Day 8 - Xmas Challenge - LAST DAY!

Last day of the Christmas Challenge.. and what a day it was. I had 125km to complete, but after two full-on cycling days the prospect of bein in the saddle for another 5 hours was daunting. Also my cycling buddy pulled out at the last moment, leaving me with tackling the distance all on my lonesome. So getting motivated was an issue.. but I put the alarm on, woke up, pottered around getting my kit on and stuff sorted, and about an hour after I'd intended to go, finally made it out the door. Today's cycle was going to be on the EN4, the main highway linking Mozambique with nearby South Africa. After cycling through town, past the tollgate and on through Matola, the road makes a right and essentially you're into the countryside. Seeing as it's quite close to New Year's the road was quite busy even at the early hour I reached it, around 6:30. I had a slight headwind which, coupled with my tired legs and drained body, made the outward journey quite slow and tough. Mentall I was fighting to stay motivated and tricking myself into believing that I was only doing half the distance, seeing as once I'd reached the halfway point.. there was no option but to do the other half back! It worked, and when I reached the Moamba Toll plaza and turned around with a fresh breeze on my back, I knew that I'd made it even before completing the distance. The discomfort of having pedaled for so long for so many days was beginning to show in calouses and blsters in my hands, numb posterior and feet, tingly hands and sharp stabs of pain in my legs at an awkward point in my pedal stroke.

Garmin data for your pleasure

On the day I consumed 1.5 litres of energy drink, half a litre of water, half a litre of coke and a glass of sugar cane juice with a splash of lemon, this last drink prepared on the roadside from freshly squeezed sugar cane. I ate one sesame bar and had one packet of gel. After the ride I feel surprisingly good, even if my bottom is quite numb.

This may be the end of the Rapha Christmas Cycle challenge, but it's not the end of my cycling for the year. There is still tomorrow! And though I won't attempt another long distance, I will certainly be enjoying myself on the bike around the marginal and my Caracol hill near my house.

Matola River crossed by the EN4 highway connecting Moz to South Africa

This challenge has been a learning experience, about discovering and extending my boundaries, of going beyond my comfort level, of punishing myself for no reason, of being satisfied that I have completed the challenge. I feel elated.. but strangely also a bit empty. I think that's a peculiarity of cycling, that no sooner have you achieved a goal, won a race, beaten a cycling buddy, that you need another goal right after, to keep you going and motivated. Keep moving. You stop. You die.

Day 7 - Xmas Challenge

Day 7 of my Christmas challenge, the penultimate day. I had to put in a good effort if I was going to cut down on my deficit of 245km, and indeed I managed it - 120km and 1540m of climbing. This time I avoided the whole traffic issue and drove out to Boane at 5:15am, and set out from there at 6:09 - with little or no traffic once we'd passed the Quarries. Accompanying me on todays ride was Gustavo. We kept a very easy pace for the first 40km, until reaching Mandevo where the road starts climbing for 16km up to Namaacha. There I put the thumbscrews on and powered up the hill, although my legs were definately feeling tired from yesterday's mamoth effort. At Germantine, two thirds into the climb I sprinted up the short rise and powered down the descent, leaving my climbing buddy a bit bewildered and dropped. I was testing my climbing against the climb record of 40 minutes set by Betinho Cuambe, our local Time trial specialist. I managed a reasonable 45 minutes, which considering yesterday distance and the 40km "warm-up" wasn't too bad. Still, need to work a bit more on my climbing. At the top we had a quick break and coke and then set off on the Namaacha loop, which was about as much climbing as the bit from Mandevo. Gustavo was not enjoying this, but put on a brave face. Then I tried to climb up to Mt. Ponduine, the highest point in the Maputo Province, but the guards of the Telephone Operator who own the site had strict instructions not to let anyone pass. A pity because it's a 2km climb with some very steep sections, 16%. Next time we'll get proper authorisation.
We stopped again at the Namaacha petrol station once we'd done the loop, then set off on our long descent back to Boane. The temperature was rising and hit 40 degrees celsius but even so we managed to lift our average speed and were doing 35-40km/hr on the flat section after the Mandevo descent. A final twist was the extra distance of the Pequenhos Libombos loop - we were literally on our last legs and were quite happy to reach the Boane Galp petrol station for an after cycle coke and sandwich. So... have 125km to go. We'll see how my legs hold up tomorrow but the idea is to do the Goba climb or out to Moamba - either way we'll be setting out a lot earlier to avoid the heat.

