Isla reports from a classic cyclocross battle in the mud, cambers and hills of Bradford’s Peel Park:

“I had an awesome start from a 3rd row grid, getting onto the wheels of Evie Richards [reigning World Champion] and Ffion James. The three of us had just started to open a gap part way round lap one when I slid out on a corner and dropped 9 places. The course was super muddy, almost every corner was foot out survival mode! There were lots of crashes, lots of running and no rest. After the crash I spent the next lap recovering from my attempt to stay at the front of the race. Then I got going again and raced back to 5th U23. I felt a little disappointed after the race, but having checked the lap times I can see that I would have been battling for a medal had I not had a lie down. It didn’t quite go to plan but there’s no way I can be disappointed with my result against girls who train for this! It’s the first time I’ve really felt I can be competitive at national cross which is a great feeling. I need this level of racing to keep me on my toes through the winter, and reflecting on the race it was a really positive day in the saddle which bodes well for the months to come when I get back to wide handlebars and fat tyres!”

Isla’s performance against some very talented cyclocrossers really shows her to be capable of mixing it with the best despite cyclocross remaining secondary, even through the winter, to mountain biking. More importantly, however, is that this weekend’s race shows Isla’s self improvement and with that comes so much positivity and confidence going into the 2017 season. Things are looking good for the year to come!

With her first ever Elite win, Isla wrapped up the British XC Series title in fine style this weekend. 

Isla had produced solid rides at each round of the British Series this year but luck had never really gone her way. However, with a string of strong international results under her belt, Isla went into the final round in Cannock Chase with fine form, confidence and the stars aligning.

Here’s how the race panned out for Isla:

“Beth and I got away on first lap and stayed together for two and a half laps. I kept testing her legs on every climb,  getting out the saddle and pushing on but she stuck like glue! We switched the lead a few times but I didn’t let her get away. Then suddenly on a short steep climb I got a few bikes length advantage, and then went down the rock garden quicker than her so I attacked to get out of sight ASAP.  This was halfway through lap three. Then I just got my head down and kept gaining time.
I felt really comfortable when I was with Beth and I knew I could come strong at the end given a comparison of  our recent lap times. I just waited for a bit, tried to gauge how Beth was feeling and then make my move when the opportunity presented itself. I felt really strong on the climbs and was able to get out the saddle and put the power down every time.”

After breaking her back last year, Isla’s plan was to come back in 2016…but not too early. She had a steady start to the season, as planned, but that’s not always easy for an athlete to deal with. Steady is not what Isla wants to be! However, the pace picked up quickly as she started hitting form, with a brilliant World Cup result in Albsatdt, followed by even better in La Bresse and better again in Lenzerheide – just missing out on a top 10. Last week at the Hadleigh Park International Isla stormed to 9th place in a World-class Elite field, and now finally her hard work and determination sees her atop the podium.

To be honest it’s not really hit me yet! Six months ago I thought I was a long way off winning a National again, and taking the series is such an awesome bonus. I’m in total shock that I keep having good races..like why has nothing gone wrong! I’m feeling great, and what’s better is I know that there is more to come.”

 

World Cup weeks are a whirlwind. The race seems such a long way off, and then suddenly you are at the start line with the infamous heartbeats pounding out of the PA and a crowd and a race about to burst into chaos.

Yet despite the whirlwind feeling there is a methodical passing of time. Each day and each team member will of course have variables, but we are all riding the same train with the same stops to the same destination. Training days, rest days, massage, media, mechanics and meals all slot into the week with comforting regularity. Each member of the team has their job, their tick-list, their goal. With a schedule in place we all crack on, achieve what we need to, and arrive at that start line, as a team, ready to race.

 

The course in Albstadt is one everyone was familiar with, but the weather conditions threw up as many questions as it did mud. Our mechanics, Lee and Mark, were kept especially busy with bike cleaning during the first days, but eventually the skies cleared and the mud dried. The forecast for the weekend was bright!

With all the riders and all the team staff together for the first time, we went out for a lovely dinner on Friday night. We ate a lot of steak, experienced far too much salad dressing, debated the merits and pitfalls of Olympic selection criteria and laughed wholeheartedly at the faintly ridiculous and each other (which are arguably one and the same)! As with everything in life, it is all about balance: chips and salad, focus and fun. It feels like we’ve got the balance pretty well sorted! The weekend had started in a good way.

Saturday is race day for Isla. This was her first World Cup since breaking her back last year in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, and there was a lot riding on the result. For us, as a team, we just hoped that Isla had a positive race which gave her confidence, but Isla was putting a lot more pressure on herself and the outcome of the race was, however hard she tried, going to have a big impact on her mindset.

