The header image show the feeding zone of a recent UCI mountain bike stage race here in South Africa. Frans Claes is the rider in picture, being egged on by his mother. Having spent a fortnight training in the Boland region, Frans was here preparing for next months ABSA Cape Epic. A last-minute entry into the Momentum Health Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen (thanks Carel/Henco/Seamus/Dryland!) rounded off his 'heat' training nicely and he did well. But then Frans is not your usual pro MTBer.
A professional rider, yes, he divides his time between racing his bike and helping his wife in their restaurant business back in Belgium. Sure, he has sponsors but his Epic campaign is a self-financed exercise (sic). More importantly perhaps is the support of his family. His father is his coach while his mother, a former Olympic marathoner, tended to his vegetarian meals and feed zone support throughout. Frans' parents travel with him to all of his races overseas, which is refreshing in the world of pro sport.
Meeting up with him upon his arrival underlines this point. His parents kept serving us pancakes (gluten-free of course) as we chatted about all things Flandrian, South African and Epic. After the fourth serving I politely declined a fifth only for Frans to quip 'they'll just keep serving because good food is part of good recovery.' OK, but I hadn't just finished a six hour ride over Bain's Kloof.
*Note: Header image taken somewhere in the Tankwa Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa. No Copyright!