Pequenhos Libombos Dam in Boane

Proof of the ride - my Garmin data

Namaacha Petrol Station - Reflection

Just to go through the numbers.. So far have managed 5 cycling days for a total of 3828m of climbing and 375km. Just 125km to go!!!

Day 6 - Xmas Challenge

Today is Day 6 of my Xmas challenge and I am HAPPY to report that I had a really good long cycle today. This cycle was supposed to have happened on Sunday together with some mates, but in the end I did today's pedal all on my own. Set out at 5:30 hoping to avoid the trafic, but being a weekday it was full anyway, and so found some very chocked and noisy roads. Set out of town towards Matola, did the Mozal loop and then back on the old Boane road that goes towards Swaziland and South Africa where thankfully traffic thinned a bit. Once I reached Boane it started getting quiet and I could finally appreciate the scenery without having to grab my handlebars for dear life as a truck or a taxi hurtled past at F1 speed. The hills out there are nice and green this time of year and and passed a few local cyclists on their way to work or to their fields.

I must say that todays outing was almost a hit and miss affair, with my heart not really in it at the beginning. So each time I reached a junction I just pushed myself to the next one. So Facim became Toyota became Matola became Mozal became Boane became Pedreira hill.. However at the second bridge I had to turn back as Namaacha was just.. one bridge too far :-) It would have added an hour and a half to my stint.. So turned around then did the Barragem loop, cycing over the Pequenhos Libombos dam, which had both sluice gates open. Then around the back road to Boane and a Coke stop (2 plus a Snickers bar). The short stop over I was on my bike again and into a brisk headwind and into the traffic once more. The sun was also quite high and starting to make things uncomfortable.. But I was on the return leg, and just counting down the km's, which is easier once you've broken the camels back and are on your return leg.

So total of 135km and 5 hours. Would have preferred a longer run, up to Namaacha.. but we can always do that tomorrow!

Garmin data for the unbelievers

Day 5 - Xmas Challenge - No cycling!!!

Day 5 of my Xmas Challenge and sadly I must report NO CYCLING! A combination of late night tv, cooking lessons, sick children threw several spanners into my cycling plans for the next day, which was supposed to be nothing more than a normal marginal run of around 40km.. Was not to be, so it leaves an even larger deficit for tomorrow...

Day 4 - Xmas Challenge

Today was almost a write-off with the children sick from the night before. In the morning they seemed a bit better, but by then I'd had to forego the drive to Boane and then cycle to Goba and back. That would have been a nice 100km job with 10 km of nice steep tough climbing in the middle, and Pedreira hill on the return leg is one last sting for the legs before heading home to Boane. But it was not to be... Still I managed to grab the bike after lunch and launch myself at one of our local Maputo training hills, the Viaduto. 18 ramps and 40km later and I'm feeling a little less guilty for all the food I've eaten and the missed Goba trip in the morning. Cuts down a bit on my deficit, which now stands at 380km, or 95km per day. Will be tough, but I've got some time next week...

Garmin data

Day 3 - Xmas Challenge - Christmas Day

Day 3 of our challenge. No kilometres to report as the day was spent with the kids opening presents and learning how to play with new toys. Will have to play catchup tomorrow, Sunday. Merry Chrismas to everyone!

