Teenager Thana Groenewald, the youngest female rider at this year’s Cape Epic, completed the gruelling eight-day event alongside her dad Willem despite having little time to prepare due to late confirmation that she was old enough to compete.
The 18-year-old, who met the age restriction for the first time this year, said she only found out a month-and-a-half to two months before the March 17-24 event that she would be able to participate.
She needed to turn 19 by December of the year of the event to be eligible to ride.
“We didn’t have much time for our preparation and it was quite difficult as I recently moved into a residence at the University of Pretoria,” said the dentistry student.
Father-daughter pair Willem and Thana Groenewald completed the eight-day Cape Epic recently. Thana was the youngest female rider at this year’s event. Photo: Supplied
“It’s not the best place to ride your bicycle as the roads are very busy and not necessarily safe. I trained on a kicker in my room for about an hour to two hours [a day] where possible and I’d go for a long ride on the weekends with my dad.”
Groenewald, who achieved Northern Gauteng colours for cross-country riding last year, does triathlon training as well and competed in the Xterra Grabouw two weeks before the Epic.
“Only after that did I really start just to cycle and focus on it. I don’t feel we put in as much training as we’d like to, but we did what was possible.”
She added that it felt good being the youngest among older riders, but said there was also an intimidating factor.
“It meant I was very inexperienced as I wasn’t allowed to enter the long-distance races before. It made me doubt myself as to whether I would really be able to do this.
“Thanks to my dad I was able to complete it and it feels great to be able to say I’ve done the Epic in the first year I was able to enter.”
Her dad, who has now completed five Epics, was instrumental in her entering the gruelling stage race.
“Since I started cycling in Grade 7 and I went to support him at the races I thought it was something I wanted to do.
“It seemed like a huge challenge and I’m always up for one, so I thought it would be amazing to be able to conquer something like an Epic.
“I couldn’t not do the toughest mountain-bike race in the world, as they call it,” said Groenewald, who was the Gauteng leader in the Spur Schools MTB League in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
She said she felt a roller-coaster of emotions during the week.
Thana Groenewald in action during the Cape Epic. Photo: Supplied
“The prologue was so hyped with so many people cheering and you could see that this was going to be no joke. The first stage was absolutely beautiful, but I was nervous because of the distance and 80km in I became dehydrated due to the heat.
“Stage two was better with the shorter distance and we took it slow. On the following stage we were blessed with misty and cool weather, but this was also when I started struggling with my arms as they weren’t used to the impact from the downhills.”
Groenewald said she started to feel excruciating pain on the downhills and cried through a couple of them.
“The time trial was fun, fast and presented great trails. We were nervous for the queen stage, but it was actually great fun with lots of climbing and beautiful views.
“Stage six was by far the hardest, because after the queen stage everyone expects it to be easier. The temperatures were also high and the heat was intense.
“I did feel great however and coming to the end of it I felt this exhilarating feeling as I knew I was so close to the finish. But it’s never over till it’s over.”
She added that she contracted the same stomach bug as her dad on the final stage and was feeling very weak, but he helped her through it and motivated her.
“It felt amazing to cross the finish line knowing you’ve just finished this incredible event. Many people had their doubts that I would finish, but at the end they told me they were inspired by what I did.
“Being able to finish my dad’s fifth Epic with him was so special. He said he wouldn’t do another one if it wasn’t with me.”
Groenewald, who has also completed two Cape Town Cycle Tours, said there was not one day that she doubted she would finish.
“This proved to me that I need to believe more in myself and I can accomplish what I set my mind to.
“No matter what, you need to keep fighting and pushing through. If there’s something you think you can’t do, just know that you can.”
