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| 05.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 03.03.2013 // MTB Challenge Boschendal, RSA
66km, 1800m of climbing, 2.40hrs racing time
Unofficial first place, around 1min ahead of Matthys Beukes
Ok todays results needs some explaining because we ended up having two different top three podiums with flowers, price money and all the tralalala.
We were around 10 riders who got lost and finally ended up taking a short cut.
It was probably a little bit after mid way when the leading motorbike could not ride over 3 big wood logs lying in high grass. That took some time to discuss it out if we were right or not, but we went on. Erik Kleinhans was in our group too but he had to fix a loose bolt on his bike and got dropped after we jumped those wood logs. We then rode to a top gravel road where we expected the right route and so we did. Erik although and all the rest of the field behind us found the original markers and had to do an other steep climb which we skipped. Erik rode very strong and still caught a lot of riders of our group. So it was fair and cool from the organizers to make two podiums. The short cutters and the originals!
I won my race in the last 12km where I pushed very hard in a sandy section. It was hot and I only had two small bottles to drink, not enough for a longer race like this.
I am now taking it easy, except Wednesday and Thursday. On one days I will do power workouts and on the other threshold training. Already really looking forward to Sunday's Cape Argus, one of my favorite races in the whole year.
Check out the pictures in Link 1
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| 03.03.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 28.02.2013 - 02.03.2013 // Columbia Grape Escape Boschendal, RSA
Thursday Stage 1
78km, 1700m of climbing, average speed 25.5km/h
4th place, 12sec down to winner Tim Böhme
I was really glad that racing started and I don't have to push myself in training any more. I am definitely a racer and like the extra excitement compare to training. But that also means I have to get up here every day around 4.45am. Racing in South Africa means early wake ups. Regular start time is 7.00. I don't mind because it is nice to see the sun rising plus also you can take it easy in the afternoon and catch up with sleep.
Today I unfortunately took a wrong turn with about 1km to go. At that stage I was in the lead together with Tim Böhme. He was not as stupid as I have been and followed the right track. I had to jump some bushes and a small wall to get on track again. He was gone but I caught his chasers and at the end I did not loose too much time for the overall.
Friday Stage 2
60km, 1800m of climbing, average speed 19.3km/h
29th place, 30min down to winner Urs Huber
A day of single track, which I was looking forward to it, and obviously I wanted to get those twelve seconds or more back again. It did not happen! My cassette came loose and the nut/bolt started to rub on my rear end. Before I realized it I suffered like an old dog! I only realized it after I got dropped on the one climb and I hardly could not turn the rubbing wheel any more. Poor me... I hand fixed it and could keep on riding until it always came loose again. I was so looking forward to that first tech zone! After that I rode steady and unmotivated to the finish.
Saturday Stage 3
70km, 1800m of climbing average speed 24.4km/h
1st place, 8sec ahead of Philip Buys
I broke away in a technical single trail with about 20km to go. I doubt I would have made it without the help of Philip Buys. We worked very well together on all the flat parts of the race. Just before the finish it was sandy and slightly uphill and that is where I could make the 8sec difference for my sweet win.
I definitely have never been in such good shape like at this year's Grape Escape. Well I have to, because the ABSA Cape-Epic starts s a week earlier the previous ones.
The races were perfectly organized be the Cape Town Cycle Trust, the organizer of the biggest timed cycle race in the world, the Argus Cycle Tour. Around 40'000 riders tackle the beautiful roads in Cape Town. I already cant wait for next Sunday to race it!
Check out the pictures in Link 1
Link 1: http://www.grapeescape.co.za/index.php/gallery/
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| 22.02.2013 |
Its been real winter since the last three weeks! I had to be creative combining my training. Backcountry skiing, alpine skiing, gym, running, wind trainer and snow biking! I really enjoyed it and it gives me such a good change before racing season. Now I will go back fully motivated to South Africa and I can not wait for the races to start. Take off next Thursday!!
Below a few pictures of my winter adventures. Everything very white or blue. Just how we liiiike!
                