Day 2 - Xmas Challenge

Day 2 - Another 40km on the dot. Did the Maputo Marginal Road with a bit of a variation on the end. Temperature is already quite high in the morning, but again not a breath of wind. As it's Xmas eve quite a few more cars rushing around on their errands, and a few close calls with idiotic and inconsiderate motorists. Still, I think Maputo drivers are mostly considerate to cyclists and will even let you pass when they have right of way. Moning ride was done with two MTB cyclist mates, so the pace was light (for me on my road bike that is) and some pre-Xmas banter.

Tomorrow it's a toss-up between a quick morning pedal or something more consistent after the kids have opened their presents... Will see... more than likely events will conspire to keep me at home, which means an extra-long effort on Sunday. Till then.

Garmin data for your pleasure

Day 1 - Xmas Challenge

Today is Day 1 of the Rapha Xmas Challenge. Managed to do 40km's along the Maputo Marginal, the road that runs along the seaboard. At 5am it's quiet and free of traffic, with quite a few walkers and only the occasional cyclist. Met up with a cyclist friend at the allotted time and we spun along chatting and enjoying the morning light. It had been windy and wet the last few days but the road had mostly dried up and the air was quite clear, as it normally is after a shower. The waves were gently lapping at the shore and almost no hint of wind.. Well, as cyclists we OF COURSE felt the wind.. What cyclist wouldn't complain of a 1knot headwind on such a perfect day as this.. But in reality it was the perfect weather for a time trial. Instead we kept on chatting and ambled along at a brisk but unlaboured pace, with no sprints or surges or halfwheeling that we normally get into. The year is coming to a close, competition is over. It's time to enjoy the ride.

Fuelling up after the ride


Garmin data for the pixel-peepers

Rapha 500km X-Mas Challenge

Today is the start of the Rapha 500km X-mas challenge. 8 days. 500km. Winner.. Well, that's not the point. The point is to do as many kilometres, at least 500 in the 8 days. The idea is to not lose form over the Xmas holiday. The idea is to stay in shape so that next year it's not such an uphill battle to get your form back. The idea is to enjoy yourself on a bike, for 500km.

Well, while Rapha and the majority of it's readers and sympathizers are in the northern hemisphere, faced with piles of snow in the driveway and looking like black father Christmases in their Rapha de-rigeur black tights.. I will be cycling in sunny Maputo. Today was 42 degrees! Won't see me wearing black.. Might not see me wearing much actually.

here is the link to the Rapha site here
where you can get more info.

Enjoy

Copa Ciclismo 2010 - Winners

Well, it's been a long cycing season for the Maputo cyclists and the final race of the Copa calendar took place a few days ago, on the 12th of December. This race was to be the decider as the points race for the GC was as close as ever. In the end Miguel Teixeira managed the win on the day, but didn't put enough distance between himself and the GC leader (Me!), and so the final standings are as such:

1st place - Mario Traversi
2nd place - Miguel Teixeira
3rd place - Imran Akuji

Full standings are available at copaciclismo

The "Classica da EN1", in reality was being raced for the first time. At 135km it was going to be a long hard slog, and though the weather was overcast (a good thing, as it wouldn't get too hot) there was quite a southerly breeze blowing, which meant the return leg of the race would be into a headwind. The race progressed fairly fast with a few desultarory attacks, and some strong pulling by Matt and Patrick, with a few others also taking turns at the front. The return saw the average speed plummet with fewer willing to pull at the front, and the main contenders keeping well out of the wind. On leaving Manhiça, around two thirds into the race Kinha touched a wheel and was then rear-ended by Miguel, who went flying over his bike and landed badly. On Carlos' prompting the peloton stopped to give the riders a chance to rejoin, but Miguel's derailleur had snapped in the fall and Kinha kindly gave him his bike, so as to keep the GC fight alive. The riders set off again with attacks becoming more frequent as we neared the finish. An almost decisive attack by Miguel with 10km to go almost caught the peloton by surprise but he didn't get far up the hill before he was reeled in by Mario, and slowly the remaining peloton rejoined the front group. The next big attack came on the last long hill into Marracuene. Steep (4%) and long (1km) it allows strong climbers to make a break, and Miguel, closely shadowed by Mario, escaped up the hill while the peloton struggled behind. Miguel weaved and dived trying to shake off Mario, who was having none of it. Both riders went into the red but at the crest they were still glued together and backed off the pace, trying to outsmart the other into sprinting ahead. However Gustavo had managed a quick climb and broke up the party by quickly sprinting past, but neither rider was prepared to lead out and so Gustavo made his way towards the finish. Then Carlos swept past at warp speed and Miguel quickly latched onto his wheel while Mario got caught off guard and scrambled to catch up. Both passed Carlos and the Gustavo and pounded the pedals to the rising long straight finish, but Miguel had opened the gap and managed to hold it all the way to the finish line. Time difference was a mere 9 seconds in the end.