A calm word of confidence, a fist-bump and then it was time to race. Isla stuck to her race plan and worked her way slowly through the field to finish in a really strong 24^th position. It was a huge relief for our young rider, and it was so good to see her smiling at the end of a race.

What was also wonderful to see was that Isla’s smile at the finish line then spread through the entire team. There were hugs and high fives and a genuine sense of happiness for our team mate’s success.

After a delicious salmon supper and a good night’s sleep, Sunday sprung into action. Two races, five riders, and barely a minutes to spare as they arrived, warmed-up, raced and departed.

There was a real buzz in the air in Albstadt; the sun was out and the crowds were pouring in. It was our first World Cup in the UCI Elite Team compound and we were constantly surrounded by curious fans and cameras. It was almost race time for Annie, Mariske and Cherie. Their big smiles were narrowed by focus but the excitement still shone in their eyes. It was the first World Cup of 2016 for all the ladies. The stage was set.

Mariske had a bad start but soon went about picking off the riders ahead of her and, after a tough two years with injuries, she found herself back in top-class company and finished in 44^th position. There was a real spring in her step after the race, despite the tired legs! Cherie also had a good race, battling hard but finding her rhythm. With the right balance of aggression and composure she rode to 51st position and rolled across the finish line with a huge smile on her face.

Unfortunately for Annie the illness that she has struggled with since February curtailed her race in Albstadt. Breathing difficulties made it impossible to continue and Annie sought medical attention soon after pulling out of the race. Luckily it was just a consequence of her chest infection coupled with a very high pollen count rather than anything more sinister. It was a disappointment that Annie could not return to World Cup racing with a positive result, but she brushed it off and cracked on with preparations for the following days of training. Annie’s down-to-earth professionalism is a key aspect of her character and of her success. No drama. On to La Bresse.

Things didn’t quite fall into place for the boys; it was just one of those races where it doesn’t go your way. However, Shlomi and Martin fought with everything they had – the strength in their legs may not have been there, but the strength of their character shone through. Shlomi finished 82nd and Martin was 91st.

It was quite strange to see the boys so disappointed by their results; normally they are up-beat and making jokes, but after Albstadt it was clear that they were unhappy. Here too the spirit of the team is clear to see: a gentle hand on the shoulder, a few words of experience or simply a cup of coffee and a smile. The schedule rumbles on but there is always time to step aside and take a moment, and even in the chaos of packing cars and vans in the pouring rain, everyone understands that those moments are needed.

 

And so, packed to the roof, we travelled from Germany into France (rudely announced by the jolt of several pot holes immediately after the border…).

We unpacked and settled in to a lovely big house in La Bresse. World Cup week began again.

No Questions Tuesday gave the staff a chance to take a quick break from work and go hiking and biking! And then before we knew it, it was back to course practice and the run up to the race was speeding by again.

As in Albstadt, the weather was ever-present  in the mind of the riders, and of course our mechanics too. That said, the riders were all loving the course both in the wet and the dry.

With the strong race in Albstadt fresh in her mind, Isla was full of positivity as she took the start line in the town centre of La Bresse. She aimed for a top 20 finish and she totally smashed it with a superb 16^th place. This is Isla Short back on track and gunning for more. Watch out!

Isla set the precedent of improving on last week’s positions and the others followed suit.

Annie gave a glimpse of what she is capable of with a 28^th position off the back of illness and a lack of racing. There is so much talent there and we can’t wait for Annie to string some really good racing together and prove what she can achieve. Mariske rode to 36^th and Cherie to 44^th, both moving forward and yet still hungry for more.

Martin improved on his result in Albstadt but was still dissatisfied with his race. After a busy period of travel his form has dropped off and he struggled to sustain his race pace. It’s only natural to experience this in a season and Martin knows how to move forward so the smile was soon back on his face.

For Shlomi the result in La Bresse was secondary to the fact that he finally and officially qualified his spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games! It was such a proud moment for Shlomi, for the Israeli Federation and team, and for us a team.

 

Earlier in the week Annie had requested the introduction of ‘Sausage Sunday’ so after everything was packed away we fired up the BBQ again, got the sausages on and raised a toast to Shlomi, to some fantastic results and to a great trip. Cheers!

Cheers to a successful Cape Epic campaign! 

Find below the reports from each stage.

To see video edits and interviews from each day, check out our YouTube Channel, and for more photographs, take a look at our Facebook Album.

Thanks for all your support throughout #8DaysOfCourage.

 

 

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STAGE 7 (Sunday 20th)

Wow! What a way to finish the Cape Epic. Today Martin and Sascha showcased their strength, skill and strong partnership to pull off a remarkable result.

