Trans Baviaans is a “simple” 230km event for many, but for Kevin Taljaard the journey is rather more complicated.
He came through last weekend’s endurance event in one piece, but, with the 24-hour race nowadays featuring an additional running on the following weekend, Taljaard will willingly subject himself to another dose of pain and suffering.
Having done the iconic event for the first time in 2004, he will line up for his 13th traversing of the Baviaanskloof between Willowmore and Jeffreys Bay when he tackles the aptly named “The Repeat” on Saturday.
No stranger to ultradistance riding, Kevin Taljaard will take on his 13th Trans Baviaans this weekend. Photo: Supplied
“We stay here in Jeffreys Bay so I can’t not do it,” he said. “I did the very first Trans Baviaans and it’s become a tradition.”
The 37-year-old recalled he’d been wildly underprepared for the inaugural event, which marked his ultradistance debut.
“I rode with my cousin, Marius Kleynhans, and I remember we over-catered big time. I think my wife made about 10 litres of pasta for us.
“That was the main thing, we didn’t know what to expect.”
In addition to a weighty load of carbohydrates, Taljaard said the lights of the time meant they were forced to carry an even heavier load.
“We didn’t have the lighting technology that we do now. It was heavy batteries, probably about two kilogrammes, and some people rode with torches.”
The cousins finished their first race in 14 hours and 15 minutes and, over the years, Taljaard has managed to shave roughly four hours off his time.
This year he and partner Jason Meaton were 33rd out of 371 men’s teams, finishing in 10:37:46.
Rough roads, dry conditions and a borrowed bike made for the seasoned rider’s hardest Baviaans yet.
“Last weekend was bad. Nothing gelled, I didn’t feel good on the bike and there was no power. It just wasn’t good,” he said.
“I had to ride on a borrowed bike so the set-up wasn’t right. Along with the roads, it was the worst everything has been in all my years of doing it.”
But, in no way deterred, Taljaard said he was ready for The Repeat.
“Last weekend people broke bottle cases off, cut tyres and crashed. Without the rain it looks like we’ll be going back into it all again this weekend.”
Despite hitting an all-time low, he said he was hard pushed to select a standout moment from the past 14 years.
“There’s so much. From friends falling into rivers to break-downs. I can’t really choose one moment.”
Lessons, on the other hand, were something he could easily speak about.
“The main thing I’ve learnt is to make the stops way faster than what I used to. Don’t have picnics at the stopping points if you want to ride a good time.”
He added the crucial point of the race was between Bergplaas and Hadleigh, where he explained it was critical to recover as best as possible before the major climb of the route.
“If you recover there you’ll have a good Never Ender.”
Taljaard will team up with last weekend’s mixed category winner Yolande de Villiers, her husband Henties and Wynand Mulder.