The final points difference was equally slim, with Mario ahead by just 0.56 points to claim the Copa Ciclismo. However the KOM was firmly in his grasp at 71 points to Miguel's 54 and Imran's 52.

I'd just like to say a big thank-you to all the cyclists who participated in this year's Copa Ciclismo. The Cup drew many new cyclists, as well as older cyclists who've just not joined the races before, and this made for a more exciting and challenging competition. We've lost riders (Mario Sauder left for Germany) but we've gained new ones such as Miguel, Kinha, Matt and Patrick and we hope many more will join. We managed to stage 20 events, compared to 15 last year, and some were quite well attended, notwithstading this year's longer events (which are in preparation of the African Games that will take place in September 2011 in Maputo). Some of the Copa cyclists will go on to represent their country at the African Games and we wish them the best of luck and success in their cycling.

Boane - Namaacha Race

Riders started at 7:20 sharp after a quick race-briefing. Race conditions were perfect with cool weather at the start and a light crosswind. Two riders arrived just as we were setting off (Ricky and Joao Rodrigues) though they managed to eventually catch up with the peloton at the base of the Namaacha climb. Boane hill warmed up the legs and lungs, and the Pedreira hill a few short km’s afterwards split the peloton with Imran, Carlos, Mario, Kinha and Gustavo in front, and the rest behind. On the flat section Kinha flatted but was reached by the race support vehicle which swapped out his wheel and so he managed to re-join up with the lead group, which had slowed their pace to wait for him. Abilio also managed to bridge to the front group and started the Impaputo/Mandevo climb with them. Mario attacked at the start of the climb and managed to pedal solo for the KOM points, with Kinha 2^nd, Imran 3^rd, Carlos 4^th and Gustavo 5^th. Mario maintained his lead on the down-hill whereas Carlos flatted twice on the descent, putting him out of contention. Gustavo to his credit stopped to offer assistance and inner tubes. Meanwhile Kinha and Imran were hot on Mario’s heels. Carlos then flatted again on the Pedreira descent putting him beyond contention, but still able to finish the race ahead of one of the back-markers. Mario managed to beat the previous course record by 17minutes and also maintain a lead of 4 minutes in front of 2^nd placed finisher Imran. Kinha rounded out the podium in 3^rd place with just a minute behind Imran and Simon managed 4^th place. Ricky and Joao managed 5^th and 6^th which considering their late start is very god. Abilio Matusse came in 7^th, just behind Joao (perhaps the memory of his accident during the previous race casting a shadow on his performance around the Pedreira). Chico managed 8^th place with Gustavo a few minutes after him in 9^th and finally Carlos and Simoes in 10^th and 11^th respectively.

Position	Name	Nac.	KOM	Time
1	Mario Traversi	ITA	15	2:56:00
2	Imran Akuji	MOZ	9	3:00:00
3	Antonio Fonseca	MOZ	12	3:01:00
4	Simon Wright	GBR		3:18:00
5	Ricardo Trindade	MOZ		3:19:00
6	Joao Rodrigues	MOZ		3:23:00
7	Abilio Matusse	MOZ		3:23:00
8	Chico Nobrega	RSA		3:27:00
9	Gustavo da Silva	POR	3	3:31:00
10	Carlos Sales	POR	6	3:41:00
11	Simoes Eugenio	MOZ		3:51:00
12	Manuel Malaia	MOZ		DNF
13	Yazid Imran	MOZ		DNF

Podium: (from left) Imran 2nd, Mario 1st, Kinha, 3rd

Ressano - Maputo cycling expedition

Saturday 2nd October 2010 a contingent of Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique cyclists drove to the border town Ressano Garcia, planning to meet up with the LusoAfrica Ciclismo club, who were on a 4 day cycling tour from Johannesburg. Let's just say that things didn't go QUITE according to plan...