The final stage took the riders from Boschendal, across 86km and up 1200m of vertical climbing, to the festival-vibe finale at Meerendal Wine Estate. Buoyed from their success yesterday, and the tantalisingly close final finish, the boys raced their hearts out to finish in fine style.

There was to be no easy roll into the finish today, no ceremonial stage. The race was still on! As the Stage’s protagonists put the pressure down at the front, Sascha and Martin couldn’t quite hold the wheels and so became part of a large second group on the route. This group offered a bit of protection and recovery for Martin following a crash which saw him lose some skin on his right hand side, but after he had regained composure and the pain had subsided, a lack of impetus on the front meant the boys felt they were coasting. Sascha explains:

“We were a really big group but nobody liked to work to catch the first group back. There was a side wind and I went to front and pushed a bit. I looked back and saw Martin was there and I thought, okay, now it’s time to split the group and go to the first group.”

With both the boys feeling strong, they powered away from their competitors and went about chasing down the front of the race. Martin continues:

“Sascha put really much pressure on the whole bunch and the riders at the back dropped and the bunch got smaller and we managed to work together with the last men standing to get back to the front group. And then the race started all over again!”

However, just after the bridge was made, Sascha was struck with bad luck: a front wheel puncture. In the chaos of the catch, Martin didn’t immediately see that Sascha had stopped, but luckily Sascha was quick to plug the hole and strong enough to catch back to the group very quickly.

Everyone was tired by this point but Martin and Sascha found the power to pass several teams in the final few kilometres of eight tough days of racing. They really had the wind in their sails as they rode the final climb, and then they could enjoy the sweeping singletrack descent into Meerendal and secure their seventh place on the day and 11th overall.

Team Manager, Paul, said at the finish:

“With a crash and a puncture they still managed to chase back to the leading group and finish 7th. Phenomenal ride, absolutely phenomenal!”

With this amazing final stage effort, Martin and Sascha capped off a hugely positive first Cape Epic. Now for Stage 9 – time to party!

 

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STAGE 6 (Saturday 19th)

Today was a stunning stage, looping through the famed singletrails of the Stellenbosch region, and Martin and Sascha delivered an equally stunning result.

Over 69km of racing, and up 2100m of climbing, the boys were perfectly in tune with their bikes, the trails, and each other. Sascha was a little stronger and could help Martin back into the group when the younger rider struggled with the pace on a few occasions. Martin explains their success today:

“Sascha was again a bit stronger but we were always riding together and when I lost the wheels of the group he would push me a little bit so we could stay with the group and keep a good pace. Also the course suited us quite good today – it was just 70km and there were a lot of singletrails which was good for us because we were really strong in the decent and also there were not so many long climbs and instead more short and steep climbs.”

By Water Point 1 there was a split in the top 10 teams, with OMX comfortably within the second group, in 8th place. Through the second time check Martin and Sascha were still in 8th, and the time gaps ahead were still very bridgeable if the boys could use their technical skills on the singletrack and find the legs to make it stick to the end.

The final Water Point got us all very excited, as Martin and Sascha flew through in 6th position. They looked really strong, aggressive and ready to fight to the finish line. As the staff raced to the finish line, the boys raced into 5th position. After two days of suffering came a brilliant bounce back; a fine 5th place. Martin’s English makes the following statement seem a little downcast, but we can assure you that both our riders wore huge smiles all afternoon! –

“It’s a marathon race, it’s very different to XC, but I think a lot of people will notice this result and I think we did a good job here – there are the biggest marathon racers in the World here so fifth is a strong finish.”

It was brilliant to see Sascha and Martin work so well together and reward themselves with this result after seven hard days of racing that has seen them well outside their comfort-zone.

Tomorrow is the final stage; the finish line is almost in sight. Let’s bring it home safely.

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STAGE 5 (Friday 18th)

Today was the Queen Stage, and this Queen was mean! – A brutal 2500m of climbing over 93km of singletrails and tracks with ominous names such as ‘boneshaker’.

With a fun and relaxed attitude, which belies their inner determination and competitiveness but has defined them this week, Martin and Sascha took the start for another testing day.

A top ten in the General Classification was tantalisingly close, but the boys were well aware that they must ride a sensible, measured race. Minutes can be as easily lost as nine seconds can be gained.

After 18km of racing, Sascha and Martin were in the lead group as they passed through Water Point 1. However, as the gradient steepened and the first major climb began to drag on, they could no longer hold the pace and had to let their foot off the gas to avoid running empty before the end of the stage. The pace of the leading few teams split the front end of the race apart, and our boys were certainly not the only ones to feel the pain.

