I was very fortunate to be employed by the organisers as a lead car driver, which proved to be an exceptional experience. Familiar with trying to control a cycling team over long distance team events as a rider, I soon realised that being the driver of the lead car was an extension of that responsibility; the lead car effectively becomes a pacer, slowing the pace on the climbs and in turn let it "all hang out" on the descents to counter-balance the time lost on the uphills.
Communication is vital, and I was in constant contact with the exceptional ride captains and Think Bike motorcycle marshalls via two-radio. Being a rather quiet fellow, it was rather "exhausting" to be constantly talking all day. Communication between the three parties was excellent, resulting in most of the riders successfully completing the stages over some of the most difficult climbs in the Western Cape.
I managed to take some random photos when the opportunity arose, which you can peruse below.
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| It was good to catch up with old friend Tim Carter. It was even better to see him leading the amateur general classification. |
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| Our backpackers accommodation combined rural simplicity with top class service. |
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| Franschhoek Backpackers is owned by Errol Cunnama, father of world-class Ironman triathlete James Cunnama |
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| The 2013 Cape Rouleur race village. |
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| A familiar sight and our security blanket: the exceptional Think Bike marshalls. |
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| Crop spraying helicopters abound between Villiersdorp and Grabouw. |
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| Ride captain Craig Edwards on top of Franschhoek Pass on day 2. |
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| Group 1 and their lead car crew of Des and Bonte arrive at the top of Franschhoek Pass on day 2. |
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| Team Bulls arrive, using the Cape Rouleur as final "form maintenance" before their assault on the ABSA Cape Epic. |
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| And they head off back down to help push the stragglers. |
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| Karl Platt - Cape Epic 2013 champion? |
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| Another Bull arrives followed closely by one Tim Carter. Not bad after three months riding the indoor trainer. |
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| One of the unique aspects of the Cape Rouleur is the opportunity for amateur cyclists to "race" against past and present champions. 1988 World Road Cycling Champion, Maurizio Fondriest arrives |
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| "Mau", Champion du Monde circa 1988. |
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"Posso avere un po 'd'acqua per favore, Bonte?"
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| Publisher, triathlete and waterman, Paul Ingpen doing Pilates before the final descent into Franschhoek. |
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| Who worked harder? The riders or the masseurs? |
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| Wednesday's mammoth 205km stage called for a 5:15am roll out. |
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| Franschhoek to Somerset West was a neutral zone, where all three ride groups rode together before splitting up. |
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| Kogel Bay. |
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| Constantly checking the rear view mirror. |
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| The "Giant of Rooiels" approaches... |
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| ...and ends with a little "first gear" driving. |
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| Bottles and musettes everywhere. |
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| Lunch stop at Salandra |
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| My co-pilot, Barbara Parker, one of the Channel Islands best ever marathoners, with more sub-three hour marathons under her belt than most men! |
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| Arrival at the top of the final climb for the final time. 200km covered and only 3km to go. |
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| Our ride captains, Rachel and Martin. Examples of true road captains and rouleurs. |
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| Mechanic supremo, Steve. |
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| The final stage entailed a gentle festival ride from Franschhoek to Cape Town, over approximately 100km. Lunch stop was at the top of Tiekiedraai, at the Nitida Wine Estate. |
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| Lead car 2 commissionaire , Dane Walsh, unpacking rider musettes. |
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| The finish of the 2013 Cape Rouleur at the Cape Town Hotel School, overlooking a calm Atlantic Ocean. |
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| A parting view before packing up and returning to normality. Until next year. |