Andre and Theron keeping cool

Colette and Richard giving each other moral support

The LusoAfrica "broom wagon". Somehow they lost the rest of the cyclists.

Kallie in the 2m championships

Michael also competing..

And the winner is...... KALLIE, by several bottle lengths

No, Colette wasn't competing.. just waiting to start already!!

And they're off!

Simon still has a sense of humour..

Andre putting on a brave (blue) face

Simon... not smiling anymore

Well, the cycle expedition only managed to hook up with our visitors in Moamba after an interminable wait, were tempted with Beer and Pregos, had to face 25km/hr winds and 42 degrees of heat, but they still all managed to make it to Moamba. Some even went further.. but that's another story (Michael please send us the "after" pictures of your bike!).

Diehard cyclists who pedaled all the way back to Maputo

Boane Goba Road Race

Copa Cilclismo's latest event was the Boane Goba race, held on the 19th of September 2010. We had a large and varied field for this race and it was a fast pace throughout, with wind playing a role in the second half. The race started from the Boane petrol station at 7:25, onto the Barragem road to Goba town, then back on the EN3 towards Boane. The course was flat to hilly, with only one longish climb late in the race. Simon Wright started setting the pace for the first 10kms and after that a succession of attacks were made by the likes of Kinha, Gustavo, Imran, Betinho and Dave (on his MTB!). The Peloton though stayed fairly compact till Goba town, where the change in direction meant a strong headwind. Carlos in anticipation of this forged ahead and split the field with 5 riders in the front group and the remaining 9 riders in behind. By this stage we'd already had 2 DNF's, but all the remaining riders were to finish the race.

Matt Singleton singlehandedly set the pace on the return leg keeping a high average speed and powering up the climbs. With him were Patrick Ventoux, Kinha, Mario and Carlos. This front group kept compact till just before pedreira hill where Mario attacked, but was quickly reeled back in, just before the climb. However the climb itself started taking prisoners with Patrick succombing first, then Kinha and finally Carlos, with Mario and Matt pushing till the top. On the final turn towards Boane Matt kept up a high pace on the climb with Mario shadowing him till the end, where both attacked with a few hundred metres to go. It was not to be Matt's day as his legs finally failed him and Mario was able to claw himself to victory. Meanwhile Carlos came in third and Kinha a respectable 4th, notwithstanding a flat tire a few kms before the finish. Patrick was in 5th, coming in at a leisurely pace. Old man Chico came in 6th in front of Fat and Furious Simon. Abilio unfortunately had a close encounter of the motorised kind and was knocked off his bike with a few kms to go in a hit and run. Fortunately he and his bike sustained minor injuries and will be back at the next race.

Cyclists assembing for the start

Messias getting ready to start the race

Patrick Ventoux - 5th place

Carlos "Charlot" Sales - 3rd place

Kinha Fonseca - 4th place and flat tyre

Podium - Matt Singleton 2nd - Mario Traversi 1st - Carlos Sales 3rd

Abilio - road rage - Still, he's in one piece

Clube de Ciclismo Training Sessions

We've had some good training sessions of late, out on the EN4 highway towards Moamba two weekends ago and last weekend from Boane to Goba on the EN3. At those training sessions we were shown how to change tyres by our resident expert, Mr Carlos Sales. Also on the climbing front, Betinho Cuambe showed his superior strength to weight ratio (lots to non-existant, as in lots of strength to no weight) in the Goba climb.
However, boys and girls, do not try these things alone, as there is a serious risk of injury... :-)


Here are some pictures of our escapades so far.. Oh, and it's for adults only.. so Gustavo, please come back and see us when you're 21 and can pedal on an 11 rear cassette and actually finish a race or keep up with us.

