and not part of my body for more then half of the race. But as soon as the sun came out for the last half hour I felt very good, and I really needed it! Because on a flat asphalt stretch I had the same problem as at the finish and I lost Lakata and Hynek by about 15sec. Sure the two worked together and did not want to see me back any more. I though that was it, since we faced rolling hills and I was fighting against the wind alone. If I pushed too hard in the flat I was too tired for the climbs to gain time back, and and if I pushed too hard on the climbs I had no juice to make up time in the flat. I finally made up my seconds around corners which I took full risk and finally after half hour of chasing (it felt like 2hrs) I was back on the two. The door for the win was wide open for me again. Only a few kms before the finish we could drop Hynek and I knew I had to gain a few seconds into Alban around some tight corners just before the finish. I took them with big but controlled risk and I instantly had the gap which in my eyes I needed for the win, but I definitely did not needed a chain off my chainring right there...
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| 05.05.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 04.05.2013 // BMC Racing Cup Solothurn, SUI
7 laps, but only races 5 of it.
DNF due broken chain
It was actually dry sky wise, but the heavy rain from the day and night before made the course slick and very muddy and some sections.
My tire choice was Fast Track front and Renegade rear in S-Works compound. Like this I had awesome rolling on the asphalt which covered probably 30% of the course, plus great traction on the front in the downhills. Also due the lower knobs the tires got less heavy in the uphills, good cleaning but still enough traction.
I had a good start off the line, but going up a very steep ramp out of the stadium I had to get off my bike behind Milatz, who could not ride it. There I lost many places, but I fought my way back to the front and quite quickly a leading bunch got formed with Absalon, Schurter, Vogel and myself. I always lost time in the running section which was the hardest part for me. I managed to chase those lost seconds back in the downhill or the following flat part. With two laps to go I unfortunately broke my chain on Absalon's wheel. I am not carrying a chain tool in a cross country race and unfortunately it happened very far from the tech zone so I was out. It was really frustrating since I missed all the real final action. At least I had the showers almost for myself and those were pretty clean still, but not so much after I left with more dirty riders pulling in.
Link 1: Swiss TV coverage
Link 1: http://www.srf.ch/player/tv/videoembed?id=e246f8ce-8dbd-4010-b048...
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| 23.04.2013 |
Before Sea Otter Classic the whole mountain bike racing team met
up at Specialized head quarter. It was a great meet & greet plus we joined product presentations, social media training, photo shoots, office tour, lunch ride or race and meeting a lot of bright engineers and marketing peoples.
Btw we also got a brand new truck. Almost formula 1 style!
        
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| 22.04.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 19.04.2013 - 20.04.2013 // Sea Otter Classic Monterey, USA
Friday
Short Track, 20min plus 3 laps,
10th Place, a few seconds behind winner Geoff Kabush
This new course was not cool! Right after the start a hairpin corner then we also had a sand pit, no climbs but many more hairpin corners again. They felt the hardest for me.
After a poor start I never had the chance to move to the front any more. I was limit for the entire time and just hanging on a 12 man leading group which got spread out after every hairpin corner.
Saturday
Cross Country, 1 lap, 30kms
6th Place, 36 seconds behind winner Miguel Martinez
Cross country races are already short these days but today even shorter! What is the point for a European racer to travel so far for a short track and such a short xco race? Sea Otter used to be so big for us and our sponsors. Four great races with an overall jersey. What a value it was to come here and racing hard in front of a good crowd and whole bike industry. Racing in America is already so poor for us pros, so it does not go into my head not making a good show of good racing too. We could race in front of thousands of bike enthusiasts, the bike industry and many sponsors for three days. Everybody benefits and the value of the whole event will raise!
Anyway we had to get on with it for this year, but I really hope it will change to good again for next year.
Miguel was the surprise of the day with his third comeback into mountain biking. He attacked off the front after a few kms and showed off how it has to be done. After mid race we were a group of five chasers going hard but too much stop and go. Only Lukas Flückiger and myself added some spice especially on the climbs, but they are too short and not steep enough for making a difference. At the end on the windy skyline it was tactical and Lukas and I were the losers, but the race was not on for first place any more... Miguel saved a few seconds for his win to the end!
I am now staying a few more days at the Specialized office for 2014 product testing. Some really exciting equipment will be released mid season. Cant wait for it!
   