As the stage went on they established a small group with the CST Superior Team of Rudi van Houts and Hans Becking, both XCO riders with experience in the Cape Epic. Through Water Points 2 and 3 this foursome forged on, working together and losing as little time as possible to their rivals ahead.

As the final 10 kilometres drew closer, Sascha and Martin were able to ride clear of the CST Superior pair and set about a rather heroic charge for the finish in Boschendal. Like a magnet, the finish line was pulling them home. Giving it all that they had, the boys came to within just seven seconds of catching up to 10th position. By this point they really had emptied the tank and were running on fumes! They sprinted to the line and collapsed after it.

It was another gutsy performance from the boys, and 11th place is another strong finishing position. They have just two days to go and you can bet your bottom dollar that they will give it everything again tomorrow, and the next day. Good job guys, we are all really proud!

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STAGE 4 (Thursday 17th)

It is said at Cape Epic that by Stage 4 your body is adjusted to the rhythm and the demands of the race, and that with the half way point crested, this epic challenge seems far more conquerable.

Whilst the second point certainly rings true for the OMX team, today Martin’s body somewhat disagreed with the first.

“Today was really tough, especially for me because I had not a good day. I suffered a lot.”

The stage was relatively short – a ‘mere’ 75km – but with a testing profile and an aggressive approach from the top teams. The pace was high all day, with attacks and chases punctuating the race. Martin explains,

“We tried to hold the group we had [second group on the route, with about five teams] as long as possible and that worked well, but the last hour on the single trails I had to go slower and we lost some time. Sascha made the pace in the last kilometres so that we lost as little time as possible.”

The aim has been to finish in the top ten in General Classification – an ambitious target but one that is proving very doable. With this in mind, Martin and Sascha were conscious of the time ticking away and pushed on as hard as they could. At the finish line they fell just nine seconds short of moving up into the top ten, and they almost fell from their bikes! It was a courageous effort on a day when the hurt box was well and truly opened.

Despite a bad day, both Sascha and Martin are still really positive. They are a great partnership, playing on each other’s strengths and always ending the day with a smile.

Tomorrow is a big day. Fingers are crossed that the pistons are firing! Join us on Twitter for live updates.

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STAGE 3 (Wednesday 16th)

Today the Cape Epic transitioned from Saronsberg to Wellington. Whilst the crew packed up and drove onto the second race village, the riders had to make the journey themselves by bike, covering 104km and two major climbs.

As the race rolled out of Saronsberg, Martin and Sascha got themselves positioned in amongst the big guns – where they have proven they belong –  and settled in for the ride. At the 10km point the route began to rise and the riders were confronted with a long, and often loose, winding track up the first big climb of the day. Martin and Sascha could hold the wheels and felt comfortable in the group. They were very much in the mix.

It was just as they had crested the climb and were descending down into Water Point 1 that Sascha got a rear wheel puncture. Although it wasn’t a complete blow-out, the boys took the following couple of kilometres to the Water Point steady; here they could take a new wheel from the team tech box instead of taking any risk that the tyre would further deflate. The good luck was that they were close to the Water Point when the puncture occurred, the bad luck was that they lost the leading riders and now had to press on solo, without the drafting and pace-making that a group offers.

With this is mind they chose to slow down a little and let the team close behind them catch up in order that they could then work together. It was a sensible move, but the other team ended up riding that bit too slow so the boys sped back up to their own pace and pressed on. At the beginning of the day they had hoped to move up into the top ten overall, and this was still possible, albeit a big challenge now.

Eventually Martin and Sascha saw a small group of riders ahead and pushed hard to catch them. Having done so they took some time to sit in the wheels, recover and plan the final assault! With an hour or so left to go, the OMX boys took their leave of the group and raced for home, relishing the technical trails and the pull of the finish line in Wellington.

After four hours and forty-four minutes of racing, Martin and Sascha arrived at the finish. Even with the puncture they managed a great 13th place on the day, and they moved themselves up to 11th overall.

The strength of this partnership is really shining through – the boys seem to have an intrinsic understanding of each other on the bike and they are working superbly well together. Spirits are high and the legs are still good!

We are all set for tomorrow -75km across a very spikey profile. Keep up to date with how the boys are doing by following us on Twitter – @OMXProTeam.

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STAGE 2 (Tuesday 15th)

After the suffering of yesterday, today there was success!

Martin and Sascha went into Stage 2 with a game plan – they must immediately find their own rhythm and ride their own pace up the big climb of the day, which began almost as soon as they departed the race village in Saronsberg.