Here is Carlos changing his tyre. Note the dejected look, as he discovers that none of his inner tubes work:




And now for the climbers of Mt Goba. Betinho, who powered up the hill first:



And the rest..






We hope to have many more training sessions before the last big races of the season. Copa Ciclimo has 7 scheduled events, there is the Lowveld 5 stage tour and the 94.7 race in Joburg. So we'll be busy until December! Keep pedalling.

Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique Cycling Jerseys

Hello cyclists. I am ordering some cycling jerseys for the Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique. If any of you are interested please contact me at mario traversi at hotmail dot com. I am taking orders until this weekend, as I must finalise with the supplier by next monday. The kit consists of:

1) Long sleeve full zip jersey
2) Short sleeve full zip jersey
3) Bib shorts with imported padding

Cost of the kit is R1300 + Vat at 14%. I will need full payment upfront as we can't cancel the order once it's in. Delivery time is 4-6 weeks, but am hoping to get the kit by September.

The kit is being produced by Panda Sportswear in Johannesburg.

A note - the last time these were ordered was in 2007, so don't dilly dally if you think you'd like a set, as once the order goes in who knows when we'll re-order.

Siteki – Mhlumeni Bicycle Race Report

14th of August 2010. Middle of winter. For many, this will be their first race of the season. For some, this is their first ride in a while.
Am I sounding melodramatic? Well, the race was anything but. The majority of the Mozambique expat cyclists joined the Swazi boys and girls for the race, and a lone Mozambican, Ricardo Trinidade was also there. The Moz crowd set out early in the morning and met on the Goba climb. Border formalities were quick, there being almost no other people at that hour. Mario and Ricky opted to leave the car at the border and cycle the 14km to the start line as a warm-up. However they weren’t expecting the wind or the rolling and rather steep hills on the Swazi side. In compensation the tarmac was an absolute pleasure.
After the formalities of signing in and getting race numbers on our bikes we assembled at the start line at the entrance to the Magandzavane Lodge, which would also serve as the finish line.
At 8:15 we were off and right from the bat there was a fast and furious pace at the front with a group of about 10 riders staying close to the pace car, and immediately created a gap with the main field behind. I managed to work my way to the front, my warm legs able to push through the heart-rate barrier.
The group of 10 started whittling down on the steep inclines and a breakaway of two managed to ride away. Soon I was in a paceline with 5 other riders chasing down the leaders, but as the km’s went on we went down from 6 o 5 and finally just 4 of us at the Goba border, where we turned around on the return leg.
The leaders were still in our sights but our group wasn’t interested in pushing too hard and we were finally joined by another group, including Ricky, who managed to bridge across to us. Now with more legs we tried to organize an assault on the lead group but only a few were really pulling turns at the front, and even when they did the pace seemed to get slower and slower. Still, we did have the wind against us, but as we neared Siteki were surprised to see the leaders speeding away in the opposite direction. They’d already reached Siteki, and we still had a way to go. The pace quickened a bit as we reached Siteki, and went around the town and rejoined the main road. The wind was now on our backs and new legs at the front really increased the pace. We were flying along in an ordered paceline. We crossed the other Maputo riders on their way into Siteki, but our concentration was now on the finish-line.
Now a word about the race distance. Some spoke of 65Km and others of 60km. In my Google measurements it looked closer to 60km, but I wasn’t sure how much the loop in Siteki would end up being.. In any event as we neared the 55km mark I though I might have a few more km’s to play with, time enough for an assault, perhaps enough to split the field and dispute the line with just one or two other cyclists. However, on a fast descent I looked up and there was the orange tent and the finishing line looming?! All of a sudden a flurry of activity as everyone kicked up a gear and cyclists started flying from all over the place. To add to the confusion a car ahead was driving along at our own speed and blocked our road, so we had to fly around it, with slower cyclists and photographers in the left safety lane and oncoming cyclists in the right lane. It was a recipe for disaster but thankfully we all made it to the finish line in one piece. One of the younger Swazis (Calvin) made it through in front of me with a powerful sprint finish, while I managed 4th, with Ricky hot on my tail in 5th. Other top 10 Maputo finishers were Chico Nobrega in 8th and Simon Wright in 9th, while Mr soon to be Bionic Ian came in a credible 17th overall and 4th in his (Methuselah) age group.