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| 11.04.2013 |
Thanks so much to Meerendal Wine Estate and its team for hosting such an incredible songo.info charity evening two days after the ABSA Cape-Epic finish!
It felt like to be at a classy wedding, except I had to do the talking together with Dank Nicholl. Next to great food (open fire roasted lamb) Meerendal wine, music and great company we also auctioned off our ABSA Cape-Epic winning bikes, a Maurice Lacroix watch and many more very valuable and useful items. We almost made zar500'000.- on that evening. An amount which makes has a big impact for songo.info and it's great kids!
    
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| 09.04.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 07.04.2013 // BMC Racing Cup Schaan, FL
9 laps, 1.34h racing time
8th place, 1.47min off winner Nino Schurter
I arrived back in Switzerland on Thursday after the ABSA Cape-Epic. My days in South Africa have been busy and I did not even had the time to feel tired of it.
Meerendal wine estate (host of the prologue) organized a incredible songo.info evening (more about it in my next blog in a few days) two days after the Epic, plus I had to get many things sorted out before I left my second home Stellenbosch for more then half a year. Once I was back in Switzerland I caught up with lots of sleep and the weather was just made for it. Cold, snowy and rainy. Unfortunately now I would like to change it for riding friendly conditions again!
It was really really cold at the BMC Cup on Sunday. Luckily it was dry, otherwise I would have been a softy and I would not even taken part of it.
I was really surprised how well I started into the race, since it was more a training race. Although I knew that during the race I will give a 100% for sure. My descending was more then poor though... It was almost embarrassing at some point holding up riders behind me or getting passed. After 4 months riding and racing my full suspension Epic bike in South Africa in completely dry conditions I was just not used to European soil and hard tail any more. Or thats what I hope so and I will improve until Sea Otter Classic, starting in two weeks time.
   
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| 18.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 17.03.2013 - 24.03.2013 // ABSA Cape-Epic, RSA
Since Specialized is doing such good footage of each stage and I am honestly too tired (or lazy?) of writing stories every day, I am only adding the route characteristic and results here.
Check out the link of our videos day by day!
Prologue Meerendal
22km, 700m of climbing, 55.10min
1st place, 1.07min off Multivan Merida
Stage 1, Citrusdal-Citrusdal
96km, 2350m of climbing, 4.34hrs
4th place, 2.43min off Multivan Merida, second GC
Stage 2, Citrusdal-Saronsberg
146km, 2350m of climbing, 5.44hrs
3rd place, 8.44min off Bulls 1, 3rd GC
Stage 3, Saronsberg-Saronsberg
94km, 1950m of climbing, 3.54hrs
2nd place, 46sec off Bulls 1, 2nd GC
Stage 4, Saronsberg-Wellington
120km, 2300m of climbing, 4.33hrs
1st place, 18min ahead of Team Cannondale, 1st GC
Stage 5, Wellington-Wellington
75km, 1800m of climbing, 3.03hrs
1st place, 2.15min ahead of Scott-Swisspower, 1st GC
Stage 6, Wellington-Stellenbosch
99km, 2950m of climbing, 4.30hrs
1st place, 2.38min ahead of Bulls 1, 1st GC
Stage 7, Stellenbosch-Laurensford
54km, 1550m of climbing, 2.27hrs
4th place, 4.59min off Multivan Merida, 2013 WINNERS!
Link 1: http://www.ride.ch/site/index.php/201303247692/specialized-mit-vi...
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| 16.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 13.03.2013 // songo.info Race, Stellenbosch, RSA
30min plus 3 laps (45min total)
First place, a few seconds ahead of Kohei Yamamoto
Songo Champions Race! For the second time we invited all the ABSA Cape-Epic pros for having a exciting 40min race. A world class field lined up, but most importantly it was to inspire the kids in the township, showing them dedication, commitment and excitement. It was simply mind blowing to see so many enthusiastic kids running around and cheering. The kids was so happy and just wanted a handshake or hug afterwards. The most special crowed ever!
Read Oli Pinner Munnik blog about it below. Nobody could write it any better, plus he just safes me 15min of my afternoon!
Yesterday afternoon, Cape Town’s cycling community, and more importantly the residents of Kayamandi, were treated to a racing extravaganza second to none. Oli was on the grid and recounts the electric yet humbling vibe of the unofficial World Champs.
WOW – The Songo.info Unofficial World Champs was one hellava vibe!
Yesterday afternoon Cape Town’s cycling community, and more importantly the residents of Kayamandi, were treated to a racing extravaganza second to none. Hundreds of ecstatic spectators cheered as the world’s fastest mountain bikers battled it out on the part urban, part off-road XCO track which took them through the heart of Kayamandi.
As riders were called onto the grid, I can assure you I wasn’t the only one with goosebumps. In addition to a quality field of local racers, we had the pinners Marco Fontana (Cannondale), Nino Schurter (Scott/Swiss Power) and Yaroslav Kulhavy (Specialzed) who achieved Bronze, Silver and Gold at London 2012. Add the likes of Sauser (Specialized), Fumic (Cannondale) and Yamamoto (Specialized) and you get the idea. To quote Nic Lamond, this kind of field delivers you straight to the pain-cave!
With the ever cheerful (and insightful) Paul Valstar on the mic, every rider enjoyed a colourful introduction before they found their pozzie on the grid. As Marco Fontana was introduced and eased into position I heard a bystander asking the person next to him, “Which oke is Van Tonder?” With a wry smile his friend politely corrected him by saying, “Bliksem bru, dis nie Van Tonder nie, dis Fontana.” It was a lag.
Similarly to a UCI World Champs or World Cup grid, spirits were high (without the tension) as we waited for Songo himself to get the action under way. As the gun sounded, riders revved their engines and hooked it as if a world title was on the line … this was no fun race. Let me tell you, the Unofficial World Champs is not for kids! Nic Lamond’s pain-cave was proving to be a deep hole.
After 30mins and 3 laps of racing, Christoph Sauser defended his 2012 title by crossing the line in 1st. An ecstatic Yamamoto and Kulhavy completed the podium. To say the kids of Kayamandi went berserk (in the best kind of way) is an understatement. Within seconds of the leaders finishing, the hundreds of lighties were swarming their heroes. The energy was electric!
Yesterday’s outpouring of energy goes to show how Sonogo.info (and sport in general) can be used, as a tangible mechanism, to break down boundaries, build new relationships and most importantly give South Africa’s disenfranchised youth the tools to believe in themselves and work towards achieving a dream. Songo.info humbles me.
When you next see a rider in the Songo.info colours, give them a high 5! They are moving mountains.
#VivaMzansi
Ciao Ciao
Oli
              
