Sport	Cycle Race
Event	94.7 Momentum Cycle Challenge
Date	16 November 2014
Where	Johannesburg, South Africa
Distance	94.7 Km
Finishing Time	04:39:32
Race Number	10780
Result	13989/21648
Top %	65%
Pace	2:57 m/km
Speed	20.33 km/h
Click here for details about 94.7 Momentum Cycle Challenge
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My experience at the event:

It definitely wasn't going to be a great race from the start. After leaving home at 5.30, with only 30 minutes to drive in order to show up for my 7.07am starting time, Curtis and I soon realized that this wasn't going to happen. An insane traffic jam due to the new venue being accessible only from one road (William Nicol, either from N14, where we went, or from the N1) made reaching the parking a daunting task.

So, instead of starting at 7am surrounded by riders probably at our level (or better), we ended up in the zombie zone, starting at 9.30, under a sun already too hot, surrounded by mountain bikers and cyclist hoping to finish just before cut off time.

The start (uphill) was already slow, especially since Curtis soon showed some issues, due to the lack of training (he was sick almost for a month) and a "knot" in the his right shoulder, which made his new bicycle impossible to ride without being able to relax.

I soon realized that this was going to be a long day, and, true to my bro-spirit, I decided that I would stick with him through the end. We stopped a lot of times, mostly in order to allow Curtis to get some massage on his sore shoulder, and try to change the setup of his bicycle to allow him some sort of comfort.

The race was very different from last year, and it was difficult (if not impossible) to get any rhythm going. Too many cyclist struggling, too many "walls" of tired riders in front of us and not enough clouds.

I stayed with Curtis until the last, crazy, hill at the exit of Steyn City, with 2 km or so to go. I sprinted there and left him behind, but I waited for him to come (12 minutes after) so he could collect his medal and get a long massage in the physio tent...

At least now we have a record to break next year! 

Some picture from the race:

The crazy traffic

Almost ready to go

Curtis when he was still fine

On the Mandela Bridge

Physio break for Curtis

Attacking like Pantani on the hills

Curtis dead after the race

My 6th consecutive finish

With Curtis

All the other pictures are available at the usual flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/olafmeister/sets/72157646942225284/

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