Official race results can be seen here.

Overall a very nice atmosphere, and really smooth tarmac made up for the sharp hills and wind. A word to the organisers though - photo-finish next time? Also a 1km to finish line marker would be useful. It really was a pity about the episode with the car on the finish line because otherwise traffic control was excellent the whole way, as were the water points. Last item.. a route map available on-line would be another useful addition for next year's race.

Jock Cycle Classique 2010 - Race Report

The Jock Cycle Classique is one of South Africa's oldest and toughest races. At 140km, and taking some serious mountain climbs, it is longer than the Argus, and has almost as much climbing as the Argus and the 94.7 combined! Due to lack of sponsorship though, the race looked like it would be cancelled. At the 11th hour Anabolic stepped in as the title sponsor and the show could go on. Unlike the last few years where the event was run as a single distance, the race reverted to it's original 3 stage approach. You can read a previous race report here from the 2006 Maputo contingent.

At the 2010 edition three riders from the Maputo Cycling Club took part, Mario Sauder, Matt Singleton and Mario Traversi. Both Mario's were in the same starting group while Matt was in an earlier one.
Stage 1 started in Barberton from 6:30 onwards on a cold and misty morning, with riders bundled up with layers, arm and leg warmers. There was a neutral zone for the first few km's through town, but you wouldn't have noticed it as riders raced ahead to reach the head of the peloton. Both Mario's joined up and managed to reach the head group but as soon as Hilltop Climb started, Mario Pasta, as he is affectionately known, was stumped by his lightweight wheels coupled with an 11-23 cassette... not the sort of gearing for this rather steep ascent... Needless to say he was soon dropped as more prepared cyclists sped ahead. Through sheer determination and with a painfully slow cadence (39rpm in places!) he managed to make it up the hill and then joined up with a veteran cyclist and together pushed hard on the flatter section to the finish line.
First stage results:
Matt 1:17
Mario Eisbein 1:19
Mario Pasta 1:21

At the end of the stage we were treated to a full cooked breakfast which went some way to warming us up, as we took a breather waiting for stage two

Stage 2 - At 10:30 cyclists assembled into their starting groups, the weather much warmer so arm and leg-warmers had disappeared. Again both Mario's were together and the "neutral zone" saw some pretty daring cycling as everyone raced to the front of the peloton. There was one accident, though not serious as one of the other cyclists had trouble negotiating the rumble strips. Our Maputo contingent, used to worse roads, didn't have any problems there. The first third of the race was very fast along the rolling N4 and speeds of 50km/hr were recorded, but that all changed as the lead group hit Boulders. The climb here is excruciatingly long and steep and again Mario "Pasta" had to watch in despair as all the cyclists in his group sped away and he was stuck on his 23.. The long arduous climb seemed to get longer and longer, as each turn.. showed more uphill! However the top was reached and then a fast descent towards Kapmuiden, on a series of switchbacks worthy of our own Caracol but much much longer.. Stage results were:

Matt 1:34
Mario Eisbein 1:35
Mario Pasta 1:39

After the stage we were given lunch, what the Lowvelders affactionately call pasta, but what Mario Pasta called congealed mayonaise mush. Still, it was food and fuelled the leg muscles, so all tucked in.

