Well this is sadly my last report from South Africa … this weekend I did two races. The Diante Cycle Challenge and the Carnival City Road Race and Crit.

    I think I will keep this report short, as I really don't feel like a long story. The Diante Cycle Challenge was actually the same course as the first race I did this year. Starting in Verrenining and going up the infamous Ekees Hill then back to Verrenining. The race started off well with my friend, Peter, going off the front and building up a very large lead of almost 2 minutes. Soon enough a tandem moved to the front and started to pace the group up to Peter. (This race is done with everyone in one big group ... tandems, elite's, women, juniors) Well a solo rider stands very little chance against a tandem and he was caught after 25k.

    At about 35k into the race a couple of riders attacked and three riders were off the front. Once again the tandem started to chase and a rider hooked on. So after the mess settled the tandem was off with four riders. They were within sight all the way to Ekees, but after Ekees the group was whittled down to two guys and a tandem. The main field was also whittled down to four of us and then one leftover guy from the break. So after 65k of chasing I ended up in 5th with my friend Peter taking 3rd. So not a bad day, but boy did all that chasing hurt.

    The next day was the Carnival City Road Race and Crit. The race is much more of a bigger race than the previous day and had a lot more of the Pro teams show up. The race started off slow with most of the big teams watching each other. But soon enough the teams began to attack, the wind began to pick up (and never blow from the back, always from the side) and we all went in the gutter.

     I then realized exactly how much I worked the day before. There were several times that I was put in a world of hurt, and then when the decisive moment came, I was there. Well I was there, but my legs ... well they decided to go on vacation, and I was immediately dropped back to the main pack. The was then put into a world of hurt for the next 20k and dropped three times, only to chase every time. My motivation was to stay on and place in the front of the group to make the cut off for the crit in the afternoon. Well I suffered and made it to the finish to make the cut for the crit. So a top 25 isn't bad, but I know I had more in my legs.

    So I'll describe the crit. Thirty minutes of pure pain … After two 100k road races, I thought, what the hell, 30 minutes would just be the desert to my dinner. The race went surprisingly well. I sat in for the first 20 and then moved up. After some shuffle and bustle, I set myself up nicely to finish 3rd in the field sprint with 4 guys off the front my only 5 meters. Not in the money, but very great after the hard road race.

    Well I am headed off to Belgium soon. It's going to be some very cold and wet weather, but I have goose bumps just thinking about the season ahead. This trip to South Africa was just what I needed. I meet and exceeded every goal I set for myself here and I am very happy with my form here.

    To all keep the rubber side down and have a bit of fun every day.

    -Gregg Germer-