Team Bestmed-ASG’s Zandile Ndhlovu shares her Bestmed Jock Cycle Classique experience with us.
So the day finally arrived, The Jock… the nerves I have when I think about this race…
I do however think to win this race is such an honour.. a prestigious title to hold.. it means you out climbed everyone else.. be it an overall win, a category win, your individual win on your goal for the race.. you name it, this race stands above many road races, tests soo much in you.. The ability to persevere.. Yes.
We arrived in Sabie the Friday evening, lovely dinner and before we knew it, it was morning and go time.
This being my second Jock, I’d hoped it would go better as I know how hard this race is and and and.. The wind picked up early, the first stage already had a bit of wind, the long and the short is I suffered in the ‘easiest stage’ of the three, there could be many reasons for why this was, I’d probably say this was my worst stage.. legs just weren’t cooperating, an eternity was spent in stage one, with some serious man size potholes, the finish was greatly appreciated.
Eat, rest, re-coup and off we were – stage two, headed to Sabie, what makes this stage special is the famous Spitskop seven km climb.. the wind was heavy from the first big climb.. my inability to bunch ride, especially on climbs meant bearing out the wind like a soldier, top of the first climb, and after a few more km’s, I see the start of Spitskop.. hmm.. it had already been a tough day but perhaps the greatest mind game here is the fact that from the bottom of the climb, you see it twist and as you get to the top you see the next road curve – up to where you are headed.. dear Lord..
My only prayer was for Long Tom Pass to not be as windy as it has been the year before.. we had just dealt serious wind on Spitskop – my only prayer, and it was answered, yes a bit of wind, but not crazy wind as I paced myself up the climb knowing that after the climb, there’s a little downhill, a water point, and the fun begins.. and boy did it just.. I guess that’s just how life is, you gotta stick out the icky in order to enjoy the fruit of your labour and it was all there.. all of that Long Tom pass..
Read the full race report here.
