Fight to the Finish - May 7

Dennis and I set the alarm early for this morning to make sure we were ready to go on the last mando day. We were not sure how the day would pan out. We woke at 5 am, packed all our gear and were ready waiting for breakfast at camp by 6am. I wasn’t too sure what to wear – although it was cold at the moment it was likely to warm up later. I opted for shorts and T shirt and would leave my jacket with Kendra in the truck when it was time to leave. Porridge for breakfast – finally! We haven’t had it for ages!! Then we were ready to leave – we were all together – nobody seemed too bothered about being the first to make a move! I guess it was strange to think this was the last time we would be doing this! Our last real race day! Finally we headed off together – as soon as we got on the road – Adam decided to drop off. The 5 of us rode really well together – not too fast – just enjoying the ride. My heart rate was unusually low and I was well stocked up with my remaining energy gels/bars etc – all ready for a mad day – but it was all surprisingly calm. Amazing scenery once again – rolling hills to start with and then a great dirt road – no cars on it – some corrugation – lots of river crossings – but nothing too bad! Scott was riding really well and we were climbing quite a good pass – amazing mountains. We passed Bastiaan at about 60 km. Just before the top at about 70 k Scott’s rear cassette breaks and so he couldn’t ride. However Bastiaan gave him his bike and we were able to continue together. Immediately Scott took off at full speed. So I followed and the others caught up after a while. We crested the hill at 75 km emerging into the Canyon – we could see maybe 50 – perhaps 100 km across – incredible! There was a great downhill and we coasted all the way to lunch at 90 km. We sat around and had a good lunch together – everybody still waiting for someone else to make a move – it is nice to relax. Just as we were leaving Adam and Steve turned up putting paid to an earlier theory about Adam possibly trying to play a trick with badging out!! He was content not to hurry off with us today! About 2 km out of lunch and Scott suddenly stopped – he decided he should return Bastiaan’s bike to him – that he did not need to race with us. He would find another bike to borrow. It made sense – he was really just racing to help me for the day and there was no reason he should do that! He wasn’t bothered in trying to win the day for himself. So then we climbed up and continued along the valley of the Canyon – rolling and into a strong headwind. The track was amazing – very faint – as if it would disappear completely if the wind kicked up! A barely visible 4 wheel drive track through the base of the canyon – once again with the most incredible views. We just carried on – the 4 of us – no one attacking. Paul hadn’t really done much to help all day and so I had the feeling he was biding his time and was really going to sprint for the win. I couldn’t believe he wouldn’t really want to win the last mando if at all possible. So I was getting a bit annoyed that he hadn’t worked with us at all – and then suddenly he finally took a turn. The 4 of us were now taking 2 km each at the front – it was quite hard for your turn because of the headwind and then of course a lot easier when you dropped back. We rolled through to 120 km where we found Sharita at a rest stop. We had enough water and she didn’t have any fruit so we weren’t too bothered until she said “But I do have coke!!” So we had a little coke stop and still no one was in a hurry to make the first move! Back on the road and another 10 km and we hit the river – a wide green belt at the bottom of the valley. Then we rode through a shanty town – I am sure Kristian will be taking loads of photos there – it was pretty amazing to see. Then there were green fields, orchards, a vineyard – an incredible contrast – with sand dunes just on the other side!! Just incredible scenery. Then we hit the road – great – 45 km on this and we will be done! Maybe an hour 20 or so. But of course the wind now picked up and got stronger and stronger – so that now we were only going at about 18kmph!! Recalculation! I was pretty tired – we had now been riding for over 5 hours – and had another couple of hours ahead! So we were struggling – the next 10 km was pretty slow – still taking our turns at the front. Then suddenly with 30 km to go Paul takes the front and just speeds up – I kind of missed the move and hesitated a little before I realized what was happening. Jorg shouted to let him go – but I was pretty sure he could do that distance on his own to win the stage if I let him. So I closed him quickly and sat with him. Dennis went too! It was very difficult at the front – and hard enough behind him! Eventually he pulled over and Dennis and I were able to slow it a little at the front. Then he would go really fast again – this continued for 20 km. At 10 km out the wind died down a little and the road was more rolling rather than the continuous uphill from earlier – a few downs to give us a break! I know now that Paul really wants this win. Dennis has already indicated he will help me if necessary – there is some pressure in knowing the others all wanted me to win the day but Paul was not going to just give it to me – I’ve never really had to sprint against Paul before – looks like I was going to today! So we will see what happens!! I was just trying to get in the right position – I really wanted to be behind him but he wouldn’t let me – if I slowed, he slowed. In fact Dennis was about 50 m in front at one stage and I thought “You might as well go for the win while Paul is messing around with me” But I sprinted ahead to catch him and Paul followed and we sat behind him for a while. Dennis did a few surges just to see what happened. Paul stayed in place. Getting really close now – just a couple of k – looking for the flag and I end up at the front. I can see Paul’s shadow in the road – eventually we see the flag in the distance – probably about 2 km away. I am riding and waiting and waiting. We get round the corner and see there is a pretty steep down followed by a steep uphill – the flag is at the top! As soon as we get to the top Paul takes off and I am a bit slow to react – at the bottom of the hill I am a bike length behind – but I am definitely stronger going up and closed him down all the way – just pressing like mad – I remember my bike going from side to side as I used as much pressure as I could. And I just got him on the line by about 6 inches!! It was so good!! Awesome fun! I ended up another 100 m further on before I could stop and return! And so out of breath! But that was awesome. Dennis was great – he was happy too – and had been cheering me on from just behind! I must admit it felt good to deny Paul the win – especially since he had sat on our wheels all morning !! I won. Awesome! I won the last stage and hopefully the last section. Feels so good!!