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| 13.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 10.03.2013 // Argus Cycle Tour Cape Town, RSA
110km, 2.40hrs racing time, 41.3km/h average speed
15th place, same time as finisher Herman Fouche
It is Arugs time! That means whole Cape Town is ruled by 40'000 riders and all what all comes with it. The Argus is the biggest timed cycling event in the world!
On Saturday the day before the race you can not park your bike in front of a coffee shop any more. The queues inside are crazy long. At Vida e Cafè in Stellenbosch even to the front door!
The start for us pros is still in the darkness. That means 4.30 wake up for being ready at 6.15.
My Zipp 404 racing wheels were not good to me that morning... I had some sort of valve issues to sort out with the team in the darkness until 10min before the start. Never give up! It was pretty stressful, since I still had to ride to the start, squeeze myself to the front of the toilet queue and then back to the start line... I just made it, but could not sign in any more. Small problem for the world!
The race itself only gets hard over the last two climbs. This year we could not form a small breakaway like last year, so we ended up being about 40 riders racing and attacking towards the finish line on the last flat'ish 15kms. I tired it a few times but now luck. I knew in the sprint I have no chance against a Fouche or van Heerden.
It was a awesome day and build up again. And hey, it does not sound bad to finish a race 15th out of 40'000, not?
Link 1: results
           
Link 1: http://results.racetec.co.za/results_by_event.aspx?RID=2013&EN=Ca...
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| 05.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 03.03.2013 // MTB Challenge Boschendal, RSA
66km, 1800m of climbing, 2.40hrs racing time
Unofficial first place, around 1min ahead of Matthys Beukes
Ok todays results needs some explaining because we ended up having two different top three podiums with flowers, price money and all the tralalala.
We were around 10 riders who got lost and finally ended up taking a short cut.
It was probably a little bit after mid way when the leading motorbike could not ride over 3 big wood logs lying in high grass. That took some time to discuss it out if we were right or not, but we went on. Erik Kleinhans was in our group too but he had to fix a loose bolt on his bike and got dropped after we jumped those wood logs. We then rode to a top gravel road where we expected the right route and so we did. Erik although and all the rest of the field behind us found the original markers and had to do an other steep climb which we skipped. Erik rode very strong and still caught a lot of riders of our group. So it was fair and cool from the organizers to make two podiums. The short cutters and the originals!
I won my race in the last 12km where I pushed very hard in a sandy section. It was hot and I only had two small bottles to drink, not enough for a longer race like this.
I am now taking it easy, except Wednesday and Thursday. On one days I will do power workouts and on the other threshold training. Already really looking forward to Sunday's Cape Argus, one of my favorite races in the whole year.
Check out the pictures in Link 1
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