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!
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