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| 31.01.2013 |
My provisional racing schedule is online. Really looking forward to all the Marathon classics!
I am back home in Switzerland again.
My last two weeks of training in Stellenbosch included a lot of hours with power workouts, threshold and high rpm trainings. Really happy where I am at the moment and now I am really looking forward to some rest and snow sports. Think I go and buy a new pair of alpine skis this week.
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| 31.01.2013 |
Remembering Burry
Link 1: http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/christoph-sauser/remembering-bur...
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| 20.01.2013 |
Appends to race/event: 19.01.2013 // Attakwas Oudtshoorn, RSA
120kms, ca. 2500m of climbing
First Place, 4.56hrs, 1.37min ahead of Lourens Luus
The Attakwas is probably the hardest one day race in South Africa. It can be super hot, windy and the first two third of the race is rough rough rough! No idea how the hard tailies survive this race. Mechanicals are almost a defined, especially side cuts on the tires. I had one after 30min which I plugged it. Changing to a tube is a no go, because there are too many thorns and you need to have a good tire sealant in the tire remaining.
It took me a good half hour chasing until I was back in the leading group. Spirit was on again and I felt great, but one flat tire never comes alone, that is almost a guarantee! I lost my plug in the one downhill with probably 2hrs into the race, just before we entered into the wild Attakwas. Luckily I sill had one more plug, unfortunately no more co2 bomb so I had to hand pump it. It took me a while and I must say I felt pretty demotivated because I thought this is it, podium is gone. Somehow my head and legs came together again and I could not believe when I suddenly raced for the win again. My friend and training partner Erik Kleinhans also had a flat tire while leading the race. Max Knox, Lourens Luus and I just passed him before the last rolling hills with 30kms to with a very strong head wind. I was so happy to be racing group at that point! Max also had a small leak in his tire. I could borrow him my pump but his deserved podium spot was gone. I knew I could took the win now, although RSA's big talent Lourens was still looking very strong. I attacked on the second last gravel climb and I quickly opened a 1.30min gap.
I must say Burry was in my head a lot during the race. Today I missed out drafting behind him especially into the head wind. He always was very strong at the Cape-Epic over those rolling hills. I felt so alive though, I did not really care suffering out there!
      
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| 02.01.2013 |
More then two weeks already in Stellenbosch. I can feel that that my shape is picking up, or I am only getting used to the heat? Well the power workout files are showing high wattages or I am too heavy pushing my weight up the climbs? :-)
At the moment I am enjoying my rest week where my days are not busy with training and feeling tired. Like yesterday we went to Cape Town riding in cbd at enjoying the beach too. Well enjoying is too much said... it was too windy and I definitely don't enjoy to get sand blasted.
Sure also our win tour ride on 31.12. had to be done again. Riding from farm to farm and tasting wine is big time fun!
    
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| 20.12.2012 |
It's been a while since my last diary entry. In my off season I just need a break of everything.
Yesterday cyclingnews.com posted my diary with pictures on what I have been up to in the last two months. Below you can find the link. I hope it is a good read for you.
In the next few weeks you will find more diary entries again, plus I will post my racing schedule.
I wish you all the very best in 2013, lost of cool Xmas presents and even more a very nice time with family and friends.
Link 1: http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/christoph-sauser/batteries-recha...
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| 17.10.2012 |
Appends to race/event: 14.10.2012 // Roc d Azur Cross Country, FRA
Cross Country 56km, 1800m of climbing, 2.16hrs racing time
4th. place, 17sec off winner Stephane Tempier
I was so messed up on Saturday. I could feel every muscle in my legs, so as on my chest and arms. Leg pain because of the wrong saddle setup I had the day before, the chest and arms because of the wide handle bar without bar ends. The first time since 1997 I took the bar ends off. I just wanted to try something new. It did feel very good since I have more control in the downhills, less weight and with the wide bar I can swing or pull the bike nicely back when riding off the saddle. Reduce to the max! I think you will see me racing also next year with straight bar only. The chest and arm pain did not worry me at all for today's race since obviously we don't pedal with it. But my head stayed positive for most of the time, although I had my doubts, since most the riders saved they're legs for Sunday.
Tempier was the strongest and also took a great chance to break away early in the race. Käss, European Champ Milatz and myself were chasing for almost the entire race. I was very positive that we will still catch him on the last long flat part to the finish, but that obviously did not happen... it came down to a sprint for second! I attacked quite early but unfortunately overshot the last corner just a few meters before the finish line and I got passed by the two. No podium and also no beach time, because a couple hours after we finished the race it started to pore down monsoon style. Luckily I have a few more holiday days ahead here at the Cote d'Azur!
      
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| 12.10.2012 |
Appends to race/event: 12.10.2012 // Roc d Azur Marathon, FRA
Marathon 82km, 2700m of climbing, 3.23hrs racing time
2nd. place, same time as winner Jaroslav Kulhavy
I did feel pretty recovered from Marathon World Champs and I really wanted to have a mini happy end to my season with doing well at both races. Unfortunately I did not have the time to setup my new Epic full suspension good enough. I mean I did ride it the two days before, but the perfect setup I only feel it during a race. I had really bad back problems and I needed to stop for to readjust my saddle. At that point I was in the lead with Jochen Käss. I rather gave up that breakaway spot then being in pain for the next few hours. After that it was much better and Jaro and I started chasing Käss. He was pretty tired over the last hills so it came down to a Specialized double victory. I gave the win to Jaro since like that I look better then getting sprinted down. Not sure if i would have been faster then Nino at the Olympics!? :-)
     
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