Regular opponents in island races, Néstor Rodríguez from Gran Canaria and Richard Rodríguez de la Sierra, from Gran Canaria, join forces to do something major: participate in the Absa Cape Epic. The test to be held in South Africa from the 19th is the most demanding in the world in Mountain Bike. His challenge, finish it and also play a great role in the Masters category representing the Canary Islands.
Last May Néstor Rodríguez (1977) from Gran Canaria and Richard Rodríguez de la Sierra (1975) from Tenerife were two of the representatives of the Canary Islands Federation in the National Mountain Bike Ultramarathon held in Lalín (Galicia).. “We spent a long time riding together,” recalls the chicharrero cyclist, finally sixth in the Master 40 category, while his fellow community member was able to finish fourth. Thus, in that capacity to benefit from each other, the idea of being able to do a tandem in the prestigious Absa Cape Epic 2023 was germinated.
Regular rivals for positions of honor in events held on island territory, the formation of the Néstor-Richard duo finished forging in October, when the first one said yes to the proposal of the Tenerife runner. The two bundled up their heads and began preparing for this superlative challenge. A test considered as the Tour de France of the specialty and that will take place between the 19th and the 26th of this month through some of the most inhospitable places in South Africa.
A previous path already suffered and not exempt from limitations, basically because it involves athletes who reside on different islands. A handicap that has forced them to carry out training individually, but within «a programming perfectly oriented to this type of tests”, explain both, who have carried out “runs of four, five and up to six hours in days of even double work session with gym and road”.
Participation in various tests – the last of which was the 1×2 Bike Race Tenerife a week ago – has helped to improve set-up and, above all, to generate the necessary chemistry for an obligatory “understanding between the two”. One of the factors that will be key in the Absa Cape Race for both Richard -he already ran it in 2021- and for Néstor.
That necessary harmony is, for Richard, a feasible plus in the South African event, since in his opinion both are “of a very similar and even profile”, apart from the fact that “both psychologically” are “quite tough runners”. The statement is corroborated by Néstor, who in his debut seems capable of showing “solidity” and “enduring several repeated efforts.” “We hope that as the stages go by we can take advantage of it and that will position us a little better,” says the man from Tenerife. «It will be key to know how to carry ourselves to go at a good pace, but without going beyond the limits that the partner can reach; It will be the way to get as far as possible, “adds the Gran Canarian.
After his presence in 2021 (where he was 49th and fifth in his category) Rodríguez de la Sierra already knows how the Absa Cape Epic spends them. This year the route lasts for eight stages (two of them against the clock) for a total of 658 kilometers and almost 16,000 meters of positive elevation gain.
All under very severe heat that will force “to take care of hydration” and also to look closely at the type of food intake that is made. “Having to eat food cooked and treated in a different way than usual” will be another factor that could condition the Canarian couple, according to Richard’s warning. For this reason, the island duo tries these days to prevent by consuming as many “probiotics” as possible with the aim of “getting well with the defenses and intestinal flora.” Already on South African soil, and to avoid “health problems”, they will have to comply with an unbreakable rule: “The water we drink will be bottled and we will only eat clean things.”
Sportingly speaking, Richard and Néstor know that they will face an appointment “of a high level” but still “greater toughness.” Such a high bar for which the simple fact of finishing would already be a more than satisfactory prize, especially since both travel “without giving up anything”, but at the same time “with their feet on the ground since the people who participate go very strong”. Also on his list of priorities is the idea of ”enjoying and living the experience of the best stage race in the world.”
But Richard and Nestor yearn for something more. “We want to do a good job in our category”, a challenge that translates into trying to be “in the top ten”, although Richard will try to improve that fifth place already achieved two editions ago. The Canarian runners have plenty of money for it.
A very expensive adventure
The presence of Richard and Néstor in the Abse Cape Epic is not an adventure in any competition. First, because their participation in it is conditioned “on a previous lottery” that defined which would be the approximately thousand couples who were going to run it. Once the draw is benevolent, then 3,000 euros must be disbursed per athlete for registration. To this amount are added the plane ticket, which is around 1,000 euros, and the hotel; as well as the additional services offered by the organization, basically massages and mechanical assistance. In total, spending can skyrocket to “7,000 euros” for a challenge of just under two weeks. Only the support of their own teams, the Descendin (Richard) and the Riu Team (Néstor), as well as the support of firms such as Alisios Consultores Canarios, High Pro Nutrition, the Department of Sports of Arucas, the Insular Institute of Sports of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and Échale Mojo Gastronomía y Eventos, make this experience more bearable. |