The technical, rocky ascent was difficult for even the top teams, with most riders having to jump off, push and then remount at some stage (which was of course no problem for cyclocross star, Sascha!).

With a sensible start, Martin and Sascha found themselves riding comfortably in the front group of around 20 teams. The race held a steady pace as the terrain flattened, but the first major section of singletrack caused a real fight for position and the hammer went down! Martin and Sascha were able to go with the front teams and found themselves in the top ten as the race began to weave through the singletrails.

From here the boys rode a fantastic race. They found a perfect balance between being smooth and fast, and with lessons learned from yesterday, they made sure to refuel at the final water point in order to stay strong until the end.

As the final kilometres approached, the boys were riding in a group with Topeak Ergon, NAD Pro MTB and Wheeler BiXS. It would be a sprint for 6th place. Savyy to the situation, Martin and Sascha hatched a plan. They were both feeling strong and knew they could sprint well (albeit not necessarily after 93km!). Martin attacked off the front in the last few hundred metres, and now Sascha just had to come between the rider who finished next and his partner. This he did, and the boys came charging over the finish line to bag themselves a very well-deserved 6th position.

For two young riders who are both new to the Cape Epic, this is a truly brilliant result. We are incredibly proud of their physical efforts and mental steel. That was a spectacular day of racing and Martin and Sascha showed themselves, and the team, in a great light.

The team now sit in 12th overall.

Tomorrow it all starts again! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for live updates.

 

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STAGE 1 (Monday 14th)

Stage 1 of the 2016 Cape Epic was billed as one of the toughest of this year’s race, covering 108km and 2300m of vertical climbing as it looped through the natural bowl of the Tulbagh region.

Despite the tough task ahead of them, the leading men charged off the start and flew up the first major climb of the day. Our team of Martin and Sascha hung onto the pace and sat comfortably within the top 10 as the route sharply rose and fell along the mountain side up to the first Water Point at 35km.

Here the boys made their mistake.

Ushered along in the heat of battle, among some big name teams, Martin and Sascha didn’t stop to refuel. This would later take its toll when a dropped bottle meant that Martin was left with no drink, and no energy. Inexperience was to blame, and the lesson was hard learned – at the Epic, every Water Point is important, and every drop of energy must be taken!

The following climb up to the highest point of the stage was a real struggle. Sascha played the perfect team mate and paced and pushed Martin where necessary, and later Martin could return the favour. At Water Point 2 the boys could refuel and begin to recover a little, but the real damage was done. It was an incredibly tough way to start the Epic, especially for two young riders who have never experienced anything like it before!

After the race, having enjoyed a big lunch, a massage and a nap, Martin reflected on the day:

“I had expected that Cape Epic was going to be really tough, but it was crazy today! I hadn’t expected that it would get that hard. It was really tough. I think today was okay in the end with 16th place, but we made a lot of mistakes – not stopping at Water Point 1 and trying to hold the group was a big mistake, but we learn from it and tomorrow we go more in our own rhythm. There is a big climb in the beginning so I think it’s clever that we ride directly at our own pace.”

The Epic is not going to get easier, but an understanding of their limits, of each other, and what the terrain brings, will certainly help Martin and Sascha going forward.

Today was disappointing for the boys, and they didn’t pretend otherwise. However, they know – and will draw upon – the fact that they made a mistake that they can learn from and not make again. And, they were still holding very respectable company, even with a major mid-race blow.

Tomorrow brings 97km of racing and a new chance to suffer!

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PROLOGUE (Sunday 13th)

The 2016 Cape Epic kicked off today, with a 26km prologue starting and finishing in the beautiful Meeredal Wine Estate, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa. The opening time trial is a short, sharp test of the legs and lungs ahead of the seven gruelling marathon stages that follow.

All the hype, anticipation and preparation came to a head for Martin and Sascha at 11:55:10, as they rolled down the start ramp to begin their first ever Cape Epic. Despite the relatively short distance, a total of 700m of vertical climbing meant that it was by no means an easy task ahead of them. Added to this was the loose, dusty ground which caused many riders to wash-out and come to grief. However, the technical and punchy course suited the boys, and they were completely in control of themselves and the terrain throughout their effort.

After an hour and eight minutes of racing, Martin and Sascha crossed the line and posted the fastest time of the day so far. Now it was a case of waiting; there were twenty more teams yet to finish, and they included all the big guns!

At the day’s end, our young team posted a solid, and very respectable, 13th fastest time. This is a strong platform on which to go into the next stages, and Martin and Sascha are both satisfied with their result and the sensations.

Tomorrow the challenge really begins!

Follow the action on Twitter – @OMXProTeam