Double Century 2012 - From the Car

The last weekend of November is synonymous with a certain 202km cycling event known as the Double Century. Having centered my riding plans on chasing the elusive sub-6 hour mark for the past five years, I was ready for change of scenery this year. Luckily for me, Captain Craig Edwards and Dane Walsh were looking for a support driver and voila; I would be driving as backup to one of the more interesting and eclectic DC teams at the sharp end of the race.

Team Hotchillee was very fortunate to include the Downing brothers from England, Russell and Dean, both of whom are highly regarded professional riders on the continent. To give an insight into their palmares: Russell single-handedly won the Tour of Ireland a few years ago against the onslaught of several top teams, as well as the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, while Dean is a multiple UK Criterium Champion. Their combined class and experience would rub off on the rest of the team, lifting them to a superb fourth place overall.

Team work was the order of the day, not to mention lots of humour, which set Team Hotchillee apart. This approach was a far cry from the "uber-seriousness" of many of the other top outfits; it really isn't necessary to be a stale bottle of piss. The toughest conditions of any DC didn’t deter the guys from superb performance.

Below is a photo collection of sorts, taken at points when the opportunity arose. I’ll morph it into a photo essay during the course of the week.

 

I travelled up to Swellendam with Andy and Trevor in the trusty Landrover.

The grin on Andy's face says it all: "Can't wait to put on my teardrop helmet."

Pizza was on special at the Somerset West Engen. The "Beast" klapped one back in record time, in between conference calls with international supermarket chains and pre-race pep talks.

The "Beast" is on diet, what with the Coke Zero. This bottle lasted the final 100km of our journey to Swellendam in Andy's front grid.

Trevor likes to travel light.

I like to travel heavy.

Pre-warm up ride on Friday.

Andy prefers a bike stand as opposed to a "wall lean".

Trevor's 62cm Storck.

Dean's 52cm Condor.

Pre-race pumping.

Sunrise, with a slight breeze.

Packing - or throwing - everything into our support car. Andy and Warren's standard helmets were kept close at hand should the powers that be prevent them from starting with their Darth Vader hats.

The neutral cooler bag, packed with Coke and ice.

Breakfast with hats.

The new MEC of Limpopo Province making last minute adjustments to his traditional head wear.

Lance looks like a teacher in front of his class lecturing them in physics.

About to roll out, with some last minute banter.

Seconding is an integral part of any DC team, no matter what level. Russell and Dean made my life very hard with their massive cooler boxes. The total weight of their two "bags" might equal Andrew Payne's gel requirements alone.

Pre-photo shoot, with the paparazzi in wait.

Team photo 1. Not too many nervous faces their, which is testimony to a true "Esprit de Corps".

Team photo 2.

Our RTTC representatives. Interestingly, their was team a few places back on the start grid containing the well known Cape Town rider Peter Wheeler, who sported the very same TT helmet. He was taking the aero advantage to the extreme though with a solid disc wheel on the back. Not sure if it helped that much though.

Hotchillee meets MOTOLEK.

Hotchillee: powered by Carlton Liquors.

Last minute pocket shuffle.

After arriving in Ashton, I found the Henry Fagan seconds killing time playing Pétanque

I then went to spy on the enemy (Daiken-GU), who informed me that they were instructed to have everything layed out by 9:30am! They had a long wait.

Andreas' and Payne's secret stashes.

And the man of steel's box - the and only Danny Schmeisser.

The guys rolled in and had clearly embraced the 30 minute neutral zone. No panic and no fuss. A relaxed refreshment and regrouping stop and they were soon on their way.

Russ: "Andy, mate. Can I borrow your deep section spare wheels? It's time to go fvckin' fast."

"Where are those Velocity birds?"

Dicing with Team Nu-Water, the eventual winners, who looked like the proverbial "stale bottles of piss" on stage later that afternoon. You win the DC in record time and only one guy forces a smile????

Entering the "Bermuda Triangle".

Belgian-echelon riding #1, albeit it in slightly brighter light.

Belgian-echelon riding #2, with wind conditions to match Zeebrugge.

Mr. PowerBar South Africa, being aided by the Downing brothers at the start of the rollers.

The support vehicles then got diverted on to a 25km farm road while the riders continued on the remnants of the R60 back to Swellendam. Word has it that Team Hotchillee really stepped on the gas, crossing the line in a superb fourth position overall. Russell and Deano were gracious with their support of the entire team throughout the race, even getting some valuable off-season core work done whilst riding (see last photo above). This should definitely aid their condition with their first training camp scheduled for mid-December in Almeria, Spain.

Thanks to Craig for his superb organization and putting together a "team apart" and to the the "weather gods" for ensuring a DC to remember.

And finally, to our "Man in Velocity", Hector, who apparently scored an invite to the Velocity Sports Lab ladies braai on Saturday night. You are clearly a worthy recipient of "Winner of the Hot Spots" for the 2012 DC.