Stage 3 started "around" 2, but there was a lot of waiting and shuffling going on as the organisers tried to get the show on the road. This resulted in a long waiting time in the sun while the first groups made their way, and meant that cyclists at the back were feeling the heat and lack of water before they even got on their way. This stage lived up to it's fame of the toughest stage.. for it's long series of sharp short climbs with little or no downhills or flats in between. It was a constant climb for the 50km to Barberton, and the water points were a welcome oasis in the now 35 degree heat! Both Mario's again kept pace together and took turns pulling and pushing right till the end when "Pasta" broke, in the final km's of the race. Still it was a good experience riding together , as it felt more like a good ride than a race.
Stage results were:
Matt 1:48
Mario Eisbein 1:50
Mario Pasta 1:51

All in all an excellent experience, well organised (except for stage 3 wait and pushing in at the start groups) and well worth repeating. It is the toughest race so far that I've taken part in, although the Twin Peaks race in Mozambique at a similar distance is also quite difficult. Lessons learnt.. Rather heavier wheels with a wider cassette than light wheels with a 23! Till the next race report!

Copa Ciclismo - Desafio da Pedreira

The latest Copa Ciclismo event is done and dusted, and what a cracker it was. Most of the die-hard Mozambican cyclists were present, with Paulo Sales doing duty as race support and Kinha Fonseca assisting him, a back injury after falling off his MTB ruling him out of the running, and Race Comissaire Messias Langa keeping time. The race started promptly at 8:05 with a slight headwind, good weather if cool conditions. Departure was from the Total Petrol Station just after the Maputo Portagem, towards Boane and the left towards Namaacha, up the Pedreira hill, down the other side and then turning around back towards Mozal, with the final straight finishing at Shoprite in Matola for a total of 90km.
The peloton remained fairly compact in the first half hour, notwithstanding a few accelerations by Carlos Sales, trying to get them up to speed. Spots were shared up front by Mario Traversi (yours truly), Sergio Grishone and Betinho Cuambe. Rui Ferreira and Imran Akuji also did some stints at the front. By the Boane climb a few of the faces were looking strained, and just after, at Pedreira hill, the peloton finally broke as Grishone, Mario, Carlos, Ricky and Betinho powered up the hill and down the other side. After the halfway point saw some tentative attacks on the uphill, as riders tried to up the tempo, but most managed to hold on, with only Grishone the victim on that climb. Boane hill saw more attacks by Carlos, then Mario then Betinho, while Ricky was staying comfortable in the slip-stream. However no one rider seemed to have the strength to make an attack stick, as the headwind sapped the energy of each attacker. By the Matola check-point however the increased tempo saw Betinho struggling to keep up and eventually fall back, leaving a lead group of just Carlos, Ricky and Mario rounding the bend towards Mozal. Tempo varied depending on who was in front, but generally the group stayed compact until the last rise before a rapid descent and climb where Mario made his move and sped away into the blowing wind, while Ricky and Carlos argued over who should follow. After the uphill and a right turn towards EN4 saw Mario opening up the gap to around 200m, the wind now a cross-wind. Still the persuers couldn't make up their mind and Mario pushed on, managing a clean exit onto EN4 and the final 6km straight towards Shoprite with a nice tailwind. He managed to open up the gap on his persuers by over a minute and a half, and crossed the line in first place.

Final results:
1st Mario Traversi 2:49:12 (New record)
2nd Carlos Sales 2:50:47
3rd Riccardo Trinidade 2:50:53

Race diary - August

This is a new feature, outlining upcomming races for the month.

On the 8th of August we have a Copa Ciclismo event - Desafio da Pedreira - a 90km ride starting in Matola out past Boane and then finishing at Shoprite. Starts 8am at the Total petrol station right after the Matola Portagem. More info at www.copaciclismo.com

On the 14th of August we have the Interfreight's Siteki Mhlumeni Bicycle Race in Swaziland, a 60km event. There are shorter routes as well. More info at www.adventuresport.co.sz. For those who have no idea where Mhlumeni is, it's the frontier town next to Goba in Mozambique. Starting times commence from 8am onwards, depending on which distance you're doing.